Bob Dylan - Blind Willie McTell (Studio Outtake - 1983 - Official Audio)

Listen to "Blind Willie McTell" by Bob Dylan (Studio Outtake - 1983 - Official Audio)
Listen to Bob Dylan: bobdylan.lnk.t...
Subscribe to the Bob Dylan KZbin channel: bobdylan.lnk.t...
Watch more Bob Dylan videos: bobdylan.lnk.t...
Follow Bob Dylan:
Facebook: bobdylan.lnk.t...
Twitter: bobdylan.lnk.t...
Instagram: bobdylan.lnk.t...
Website: bobdylan.lnk.t...
Spotify: bobdylan.lnk.t...
KZbin: bobdylan.lnk.t...
Lyrics:
[Verse 1]
Seen the arrow on the doorpost
Saying, “This land is condemned
All the way from New Orleans
To Jerusalem”
I traveled through East Texas
Where many martyrs fell
And I know no one can sing the blues
Like Blind Willie McTell
[Verse 2]
Well, I heard that hoot owl singing
As they were taking down the tents
The stars above the barren trees
Was his only audience
Them charcoal gypsy maidens
Can strut their feathers well
But nobody can sing the blues
Like Blind Willie McTell
[Verse 3]
See them big plantations burning
Hear the cracking of the whips
Smell that sweet magnolia blooming
See the ghosts of slavery ships
I can hear them tribes moaning
Hear that undertaker’s bell
Nobody can sing the blues
Like Blind Willie McTell
[Verse 4]
There’s a woman by the river
With some fine young handsome man
He’s dressed up like a squire
Bootlegged whiskey in his hand
There’s a chain gang on the highway
I can hear them rebels yell
And I know no one can sing the blues
Like Blind Willie McTell
[Verse 5]
Well, God is in His heaven
And we all want what’s His
But power and greed and corruptible seed
Seem to be all that there is
I’m gazing out the window
Of the St. James Hotel
And I know no one can sing the blues
Like Blind Willie McTell
#BobDylan #BlindWillieMcTell #TheBootlegSeries

[@michaelg4411]

Hundreds of years of American history distilled into a six minute masterpiece. Stunning.

[@jameybrown4264]

Well said. I think it's the greatest blues song ever written because of that.

[@johansterk354]

Bloody hell, what a great, great, great, great song to be enjoyed by us mere mortals!!

[@Whatzzzz999]

Yep, it's definitely an OK, OK, OK, OK song.

[@jackwendigo6541]

One of the best songs in the entire Dylan catalogue - and perhaps the best singing he ever did.

[@quentinlynch]

I agree. May I ask, do you prefer this version to the one on the album?

[@jackwendigo6541]

@@quentinlynch What album?

[@quentinlynch]

@@jackwendigo6541 The 2007 "best of".

[@jackwendigo6541]

@@quentinlynch I don't have that set, but if it's one of the full band recordings of the song, my answer would be no. The vocal is excellent in any recording of the song I've heard, but the extra instrumentation distracts from rather than enhances it.

[@thebacons5943]

And yet you one could make a good faith argument it’s not one of his 50 best songs. He’s truly one of the greatest, most prolific musical artists we’ve seen. This is literally just a “bootleg” release.

[@Spamfish]

Never heard this before the algorithm hit me with it like a truck. Lifelong Dylan fan. How?

[@Rootle2]

He didn't release it originally, the asbolute nutter. It's like when he was thinking of not releasing Forever Young and had to be talked into it by the producer. Also, I believe you mean "like a freeeiight train"

[@fredlyr1]

The Band did a great cover. This is the first time i've heard Bob do it.

[@marcast685]

And to think, one of Dylan's greatest songs came out almost a decade after being recorded & on a bootleg album. There's just so much imagery evoked in this song's lyrics & in his singing. And the accompaniment of acoustic guitar & piano is perfection.

[@robertbollert7375]

Mark Knopler of Dire Straits who produced the record basically went crazy and pleaded with Dylan to put this song and two others on the album. Dylan obviously refused. The three songs would have been the three best on Infidels IMO. In a sense the story is classic Bob IMO. The melody is based off of the traditional "St. James Infirmary." I agree with you that it is one of his best songs. I keep coming back to it over and over. Cheers.

[@RalphDavis-qk2xy]

Thank God we have Bob to keep our history alive. Brilliant song.

[@darkstar223]

Thank humanity we have Bob ……I think u mean

[@RalphDavis-qk2xy]

@@darkstar223 It's just an expression. I wouldn't pay it any mind.

[@GentlemanMarxist]

Thank his folks 😅

[@armandmarc]

Dylan'n piano and Mark Knopfler 12 string guitar just perfect!

[@jack1etreehorn286]

Bob and Paul (Simon) are my all time fav singer/songwriters but Mark and Johnny Marr are my all time fav guitarists

[@mariaaristopoulou4778]

this is a Nobel prize by itself no matter the prize, great poem.

[@deathwarmedup73]

The power and depth of this song is what separated Dylan from all his contemporaries. No one else could have done it, or been taken seriously doing it.

[@pauledmiston4883]

... Definitely, Bob's lyrics were worth the Nobel...

[@matthewgreydanus7535]

This might be my favorite Dylan song. I love the way the piano continues throughout the song and the way the lyrics build. His voice is perfect for this song.

[@billreid818]

And it's an outtake! I say, an OUTTAKE, for cryin' out loud! 😉

[@savethewest8784]

Agreed. Top 5 for sure. Although Bob is pretty good, he's not ALWAYS the best judge of what to release. This is exhibit A. "Didn't think it was good enough"

[@rudolfmockel5869]

Dylan is just incredible. His melodies and lyrics read in my soul. He influenced my life so deep.

[@ianthomas5955]

@@billreid818 Yes, Bill. an outtake from Infidels. He did the same thing with another of his greatest songs, Farewell Angelina, which was omitted from Bringing it all Back Home and immediately grabbed by Joan Baez who made it the lead song on her next album. To be fair, Dylan probably thought this song was too similar to It's All Over Now, Baby Blue, which could have been the reason for leaving it out.

[@stratdouthat6922]

you nailed it, matthew

[@hershelmccoy]

A beautiful song about the power of the human spirit to transform suffering into transcendent art, "I know no one can sing the blues like Blind Willie McTell"

[@RichardDinter]

This song carries a lot on its shoulders, one of his greatest performances, the last verse still gives me chills, after so many years.

[@pierfrancesco9466]

“The empty handed painter from your streets Is drawing crazy patterns on your sheets The sky too is fallin' in over you And it's all over now, baby blue”

[@dominicmcauley9318]

Got here from Billions such a great show for quality songs

[@jeffitzkowitz883]

Ha, same!

[@42awww]

Much has been said about Bob's talent. But what is often overlooked is his incredible piano playing. That's him playing the keys on Like a Rolling Stone for example.

[@Scorhos]

In guitar is so skalsish thing this music.

[@smartmart3095]

No it isn’t, I’m pretty it was Paul Griffin

[@42awww]

@@smartmart3095 no, it's Bob.

[@smartmart3095]

@@42awww wdym “no” you can literally hear in the outtake it’s a whole different dude

[@42awww]

@@smartmart3095 Sorry. I just saw my comment and thought it was Like a Rolling Stone. I didn't see Blind Willie, but wouldn't doubt it was Dylan. But you seem to know, so I agree with you.

[@Baron-Larrey]

This is one of the greatest songs ever written

[@j.cordellsteinmetz9219]

Perhaps the best song ever.

[@Noneofyourbiz123]

Heard this for the first time ever on Billions the other night. Great tune!

[@ErnestoGarcia-pu2cq]

Nobody can sing the blues like Blind Willie McTell

[@JellyrollHorton]

This song always chokes me up. Another genius work by The Prophet

[@philhood501]

Outstanding song and performance ! Just want to say "Thanks a lot Mr Dylan“ ! I'm sixty three now, and enjoyed many of your songs, also played a lot of them on the guitar for friends, among songs from Cohen or Brassens, here in France, since I was sixteen. Thank you for being such a great song writer...

[@johnvoyce]

In 1983 Dylan could still do magic. It's so simple - no need for big band stuff - just like early Dylan.

[@Cloxxki]

He called in Mark Knopfler for this, though.

[@NevadaBoss]

One of 'the Master's' true masterpieces...can't imagine any other modern songwriter crafting a song like this..only Bob knows why he would choose to leave this off Infidels. But then, he's Bob..just grateful we finally got to hear it. One of his very best creations...

[@tomohawkkid]

Stunning

[@varsityathlete9927]

*If* only one Dylan song will end up remembered in 100 years time, this is a candidate for the song.

[@thebacons5943]

There are quite a few. If history ever forgets Bob Dylan, it will be posterity’s loss.

[@varsityathlete9927]

@@thebacons5943 Don't disagree. That is what makes choosing one song so hard. Maybe one of his early major songs is a better choice, it started his career and is what he is know for by most. Say Blowing in the Wind as an example. Good song, but not one I go out of my way to listen to. It's usually later stuff now.

[@marine4lyfe85]

@@varsityathlete9927 Like a Rolling Stone

[@jannadavis77]

As long as humanity exists all of Dylan’s songs will be played into infinity❣️

[@galacticnight05fan18]

But not, it seems, for an “Infidels” or any other Dylan studio album.

[@perfectperson214]

East Texas is a hell of a place, it’s enchanting and repulsive at times. Deep deep history. From the natives to the Spanish to tha French, then Mexico, and finally Tejas. ❤

[@CactusThorn]

Just in case anyone was wondering why Bob received the Nobel Prize in Literature.

[@Bryanadamsmusicinc]

Hello Dear, it’s nice meeting you on here

[@CactusThorn]

@@Bryanadamsmusicinc Thank you. But we didn't just meet here. Together through lives, eh?

[@Bryanadamsmusicinc]

@@CactusThorn Have you ever been to our concerts?

[@johansterk354]

Don't get fooled by the prankster, does this on many songs, always with women.

[@CactusThorn]

@@johansterk354 of course. Just playing.

[@RhysPitman94]

Bob is playing the Piano, and Mark Knopfler is doing the duties on acoustic guitar. The song is just something else even for Dylan's sheer brilliant calibre as a songwriter. However, the recording itself just to impressive it's such a clean, and polished sound, which contrasts the brutality, unforgiving nature of the topics that are brought throughout the verses, but that's just scratching the top layer there's much to dissect here. The most amazing part of Mctell's story is the irony, how a blind man can sing/see the blues better than anyone who truly witnesses all the dissaray. As Maxwell Fraser said, "you don't need eyes to see you need vision". I'm grateful we have the comments open on here, so we can further discuss interpretations of this song. Shoutout to Dylan and Knopfler for crafting such a thought-provoking, and profound composition.

[@green323turbo]

This is a great mix. They raised Bobs piano and vocals and lowered Knopflers persistant guitar in the mix .

[@Spuzzmacher]

I think what gets me the most about this track, after the obvious emotional impact, is that the vox float in the grand the space between Bob’s dynamic piano playing and Mark’s careful acoustic work, which could have taken any band twenty takes to get right, but here, it’s just two extremely talented guys each made for their part to be performed in just this way, and the results are stunning.

[@Cloxxki]

That piano and guitar are just crying in each other's arms... I wonder how much Mark has to do with the lyrics and composition, or only showed up to record some guitar on a couple takes. Since it's so next level even for Dylan, I suspect Mark was there from a very early concept already. Maybe they listened to a few Blind Willy recordings just before? The tone, man...

[@philiptruppin]

Just stunning. Bob at his best + Mark

[@dpm12]

The greatest song I've ever heard.

[@Jan-lu1ep]

I just can't stop listening to it. It haunts me (in a good way).

[@bradbesco6595]

The final stanza of this magnificent poem brings the point home like a spear through one’s soul. “I NOW know one….” Stunning.

[@analogman1909]

Driving, I can stop at the precise westbound intersection and lane where I first heard this , 6 or 7 years ago. It caught me instantly.

[@fortunx]

Totally relate...2 years ago in Germany, my girlfriend at the time went into a station to buy a train ticket and I put an unmarked cassette into the tape deck...and sat there stunned . Never forget that moment.

[@monsahlner7592]

A special thank to Blind Willie Mc Tell, one of the greatest ever...

[@robertshine5490]

One of the greatest songs from one of the greatest singers and player ever.

[@Cloxxki]

With a little help from a mightily powerful friend.

[@desmondmclaughlin3117]

Dylan seems to get in touch with the spirit of McTell evoking the deep south of the 19th century through his song. A transcendent experience to listen to. The music based on " Saint James Infirmary" by Louis Armstrong is magical. Sorry seem to have liked my own comment.?..well I would, wouldn't I

[@dariorovi3930]

Amazing Song. Thanks Bob. And that Mark knopfler guitar too.

[@downtoearth13]

Jack White brings me here...he just said Blind Willie McTell is his favorite blues singer... also Dylan wrote an ode to him so naturally I have to find out what all the fuss is about!

[@pamelaarescurrinaga8201]

Dylan is a genius.

[@piotrlangtvedt3444]

Best Recording ever.

[@tomfritze1412]

Was originally recorded on 3M digital 32 track, one of the very early digital multi tracks. An out take not used on the album at the time Was recovered and mixed at The Hit Factory NYC

[@a2zme]

Dylan's unreleased material contains some breath-taking masterpieces. This song is high on that list.. #theMaster

[@donttouchyerbumnsniffit]

Those sessions produced this absolute masterpiece along with 'Foot of Pride' and both were cut from Infidels which still baffles me as they were 2 of his greatest ever lyrics.

[@dylanmyers3082]

Best ever version of this incredible song Sublime 1 of the great mans best ever

[@j.cordellsteinmetz9219]

Among the most powerful things written in the 20th century.

[@rievans57]

From the vocals, to the melody, the subject matter, the music, this song is filled to the brim with irony. Great, great record.

[@SwanzTheLonelyCatDeadCatInABag]

A bloody masterpiece.

[@yyaa2539]

I remember the times when I liked Bob Dylan's songs without understanding much of English...what a voice... just perfect

[@jackyvanhal9514]

No one makes masterpieces like Bob Dylan and he wants us all to listen to them. Thanks a lot for this endless list.

[@vitaminag9986]

A shining masterpiece !!!

[@monicatolipan3238]

Superb version of this gorgeous song ever heard from Bob Dylan's voice!

[@danielsainty2180]

Christie Hynde also does it justice. Breathtaking.

[@GeneLindgren]

How many times will I be drawn here over the next 4 years.

[@Sarah-4MH]

We are obviously on the same wavelength ❤

[@betsareoff]

One of my top favorite Dylan songs.

[@sandrawadsworth5173]

Bob sounds so good on this song!💯❤️

[@simonedevlin7710]

"Blind Willie McTell" leading the chain gang to the "land of promise. Sorrow for beauty in the heavens above.Thank you.

[@socratesgoulas9036]

One more poem of his!!! Greetings from Hellas!

[@Dee-s1l19]

Thanks Bob. This is superb!!!

[@darkstar223]

Why does this song on have on have 214k views ….when with out doubt it is one of the greatest songs ever written

[@TrulyNowhereMan]

Made my week.

[@uttiyadeb7583]

One of my favourite Bob Dylan songs.❤️❤️

[@LuckyLuke1983]

Pure beauty...

[@meninagreen5704]

And this was an outtake? Sheesh.

[@freddyflipaflop]

Yeah, and we have to live with it! How so good it is.

[@muhammadrifqi7308]

Bob was notoriously terrible at judging the merit of his own songs during the 80s. Putting this song in the vault until early 90s was arguably the biggest offense.

[@hym9733]

I said it on another recording of this song on youtube and I'll say it again here: this is the greatest song ever written. Nothing else touches it.

[@paulferranti8536]

Masterpiece...Besides lyrics, Bob is great at those guitar licks that tie a song together.

[@phincampbell1886]

God how I love this song!! I first heard it as a teen, my something cousin or whatever brought me the 3 cd box of the Bootleg Series as I'd grown up a Dylan fan, and I found many recordings on there that were new to me and that I loved. This was definitely one of the top favourites of mine. I played it a lot! The sleeve notes, (I'd call them that though I guess it's not technically accurate,) said it was ironic that in this song lauding a great blues singer, Dylan has produced something that is arguably an example of the same class. I don't know about that, but only that I love this song! From first hearing to now, decades later.

[@Lowgun5]

Close. They're called liner notes. They used to give a Grammy for the best ones every year. Not sure if they still do.

[@JamieLamb-ft6io]

Only Bob Dylan could write and sing a song like this😮 absolutely captivating😮 I want to know more about blind Willie McTell❤

[@mst7155]

Blind Willie MC Tell was born in Georgia ,blind and orphan....His life story is very sad: he was a drifter earnings his living on the streets...Taj Mahal and Bukka White did some renditions of his composition Statesboro blues...His style was some kind of ragtime blues ; he wrote his own lyrics....A poet and an artist, unfortunately very unlucky....

[@bel-amimargoles1209]

My favorite recording of my favorite Dylan song.

[@J.A.Hansen]

l remember hearing this song for the first time in the night time,I opened up the window in my old flat,and a breeze of fresh air came into my room and it was raining outside...God is in his heaven,may his kingdom come□Psalm 24

[@jordanantsadventure6786]

The universe

[@chitrakbhadra7441]

First came across this song in a moving sequence in the film I'm Not There sometime in 2009-10. Never lost it since, always with me. Always will be.

[@0otee]

Its Soothing how this is brought❣️🌺❣️ Its Love Bob Dylan brings to us💫❣️ I’m listening to it. Sound is perfect Composition too! Least of all this spheric pianoplay and LYRICS.. Its only Love❤️

[@IsisMusic]

what a song

[@andreasvukman]

And Mark Knopfler on 12 string guitar. 🙂

[@yamapenny5960]

Its better than birthday, christmas ans newyearseve together.... Go Bobby go....

[@maxwellmark986]

Hello Yame......

[@dedhippi]

like an act of kindness, it can move you.

[@yingyangma]

This song sinks its talons into my soul and rips it to pieces.

[@larss8958]

Who can sing this song, marvelous performance by Dylan

[@robinwitting2023]

When I get to Heaven - assuming a few misdemeanours are overlooked - Bessie Smith will be singing this for me. Robin Witting England

[@mohammedhanif6780]

An astonishing achievement. As good as anything ever done by anyone.

[@sherilundberg2663]

Been blessed to go see him ! But next time I want to see his eye beautiful dream!

[@paddyc9490]

Hypnotic

[@rickblackers88]

Perfect to listen in a dark room late night.

[@carstenhackel6743]

That's what I am doing now ... with a whisky in my hand ...

[@johansterk354]

A fabulous song that will be enjoyed by many when all of us are long, long gone.

[@norapetty3355]

Make me 😢 Dear Lord to missed the last five festivities in Thomaston Georgia! But it all worked out in the end! Robert you our World's! Best to you always! ❤ 💕 💓 💖 💙 the things that make mama say Hum Hum Hum what a man!

[@Bryanadamsmusicinc]

Hello Dear, it’s nice meeting you on here

[@norapetty3355]

@@Bryanadamsmusicinc Gratitude for your gifted talent! So amazing to hear from a beloved music man! Thanks Dearest Robert for replying back! You hubble me love! ❤ This southern girl sends Huge Hug & a Sweet Yankee Dime!

[@Bryanadamsmusicinc]

@@norapetty3355 Good to know thanks 🙏🏽 I’m honored… So have you ever been to our concerts?

[@johansterk354]

Don't get fooled by the prankster, gives the same comment on female comments for many songs.

[@bau6078]

What a story imagen you can not see one of many so many ❤

[@richardnishiki-finley97]

Nobody can sing Blind Willie McTell like Nob Dylan.

[@toddhenderson3019]

Thank you Mr Dylan to this great day . . . Today . ! .

[@despacitodaniel801]

Nice to listen to alone walking at night, smoking

[@albertocancedda445]

Eccellente Bob! Forever...

[@wilhelmbeermann2424]

Best voice ever ❤

[@adambanks990]

Absolutely timeless

[@ullabello7560]

Yes. He is a grate songwriter❤

[@StanyslasVANP]

Masterfully !

[@JorgeLMarquezsM]

Emocional, laudatorio, un Dylan entrañable, que acompaña, sobre todo en las malas.

[@juancamacho5746]

Seen the arrow on the doorpost Saying this land is condemned All the way from New Orleans To Jerusalem I travel through east Texas Where many martyrs fell And I dont know one can sing the blues Like blind Wille McTell Well, I heard that hoo-dove singing As they were taking down the tent The stars above the barren trees Was his only audiance Them charcoal gypsy maidens Can strut their feathers well But nobody can sing the blues Like blind Wille McTell 🎵🎶🎵🎶 Seen them big plantations burning Hear the cracking of the whips Smell that sweet magnolia blooming See the ghost of slarvery ship I can hear them tribes moaning Hear the undertakers bell Nobody can sing the blues Like blind Wille McTell There's a woman by the river With some fine young handsome man He's dressed up like a squire Bootlegged whiskey in his hand There's a chain gang on the highway I can hear them rebells yell And I know no one can sing the blues Like blind Wille McTell 🎵🎶🎵🎶 Well, God is in his heaven And we are what was his But power and greed and corruptible seed Seem to be all that there is I'm gazing out the window Of the St. James Hotel And I dont know no one that can sing the blues Like blind Wille McTell

[@vratyadeleon1928]

with Mark Knopfler on a 12-string Ovation Adamas

[@robertshine5490]

He earned it.

[@garyreece5172]

Unreal beautiful wow

[@green323turbo]

This is a great mix. They raised Bobs piano and vocals and lowered Knopflers repetative guitar strumming .

[@Thin_Mercury]

What a masterpiece

[@johnmichaelpatrick369]

I love this song with no moderation !!!

[@zaxapitsa]

personally, my number one song.

[@SvendBosanvovski]

Featured in one of the concluding episodes of the final series of Billions.

[@nickytaylor4123]

Lots of people on here saying that this absolute masterpiece is a copy of St James's Infirmary. That was his starting point certainly. However, first of all, that old blues song is public domain, so there is no 'plagiarism'. The chords are not the same anyway. The Em to B7 part is lifted from Infirmary, but it then goes D major, A major, C major. I have played the song for years and have watched the best of guitarists stumble. This is because those are NOT common chords when played together. Blind Willie Mctell is not the same as the older blues, although it may resemble it. As do scores of other blues songs. Apart from anything else, Dylan tells you in the song itself where it originated. He mentions New Orleans in the first verse and the St James hotel in the last. He makes no bones about it whatsoever. If you wish to believe that Bob Dylan is a plagiarist, then you have to admit that Shakespeare was one too. Virtually all of his plays are from other sources. Romeo and Juliet was a poem and a novel before he adapted it into a play. Seriously folks. Get a life.