Bob Dylan Vs Hootie & The Blowfish - Was He Wrong?

[@aisforapple2494]

You cannot just plagiarize an entire verse of a Dylan tune and get away with it!

[@xKillZone99]

apparently the big issue was dylan wasnt credited in the writing of the song despite multiple dylan lyrics being in the song, his lawyers said either give writing credits to Bob or make a 1 time payment for i believe like $350,000 it really wasnt that much, they decided to pay him instead of giving him writing credit on the song

[@stevedanos9866]

The Guitar Riff is the Same in Only Want To Be With You and Tangled Up In Blue,,,that should also be noted here.

[@TJRtheOriginal]

They are similar, but still different in my opinion

[@marcofalzone6469]

At this point, B. Dylan ought to just change his profile to 'property of the Chief Commander' and send all royalties due to him.

[@ChrisLawton66]

🙄

[@ronreynolds1610]

@@ChrisLawton66 Amen , Glory to God , Jesus and the Holy Spirit ...

[@ChrisLawton66]

@@ronreynolds1610 🙄

[@Jody-royAnnan]

LOL yeah . his demons must be having difficulty coming up with new ideas for lyrics !

[@Philosophy42DaysUth]

One thing I have wondered about is did the melody get factored in as welll.... Arguably the hootie song is indebted to the melody of Tangled up in blue as well.

[@larsonhomeinspection9932]

Ya it's the same guitar riff

[@rainblaze.]

Dylan has a track record of this to be fair: The guitar he used aat that famous freeport concert went missing only to turn up about ten years ago. After the current owner approached his "people" to only be all but resolutely ignored, they put it up for auction only for Dylan to claim rights on it at the last minute. This was after the new owners payed for it to be officially authenticated and everything that that took. That in and of it's self would not be SOOO bad. But once given that the young BD had history of trying to steal items that was not his own, way back in his "village" days when he claimed dabs on the "Harry Smith folk anthology" , that he "borrowed" from an aquantence and that would prove of fundemetal immportence and have such an all incoompasing shaping and influnce on his own songwriting, and consequently his career, one could even arguel, to this very day. This all begins to looks.. Shall we say a little disdainful and not a little disingenuous. Yeah I think we know which way the that the double standerds run bobby. Genius you may have been. Honest?.. Not even close buddy. Weathermen aside we can all feel which way the wind blow on this one 😂😂😂

[@denniswinters2541]

Where and when was the Freeport concert?

[@rainblaze.]

​@@denniswinters2541 sorry I meant newpurt... OF COARSE!!

[@chrisdelisle3954]

It’s a little bit more than that. Have you heard “Tangled Up In Blue?” They took the guitar part as well. To my ears, that’s what makes the song catchy in the first place.

[@larsonhomeinspection9932]

Yep. Hootie even sings "tangled up in blue" in the song

[@larryzink8978]

Out of your mind. "referencing" Used to call it PLAGARISM. THE Song was Copywrited. They lifted the whole darv verse, you turkey.

[@dazxmedia]

far from lifted, the ONLY line they quoted was the title and they sang Tangled up AND blue, not even tangled up in blue.That is a reference and nothing more.

[@PotrzebieConolly]

@@dazxmediaThat is just a reference. However, they ALSO sang a whole verse of "Idiot Wind".

[@TheYorkshireman73]

Pretty much every song on Freewheelin’ and Times They Are a Changin’ is simply an adaptation of a song someone else wrote. I can’t be arsed listing every single one but, if you want to learn where With God on Our Side comes from, it comes from a song called The Patriot Game by Dominic Behan. Not only did Dylan steal the tune, he felched the general idea of a song against patriotism. He took the theme but in the main, he changed the words. So “my name is O’Hanlon I’m barely 16” became “my name it ain’t nothing, my age it means less” etc Behan had only written the song seven years prior, and when Dylan visited the UK in ‘65, he called Dylan up …. Dylan: get your lawyers to speak to my lawyers Behan: I’ve only got two lawyers, and they’re on the ends of my wrists!

[@threeleggedman]

"sittin' on a fence" is a reference to You're a big girl now, the song right before Idiot Wind.

[@debjorgo]

Yeah, Dylan uses that Zeppelin trick of taking old blues songs and republishing them as his compositions. But those old blues songs are tough to crack. When you think you have the correct writer credited, suddenly you hear an older version by someone else. All of that aside though, Hootie takes the whole idea in that verse, even the ironic hook. He kills her husband and when the wife 'dies', he gets the money. "I can't help it if I'm lucky." I think that's more than just saying this line and that line were cool.

[@steverogers2635]

I agree with this comment.

[@anthonyaswe4174]

Mmmm, not quite...Zeppelin was a different type of robbery altogether. What they engaged in was a lot more than just recording songs that may have slipped into the public domain, and the proper writer may not have been able to receive credit at the time of recording.

[@debjorgo]

@@anthonyaswe4174 I didn't mean to imply that Zep was only taking credit because proper crediting was difficult. I made the general statement and then went on to discuss the subject of proper credit for these old blues writers/performers further. I'm not sure if I ever have heard what Page and Plant were thinking in this regard.

[@JIF882]

I don't recall Dylan taking credit for old Blues songs

[@debjorgo]

@@JIF882 I guess I'm thinking of him using Kansas Joe McCoy and Memphis Minnies "When the Levee Breaks". It was in public domain and already used by Led Zeppelin as well. I would think with public domain, you'd credit the writer, you just don't need to pay royalties.

[@ChrisLawton66]

It's quite possible that Dylan's lawyers never even spoke to him about Hootie. I've seen lawyers do this before. Having said that, if it was done with Dylan's blessing, then he should change his first name to "Dick".

[@SusanBlakely-pd6mp]

Heard that one about Dylan pinching rare discs from a friends record collection (pre-fame) and being tasked to give it back or potentially receive a beating? It's in the Clinton Heylin book.

[@mrkgrmn3]

It is widely known among Dylan fans that he often cops melodies and lyrics from old blues and folk tunes. He also employs an aggressive legal team that is pretty zealous in guarding his interests. At this point in his career I doubt he takes much interest in any of the ensuing controversies.

[@BaggeyTrowsers-w2n]

I'm just glad somebody sued Hootie

[@patriceodom2553]

Anyone listen to "Murder Most Foul"? SO many song references to other song titles, old and new. Plus musicians. Very confused. I found some very good pieces Chet Baker is one 💜❤️

[@marcofalzone6469]

😅yeah. Good point. The estate of Carl Wilson should be notified asap!

[@williamfirstand5057]

@@marcofalzone6469 Off the top of my head quickly, comes to mind, wasn't it Barenaked Ladies who had a song, "Brian Wilson"? And...the "Boo Radleys" had a song "Jimmy Webb is God." I am sure if I thought very long I could think of examples of similar references. Not saying it's right, wrong, or indifferent. I LOVE Dylan, and have since his first album came out. Saw him three times, first time in 1966. Of course Hootie wasn't NAME-Checking Bob, right, and I'm certain there are tons of examples of lyrical references to Dylan's work, and the works of many other songwriters. ALSO, I feel certain Dylan didn't know. He has a large team tasked with capturing EVERYTHING, any and all revenue owed. AND I would imagine that Hootie ran this by a copyright lawyer before forking over 350k. ...Perhaps for an opinion run it by KZbin's Miss Krystle, the Copyright Lawyer who is also a talent, great singer, artist and beauty.

[@PotrzebieConolly]

The Beatles song "Come Together" quotes one line from Chuck Berry's "You Can't Catch Me". Afterwards, John Lennon was forced to make a deal with the publishers.

[@farrellmcnulty909]

Not only was that hilarious, but Lennon's response by having a badly-drummed (by an 11 year-old Julian) truncated, off-key version of one of Morris Levy's properties ("Ya Ya") sent Levy over the edge. Speaking of the Beatles, (sort of), who didn't want to cry, scream or vomit when Michael Jackson bought their publishing catalogue...with Yoko's help...and licensing "Revolution" to NIKE?!?!

[@danielhaggerty7209]

Bob should have let it slide. The song was meant to pay homage to him. He is name checked in the song too. And it's not like Bob hasn't begged, borrowed, and stolen from the entirety of the American music tradition, he has.

[@brushez]

You would think Dylan would be happy with them bringing his name to a new audience especially when it says ain't Bobby so cool .

[@TheYorkshireman73]

Pretty much every song on Freewheelin’ and Times They Are a Changin’ is simply an adaptation of a song someone else wrote. I can’t be arsed listing every single one but, if you want to learn where With God on Our Side comes from, it comes from a song called The Patriot Game by Dominic Behan. Not only did Dylan steal the tune, he felched the general idea of a song against patriotism. He took the theme but in the main, he changed the words. So “my name is O’Hanlon I’m barely 16” became “my name it ain’t nothing, my age it means less” etc Behan had only written the song seven years prior, and when Dylan visited the UK in ‘65, he called Dylan up …. Dylan: get your lawyers to speak to my lawyers Behan: I’ve only got two lawyers, and they’re on the ends of my wrists!

[@anthonyaswe4174]

The first time I heard that song, the quote of Idiot Wind was clear and obvious--and I took it as a flat out lyrical quote, plain and simple--it's not like they 'rewrote' Idiot Wind and claimed it as their own. If indeed this was run by Dylan's publishing back then and all was okay, then that should have been that. I'm surprised that there was any further action...and even more surprised that there was a $350 pay out...and I don't buy that Bob himself wouldn't have known about this.

[@timcharlton6485]

Two different issues here Dylan is influenced by other writers and he also employs people to protect his own copyright. Most songwriters do the same thing.

[@jameswilson7084]

Bob Dylan has pretty much copied an entire song. Like with "Rollin' And Tumblin'". He didn't even change the song title in that case. ha! Counting Crows referenced Bob Dylan around that same time with their hit "Mr. Jones", but not as blatantly. And it also wasn't a hit because of that. I had to tell my brother and his friend about the Bob Dylan connection there. They even missed the part where the singer says "I wanna be Bob Dylan". ha!

[@myradioon]

Everybody has dropped other people's lyrics/song names/melody in their songs to make a point. David Bowie referenced John Lennon's lyrics and melody with "I read the news today, oh boy" in 'Young Americans' where the backing chorus sings it. It's to make an artistic statement to deepen the song.

[@aisforapple2494]

"They say I shot a man named Gray / And took his wife to Italy / She inherited a million bucks / And when she died it came to me / I can't help it if I'm lucky" - Bob Dylan / 'Tangled Up In Blue'

[@CthrillaJ]

The song is Idiot Wind, but He mentions Tangled up in Blue as well. Both songs are from the album, Blood on the Tracks

[@aisforapple2494]

@CthrillaJ The line I quoted is from 'Tangled Up In Blue' You might want to re-listen to it! I'm also well-aware that both songs are from 'Blood On The Tracks'. I've been a Dylan fan most of my 57 years.

[@aisforapple2494]

@@CthrillaJ Hootie lifted the whole verse I quoted. Try again! 🤡

[@aisforapple2494]

@CthrillaJ Hootie lifted the entire verse I quoted. Try again! 🤡

[@charlesbolton8471]

@@aisforapple2494 I think you need to listen to Tangled Up In Blue again, because the line you quoted is definitely from the first verse of Idiot Wind.

[@TheRubenMar]

It is probably similar to when The Rolling Stones sued The Verve. It was not Keith Richards and Mick Jagger; it was their former manager, Allen Klein, the head of ABKCO Records. In this case, I think Dylan's management was trying to make more money for themselves. I doubt Dylan went to his lawyers and asked to sue.

[@nowherebound2908]

That does seem lame and kind of hypocritical - Hootie was honoring Bob in the song. I don't think Bob would have a problem with it, but his lawyers representing him went for the money.

[@josephblue4135]

And nothing to say about Bob Dylan. But just for the algorithm I'll say nothing. 😅

[@TJRtheOriginal]

😆

[@kevinlee3182]

I think the lawsuit comes from Dylan’s managers and accountants. Maybe his publishers forced his hand. I wonder if the original permission was I writing

[@TJRtheOriginal]

I am going to guess it probably wasn't.

[@rede5426]

One flaw. Dylan doesn't own his back catalogue. He sold it. Probably the new owners of his catalogue. Fact check needed.

[@TJRtheOriginal]

The selling of his back catalogue did not occur until several decades later.

[@denniswinters2541]

We know where Bob's been the last 60+ years, where's Hootie been the last 30 years.

[@JIF882]

What's your point?

[@RobScuremusic]

Darius Rucker went country and he's still touring with a large, appreciative Hootie fan base. Bob's concerts are, and always have been, a mixed bag. I love Dylan but seeing him live convinced to never do that again. Seeing Hootie in concert was amazing.

[@rocky-o]

seeing bob live is an experience..having seen him several times, the man could read a phonebook and still be better (and more interesting) than most concerts..​@@RobScuremusic

[@adrianmist6681]

It's all about greed, hasn't Dylan made enough money already? I've heard plenty of stories about Dylan ripping off old blues and folk songs in his early days. In this instance it's not like a melody has been copied and the Blowfish song could easily have slightly different lyrics and be just as successful.

[@farrellmcnulty909]

When I heard the line in the Hootie song, I thought "aaah...fanboys, are they?" I thought it was a nice move. I haven't heard the song in years, but if I'm not mistaken, isn't there a similarity between the intros to "Only Want to be with You" and "Tangled Up in Blue"?

[@charlesbolton8471]

Yes

[@gudlisner501]

Guy. That’s lift a full verse and then following that up by referencing the name of another Dylan song. So what’s your beef.

[@alancrandall1325]

Hes Bob, theyre Hootie,do the math.Write your own stuff and dont quote Bob,his stuff is impossible to quote anyway,without being a rip off,hes too unique.,theyre a flavor of the moment from the 90's with a couple big records...the moral= know your place

[@sunshinecoolwater9528]

Tough call to make. Doesn't make Bob Dylan look good. I think this is more of his lawyers reacting to the recent success from the biopic about Dylan. I'm a fan of both Darius Rucker and Hootie and the Blowfish. Why can't legacy artists just enjoy the praise from another generational act giving them a spotlight and credit to a newer and younger audience that would purchase a Bob Dylan album?

[@227716689]

I agree with you TJ. But $350,000 while a lot to me, is pennies to Zimmerman. That is if Bob even got any of it. Who knows? I am not a fan of Dylan or his music. Check the lyrics to his song "Murder Most Foul" about JFK's assassination and you will find Bob referencing names of artists and songs.

[@TJRtheOriginal]

I have heard that song (and I do like it by the way). And you are correct it’s not a lot to him.

[@Slotnikoff]

I used to be a Dylan fanatic back in the late 60s and early 70s. However, the stuff I had been so mesmerized over were those tracks he had released years earlier. Except for 'New Morning', I became increasingly disenchanted with his albums, even with 'Blood On The Tracks'. When he put out his 'Slow Train Coming' disc, that was the last straw for me. I never purchased another B.D. album. Even though I still enjoy listening to most of my musical heroes, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Elvis Presley, et al., I find listening to Dylan these days an annoying experience. To me, the guy is basically a pretentious fraud. He actually once said, "Some day, I will be hung as a thief"! And no, I did not and will not see 'A Complete Unknown'... for the basic reason that all the actors playing the principles in the movie all look they were picked out of Esquire; all good-looking and such, which for me is a smack in the face and just caters to Hollywood white-washing. I rue the day when America's film industry puts out a bio-pic of The Rolling Stones... can you imagine who they will chooses to play Mick Jagger? Brrrr... And another by-the-way, probably sixty percent of Mr. Zimmerman's output for the last 60+ years have "referenced" other musicians' songs.

[@denniswinters2541]

I thought you said you gave up listening to him in 1979.How can you comment on something you haven't heard?

[@Firefoxy-rz1nw]

I love Blood on the Tracks and especially Desire. Street Legal and Slow Train and Saved were all great. Shot of Love sucked though. I understand why you don't like Dylan's Christian stuff but i think gospel is a solid chapter in the great American songbook. Saved in particular, for me, is a rich addition to that tradition. And I'm an athiest but that doesn't bias me against good art

[@DesInDublin]

Hugely enjoying this but wondering if you ever reviewed Rory Gallagher (often called the greatest guitarist you have never heard of - although he had a huge following and sold about 30 million records - here he is at the BBC kzbin.info/www/bejne/q4imZmqfjc6GsNEsi=KdXRaQn10pkjRmsi

[@petersheely7246]

Who cares?

[@productivemonk5261]

Dylan sucks and is entirely overrated. I don't see the appeal, at all.

[@schevling]

Who’s your favorite artist or artists? I listen to rock, bluegrass, alternative, punk, metal, reggae, soul, gospel, country&western and underground rap but my all-time fave is undoubtedly Bob Dylan. Even though I own everything he’s officially released since the beginning, I mostly listen to his live bootlegs from 1995-2003…when he’s on, it’s magical but to each his own.

[@MIKECNW]

I've heard through the years Dylan's has been hard to get along with and maybe this is part of it. Wonder what Joan Biaz said about her being in love with him?