Suddenly, unbelievably, the residency was approaching its end. We had reached the encores of the last show. Each passing moment was becoming ever more precious.
A strong version of the acoustic classic “It Ain ‘t Me, Babe” opened the encores. This had grown into one of his most bonding live songs: both singer and audience aware of the irony of greeting its lyrics of denial with such a rapturous reception.
The traditional “Hang Me, Oh Hang Me” (aka. “I’ve Been All Around The World” or “The Blue Ridge Mountains”) was sung by Dylan in a throaty but deeply satisfying growl. Deep bass lines and simple guitar strokes lent gravity. For a man who had been criss-crossing continents for the past five years, the sentiments of “Lord, Lord, I’ve been all around this world” seemed fitting. A hush came over the hall. It was one of the most perfect moments of my life.
Then a blistering, rip-the-paint-off-the-walls “Highway 61 Revisited” brought the whole thing to a rousing, exhausting finish. It was a long time before many of us left the hall , so reluctant were we to leave the scene of our extraordinary experience.
~Andrew Muir (One More Night: Bob Dylan’s Never Ending Tour)
You can take all the tea in China
Put it in a big brown bag for me
Sail right around all the seven oceans
Drop it straight into the deep blue sea
She’s as sweet as Tupelo honey
She’s an angel of the first degree
She’s as sweet as Tupelo honey
Just like honey from the bee
Bob Dylan sings the lyrics to Tupelo Honey and Van Morrison sings the lyrics Why Must I Always Explain.
Why, why must I always explain
Over and over, over again
It’s just a job you know and it’s no sweet lorraine
Tell me why must I always explain (alright)
Dundonald Ice Bowl
Belfast, Northern Ireland
6 February 1991
Dylan & the Dead is a collaborative live album by Bob Dylan and the Grateful Dead, released on February 6, 1989 by Columbia Records. The album consists of seven songs written and sung by Dylan, with the Grateful Dead providing accompaniment. The album was produced by Jerry Garcia and John Cutler.
Dylan & the Dead was recorded in 1987, during a successful stadium tour of the same name. Songs from two of the Grateful Dead performances are documented on the album View from the Vault IV.
Nobody feels any pain
Tonight as I stand inside the rain
Ev’rybody knows
That Baby’s got new clothes
But lately I see her ribbons and her bows
Have fallen from her curls
She takes just like a woman, yes she does
She makes love just like a woman, yes she does
And she aches just like a woman
But she breaks just like a little girl.
Of war and peace the truth just twists
Its curfew gull just glides
Upon four-legged forest clouds
The cowboy angel rides
With his candle lit into the sun
Though its glow is waxed in black
All except when ’neath the trees of Eden
Suddenly, unbelievably, the residency was approaching its end. We had reached the encores of the last show. Each passing moment was becoming ever more precious.
