Tag Archives: To Ramona

Bob Dylan: 5 Great live versions of “To Ramona”





Bob Dylan scholars have determined that “To Ramona” is a song about Joan Baez; Dylan’s warning her that the folk protest movement will draw her in deep, but he recognizes that she doesn’t necessarily have a problem with that, and much as he loves and wants her, he has to let her think for herself, both for her sake and for his.
-Patrick Robbins (covermesongs.com)

Quite whom the singer is trying to mollify (and/or seduce) remains pure guesswork. One possibility must be Sara Lowndes, who became close to Dylan in the aftermath of his breakup with Suze. She could be said to have “cracked country lips,” being a Delaware girl, and her bronzed skin and dusky features may have suggested Spanish ances- try—and the Mediterranean goddess status the name “Ramona” implies.
– Clinton Heylin (Revolution in the Air: The Songs of Bob Dylan, 1957-1973)

Whoever it might be, it´s a great song.

It´s been performed:

  • 137 times acoustic w/ band – top year 2000 (33 times)
  • 99 times acoustic – top year – top year 1986 (33 times)
  • 1 time as an instrumental – Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia – 20 March 1978
  • 127 times w/band – top year 1978 (64 times)

First live performance:

  • Freebody Park, Newport, Rhode Island – 26 July 1964
    Newport Folk Festival.

Last live performance: 

  • Port Chester, New York, Capitol Theatre – June 14, 2017

Continue reading Bob Dylan: 5 Great live versions of “To Ramona”

April 30: Bob Dylan – To Ramona, Sheffield, England 1965 (video)





bob dylan sheffield 1965

 

Ramona
Come closer
Shut softly your watery eyes
The pangs of your sadness
Shall pass as your senses will rise
The flowers of the city
Though breathlike
Get deathlike at times
And there’s no use in tryin’
T’ deal with the dyin’
Though I cannot explain that in lines

The Oval
City Hall
Sheffield, England
30 April 1965

Continue reading April 30: Bob Dylan – To Ramona, Sheffield, England 1965 (video)

May 7: Bob Dylan – Free Trade Hall, Manchester 1965 (audio)

bob dylan manchester 1965

This is a near perfect soundboard  recording that is good enough quality to be an official release. The show is amazing and deserves a place in even the smallest Dylan collection.
~bobsboots.com

Classic bootleg concert.

Even if Dylan is “bored” at these spring-65 shows.. he’s still brilliant.

Free Trade Hall
Manchester, England
7 May 1965

Continue reading May 7: Bob Dylan – Free Trade Hall, Manchester 1965 (audio)

Bob Dylan: To Ramona, Stockholm, Sweden 4 November 2011 (Video)

bob dylan 2011 Sweden

 

Ramona
Come closer
Shut softly your watery eyes
The pangs of your sadness
Shall pass as your senses will rise
The flowers of the city
Though breathlike
Get deathlike at times
And there’s no use in tryin’
T’ deal with the dyin’
Though I cannot explain that in lines

Globe Arena
Stockholm, Sweden
4 November 2011

Continue reading Bob Dylan: To Ramona, Stockholm, Sweden 4 November 2011 (Video)

Bob Dylan – US Summer Tour 1986 – True Confession Tour part 3 (Videos, Audio, and more)

bob dylan tom petty 1986

Before diving into the music of the “US Summer Tour – 86”, let’s look at some videos leading up to the tour.

Let’s kick off with the Tokyo (backstage Budokan) interview. (It should probably have been included in part 2 of this series, but I didn’t find it till now).

10 March 1986
MTV Interview, Backstage, Budokan Hall, Tokyo

…probably I’d do ANY song that I’d ever written, but to put them in a show is a different thing, because it takes time, and there’s not a lotta time when you play for a few hours.
~Bob Dylan (1986-03-10)

..and same place.. with Tom Petty (talking about touring with Dylan):

Continue reading Bob Dylan – US Summer Tour 1986 – True Confession Tour part 3 (Videos, Audio, and more)