Lyrical Review of Bob Dylan's "Desolation Row" (1965)

[@tompilkington3828]

I’m still very early into my being a fan of and getting into Dylan. I’m just 17 and have been a huge fan of Lou Reed for a while and I love how both he and Dylan are so good at writing about others. Discovering Dylan’s lyricism, especially in this song, has been such an incredible, other-worldly experience. I’m currently in college here in the UK and for Dylan’s 80th birthday, we did a tribute concert. I played Subterranean Homesick Blues, Desolation Row, and Like A Rolling Stone. Before I began Desolation Row, I said “this is a long song but you’ll just have to deal with it” because I felt that people NEEDED to hear all ten of these fantastic stanzas! Desolation Row is my favourite Dylan song that I’ve listened to so far and this video has made me look at it in such a different way! I’ve always had that surface level kind of interpretation of the row being the bad and oppressed place but now I definitely see how it can be and likely is that place where those who can see through the lies and the bullshit are present! Thank you for such an amazing video!

[@CalicoSilver]

Thanks so much for your great comment, Tom! Hahaha, I agree 100% about the need to perform ALL of the 10 stanzas of Desolation Row. I've seen some otherwise very good cover versions that decided to drop a few stanzas and.....well, it just doesn't seem right to me. Each stanza has so much to say about the overall ideas of the state of mind represented by "desolation row". I would have enjoyed seeing your tribute concert. Bravo to you for doing it. And thanks again for your kind and encouraging comment - I really appreciate it! Cheers. Jeff

[@kenkaplan3654]

@@CalicoSilver Dylan tended to drop verses of long songs later n performance in his career. He did so with thisone on MTV Unplugged (time constraints?), concert for Bangladesh, (Tambourine Man) It's All Right Ma, and many versions of Stuck inside of Mobile.

[@tayamorris4758]

My favourite song well explained 👏

[@normsaunders4980]

Dylan & Lou Reed were living in Greenwich village (NYC) about the same time. (Early to mid '60s). D wrote 'Like a Rolling Stone' about Edie Sedgwick, supposedly. She was part of Andy warhol's 'factory'. Around the same time, Lou Reed and his band ,Velvet Underground, had their 1st album sponsored by Warhol. He also did the cover, a banana. There are more connections between the two.

[@patvonelm6817]

I've listened to this song for 60 years, and its my favorite. I've always thought it was a comforting song, but never thought about why. Thanks to you, I know now. Thanks:)

[@CalicoSilver]

Thanks! I’m glad you enjoyed the video. I most certainly enjoyed making it, even if I have no idea what the song is actually about. Haha! Cheers. Jeff

[@felixVanDiemen]

Insightful analysis of a fantastic song! I have loved this song ever since I first heard it as an 11 year old. It still blows me away every time I hear it. I'm still working on a cover of it.

[@Fuji-Shiyu]

I first learnt about this song when I was reading the DC comic Watchmen about 15 years old. I was totally moved by Dylan's voice and the way how his harmonica was played in this song. But I never figured out what the lyrics mean, since there is a culture gap between my country China and the whole western culture. Now I am a undergraduate student, and I come across with your video. For the first time I feel that the distance between me and Dylan was shortened! Really appreciate your passionate review and your "lens". It is definitely a mental enjoy to watch a 44 minutes long video accompanied by an experienced teacher, especially when talking about your favourite song and singer. Thanks a lot!

[@CalicoSilver]

Thank you!

[@pinnfold1]

Absolutely brilliant analysis of a great poem & song.

[@CalicoSilver]

Thanks!

[@superfinevids]

I think the description of desolation can also be mirrored by one of Mark Twain's quotes that "When you find yourself in the majority that is when it's time to pause and reflect". By going to desolation row these individuals that Bob Dylan describes are able to see the chaotic nature of society or aspects of it that they were once a part of.

[@CalicoSilver]

Exactly! Your comment is perfect. Thanks!

[@superfinevids]

@@CalicoSilver could you do a video like this about Bob Dylan's song "It's all right ma I'm only bleeding" please. I think that song is even deeper than this one.

[@CalicoSilver]

@@superfinevids I have already done a lyrical analysis of It’s Alright Ma. You can find it if go to my channel homepage and click on “Playlists” and then click on the playlist of Bob Dylan videos. Scroll through them and you should see it, as well as all the other Dylan videos I have made. In fact let me try to locate the link for you and send it in a separate response here…..

[@CalicoSilver]

Here is the link, Ken: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hpWsnJmbf7ediaMsi=seIX1eNQThA5LGzB

[@CalicoSilver]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/hpWsnJmbf7ediaMsi=seIX1eNQThA5LGzB

[@calvinwazoo]

Very interesting. There was an old apartment building in West Yellowstone, MT where I lived at the end of the 1980s that I called Desolation Row because all of us who lived there were happy and healthy and helped each other but also kept to ourselves; it was not a fancy place, we were all living barely within our means. We were kind of desolate, we worked "for the man" but took no delight in it, but enjoyed life as best we could. It was also a transition point for most of us, some of us on the way up and out and others on the way down. Anyway, you ever read A Rolling Stone by Maxim Gorky? I now need to read the TS Elliott.

[@CalicoSilver]

Hi Calvin. The only Gorky I've read, and it was back in the '70s, was his "The Life Of A Useless Man", which I enjoyed. Now I will put his "A Rolling Stone" on the top of my reading list, thanks!! Loved your story of your "Desolation Row" in West Yellowstone, MT (a place I've been to several times).....fits so well with what I think this song is all about! thank for sharing it. Jeff

[@CalicoSilver]

I just ordered Gorky's "A Rolling Stone", Calvin. Looking forward to reading it ASAP. Thanks again. Jeff

[@jwagnersongs]

What a wonderful analysis of a master songwriter! I just happened to stumble upon your channel. I run a songwriter retreat and we spend the whole day on Dylan and his trickery methods of writing. Keep doing these videos. It's nice to hear you talk about him and his writing. I love it. I just subscribed to your channel.

[@CalicoSilver]

Thank you for your kind comments.

[@keithphilo6255]

This is the song that introduced me to Bob Dylan. Don't get me wrong I knew of and heard of Blowing in the wind, Don't think Twice. Tambourineman and of course Ro Rolling Stone. It's was in the autumn of 1965, I was with two friends when bumped into another friend who lived in the same block of flats in South London. He says to us that his sister owns an album on which is a song that's over 11 minutes long and we have to listen to it. From those opening words, ' They're selling postcards of the hanging 😊I was memorised. When it finished I said play it again, I still believe that they thought I was crazy. No I was just hooked. I purchased the album and listened intently to every track. When it came this final track, one line above all others held me in its spell, ' He looked so immaculately frightful ' WOW, I just loved it. Now I can easily by wrong, I think when sings about Pound & Elloit ' fighting in the Captains tower,' he is referencing the two poets desire to be seen as the successors to Whitman, who wrote Captain my Captain about Lincoln. Clearly it could be Smith's cabin on the Titanic. It doesn't actually matter. Since hearing this song I have followed the Bard of Minnesota endlessly. Not only do I really like this song but also I am thankful that it introduced me to Bob Dylan

[@CalicoSilver]

Wow, what a GREAT song to be introduced (more than just Blowing in the Wind or Don't Think Twice, as good as they were) to Dylan's songwriting genius. It took me a while to get into this song because at first it just seemed so impenetrable lyrics-wise. Still does! Haha. Thanks for your great comment, Keith. Jeff

[@timothyedsall9424]

My all time favorite song from any artist

[@CalicoSilver]

It's hard to beat this one, lyrically, that's for sure. I am sometimes torn between whether I value these long epic lyrics over those rare songs with just one verse that can be amazingly profound as well. Haha!

[@johangaudissabois8668]

What a great work, incredible. At the time it was analysed like a Shakespreare play. As relevant. It still is a musical and lyrical masterpiece coming off a masterpiece (HIGHWAY 61 REVISITED) which is alongside BLONDE ON BLONDE still the greatest Dylan album ever !

[@richardknight-x1r]

Great analysis bro. 👏👏Keep it going.

[@FrankHuang-b8b]

Great video.Thank you for your analysis❤

[@CalicoSilver]

Thank you very much. I really appreciate it.

[@Alma-vs6yb]

Thank you for this amazing review on a brilliant song. I am trying to carry out my own analysis and your review has given me much food for thought and filled in many gaps. The only bit that I slightly differ with you on is the “letter”. “Yes, I received your letter yesterday (About the time the doorknob broke) When you asked how I was doing. Was that some kind of joke?” I believe this to be Dylan’s response to the open letter from Irwin Silber published 1964 in Sing Out Magazine, criticising Dylan for abandoning the Folk/Protest movement and as you say the doorknob breaking is Dylan stating there is no going back. Once again thanks for this inspiring review.

[@CalicoSilver]

Thank you for your kind and encouraging comment, Alma. And thanks for the info regarding Silber's letter to Dylan - I was not aware of that letter (well, I'm sure I read about it years ago but forgot), but it very well may have had a role in Dylan's intention for that stanza of this great song. Thanks again, and cheers! Jeff

[@Alma-vs6yb]

@@CalicoSilver Hi Jeff, There is a full copy of the letter on Google, I tried to attach a link to it on my original post but KZbin prevented me from posting, I assume because of the link.

[@carolinepavan2698]

The best analysis I've ever heard of this song! It really helped me on my university thesis! Thank you, Jeff... you just got a new subscriber :)

[@CalicoSilver]

Thanks Caroline. So glad to be of any assistance. I really enjoy “interpreting” Dylan’s writing, even while acknowledging just how absurd might be the result, haha!! Anyway, thanks again for your kind comment, and I hope your thesis is met with enthusiastic success!! Cheers. Jeff

[@carolinepavan2698]

@@CalicoSilver It's true! Dylan is the chaotic type, but somehow we enjoy it hahah Cheers from Brazil, thanks for all the enlighment! You sure to be credited :)

[@frankheffleyofficial8806]

you’re such a well rounded and balanced guy and you just seem really cool. i smiled so much at this video because it’s so nice to see you talk about things you’re passionate about. please keep doing this

[@CalicoSilver]

Thank you very much, Frank, for your encouraging comment. I really appreciate it. Jeff

[@jakobpetropoulos8850]

This is a truly unique analysis of this masterpiece. This is the magic of poetry and high art, there are many ways to understand the poetry depending on how you feel, your age, your social background, your readings etc. Thanks for this precious video. Take care and greetings from Athens Greece.

[@CalicoSilver]

Thank you, Jakob. Jeff

[@rocky-o]

jeff....you bit off the big sandwich....it was perfect....anyone who didn't understand, can now understand...anyone who didn't care, would now care...you have made lyrics important again my friend...and most important...you remind us they always were....peace to you eternal...rocky

[@CalicoSilver]

Thanks Rocky. I enjoy thinking and talking about poetry and great lyrics. Glad a few folks don’t mind humoring my enthusiasm. Haha! Thanks again for your kind and encouraging comments. Jeff

[@rocky-o]

@@CalicoSilver i would like to go one step further in humoring your enthusiasm...i would be honored to send you a copy of my album...it's only available on vinyl and i believe you once told me that you don't own a record player anymore...nevertheless....it is my own spoken word poetry (many of which are actually song lyrics)...it has been compared to dylan, kerouac and the like, so you might dig it (it's on discogs, amazon, etc. if you want to check it out), and like i said...it would simply be an honor knowing you have a copy...just let me know where it would go and i'll be happy to send it to you...peace always my friend...rocky

[@CalicoSilver]

@@rocky-o Rocky, I appreciate your kind offer and I would love to read and/or hear your poetry. If you have a digital (mp3 or CD or streaming) format of your album I will be able to happily hear it. If you have your poetry written and can send me a Word or PDF file of it, I will be able to happily read it. But if you send me an LP, it will never be heard by me (no one I know has a turntable), so there is no point in your sending it to me. Sorry to be blunt, but I'm just being honest. But thanks again. Jeff

[@charliecook5973]

thank you for your in-depth look at your interpretation of this song 'Desolation Row'. I've sang this song a long while back.I shall relook at it with new eyes.

[@CalicoSilver]

Thank you for your kind comment, Charlie. I really appreciate it. Jeff

[@johnpyle1022]

Thank you for this! Such a great in depth analysis and now, like others I'm sure (i'll get to the comments in a bit) my perception of the song is totally altered. I've loved DR since first hearing Highway 61 in 1991, the album that got me into Dylan in such a big way. And last night I played the song in public for the very first time. I even changed the lyric to "escaping from DR" as I thought that just sounded darker and would maybe resonate more with the audience. But after watching this I won't be doing that again! Thank you thank you again!!

[@CalicoSilver]

Thanks!

[@maxzapom]

Absolutely amazing video

[@CalicoSilver]

Thanks!

[@kenkaplan3654]

I want to thank you for clarifying "painting the passports brown". I have seen comments that this refers to the Holocaust victims but you are correct and it fits more with the overlap use of the point-counterpoint of the song pitting the insanity of "normal" society vs the viewpoint of one who has escaped it and views it from the "outside". My POV is this song (which along with "It's All right Ma and a few others-Visions of Johanna come to mind) is one of my all time Dylan favorites, is part of a lineage that began really on "Freewheelin'" which started a caustic criticism of conventional culture (Masters of War, Hard rain, etc) through story oriented "protest" songs, into a savage attack on those (perverted) norms (It's All Right Ma, Subterranean Homesick Blues, Maggie's Farm) to the crescendo of that assault on Highway 61 Revisited (Like A Rolling Stone, Tombstone Blues, Title Song, Ballad of a Thin Man and this one). The album is like a whirlwind, Biblical. This "point -counter point" is used a lot in Tombstone Blues, even line to line in the beginning. i have come to believe it is one of Dylan's few comments on Vietnam, done surrealistically. "The reincarnation of Paul Revere's Horse is a reference to a society trying to resurrect (or use) a patriotism that has no life (one also cannot "beat a dead horse"). Then "The ghost of Belle Starr, she hands down her wits To Jezebel the nun, she violently knits A bald wig for Jack the Ripper, who sits At the head of the Chamber of Commerce" Belle star was a stripper known for her body, not her wits, Jezebel was a wicked women and an archetype of a shameless morally unconstrained woman who here is a nun, the opposite. She violently knits, knitting is usually a calm activity, a wig is not bald-the opposite, and Jack the Ripper , one of history's greatest murderers is the head of business in town. (Some might argue this is a reference to LBJ) This all fits seamlessly in transition to what you have pointed out begins and permeates Desolation Row, where expected morality has vanished and the normal is anything but. However, unlike the savage assault of unbridled fury of the albums' prior songs, this one has a laconic style, the beginning of a form of resignation continued into almost despair on Blonde On Blonde (Stuck Inside of Mobile, Visions of Johanna,) The music, acoustic, and rhythm is more subdued also. In DR it seems the artist-narrator's best choice is to retreat from the insanity and absurdity of the cultural-political landscape into a form of sanctuary. Others can "peek into it" "be punished for going to it" be prevented from "escaping to it". The only ones who seem to make it, be a part of it, or be in harmony wit it are other outsiders, the Good Samaritan, Cinderella and Einstein. BTW, it is considered that the letter in the final verse is Dylan's response to Irwin Silber, editor of Sing Out who published an open letter in the magazine castigating Dylan for abandoning the folk protest movement/. That letter is here. www.edlis.org/twice/threads/open_letter_to_bob_dylan.html I think you nailed the final verse I would agree the "rearranging faces and names" is giving a different take on famous figures of history, religion and literature, This was a very insightful, good review of a masterpiece.

[@CalicoSilver]

Wow, thanks so much for your amazing comments, Ken!! I've been enjoying reading and re-reading them. I've learned a lot from you, thanks. You seem to have a real passion and sense for the depth of Dylan's art, and I appreciate your sharing it with me. Cheers! Jeff

[@bonnimckeown3806]

Your review shows why people escape TO, not FROM, Desolation Row. Now I know why I always have loved this Dylan song!

[@CalicoSilver]

Thanks for your comment - I appreciate it.

[@pitchforkcustom]

great to listen to appreciate the depth you found xxx

[@CalicoSilver]

Thanks.

[@locandro1]

Your explanations sound very plausible to me.

[@CalicoSilver]

With each passing year my confidence in my feeble attempts to interpret Dylan’s lyrics grows weaker. I have enjoyed doing so, but I question why I felt the desire to do so. Haha!

[@a2zme]

The thing about Dylan that always gets me - especially his earlier stuff - is that it always sounds 'fresh' .. nothing else sounds like it. Nothing sounds like him. #trueOriginal

[@CalicoSilver]

Timeless art, indeed. Nothing “pop” or merely “fashionable”…..well, almost nothing anyway.

[@spikebenji]

thanks, indeed a masterpiece, it is always a mystery his words

[@ThomasDeLello]

I love Charlie McCoy's guitar...

[@CalicoSilver]

Yes he really fills out the song.

[@tayamorris4758]

Dylan at his best a brilliant song which I listen to all the time it's great to have a dylan day just press and enjoy all of his music

[@CalicoSilver]

I agree 100%, Taya. I find that after listening to other music for a while, I need to always go back to Dylan like going back to an old friend or loved one. There will never be another Bob Dylan. Thanks for your comment. Jeff

[@johanrahan3189]

Thank you so much for this version of the meaning of this masterpiece I have different versions but your makes the most sense to me xxx

[@CalicoSilver]

Thanks Jo. I appreciate your kind comment. Cheers. Jeff

[@GlenKellawayfromthebasement]

I love your take on this..One of my favourite Dylan songs whose meaning always befuddled me..The perspective of being in a desolate place looking on, is an epiphany..great video..❤️❤️❤️Glen

[@CalicoSilver]

Hi Glen. Great song, indeed. Like another commenter said, Desolation Row is a state of mind, a state of freedom and independence of thought, at least IMHO. Thanks for the comment as always. Jeff

[@mickey8355]

Excellent job Jeff. I think you were spot on. But like you said; "I`m not Bob Dylan." There are many things in this video that I`d like to address, but the bottom line is " Getting away from all the nonsense that`s extremely destructive." That`s why I no longer watch the news. That`s why I`m not on social media. They`ve become tools to put us against each other. Like you`ve pointed out in other videos; Dylan`s writing remains relevant today, even if he wrote it decades ago.

[@CalicoSilver]

Truer words were never spoken, Ralph. I refuse to listen to any "news" any longer. It is a shame but I do not trust a word that I hear from anyone in the media. It is amazing that Dylan knew this even back when he was in his early 20s. Thanks for the great comment. Jeff

[@SpenSoar]

First time seeing your videos. Thank you sir, very well done.

[@CalicoSilver]

Thanks, Spencer!! I appreciate it! Jeff

[@anoccasionaldream]

Wow! So great review of one of my favourite songs 🙏

[@CalicoSilver]

Thanks. I enjoyed overthinking the heck out of this song, haha! But seriously, it is just one of those great songs of Dylan's that brings to mind so many things from history and culture. He is like a sponge, absorbing so much, even at this early age. Amazing.

[@anoccasionaldream]

@@CalicoSilver that's great that you explained all that here:-) I mostly perceived his songs intuitively and always loved most long ones 😅 (the other day was thinking to sing again the Gates of Eden) .. now I think I'm so lucky I had great interest in all that in the past so now I can dive into the mening of it even deeper

[@CalicoSilver]

@@anoccasionaldream Gates of Eden! Another brilliant one. A 23-year-old guy wrote that song, can you believe it?

[@anoccasionaldream]

@@CalicoSilver That's really hard to believe! I've just realized that I didn't always think of the songs in that chronological way, I think because I had many albums at once in access and could choose which one it resonated to explore ~ in Russia we had series of CDs with all albums in mp3 of various musicians (I don't think it was some legal stuff but it was widely spread on the market) which also included all lyrics of the songs in text files! So I was exploring a lot. Not much of interesting stuff was available as licensed CDs, mostly it was pirated. There were also special shops for rich educated kids to buy real albums brought from abroad ~ very expensive! I was not rich, but I was saving up money to have some as special treasure ~ so I had Infidels for my favourite Jokerman and 'I and I' and also big beautiful box with booklet of bootleg series 1-3 which they were selling with discount ~ I think I had it for my Birthday as present to myself in 2005:-) I was kind of weird girl living surrounded by piles of printed lyrics from official Dylan's web-site and chords from wherever I could find them, learning that all by heart, singing those long songs while walking with workmates to dining room in nearby school and waiting for cheap portion of soup and buckwheat in a line (they all thought of me as crazy, but in a good way:-)) or reciting 'Last thoughts of Woody Guthrie' to gloominess of late autumn day on some swampy shore of a small river flowing into Volga that local bards and artists called Mississippi sailing there on Flamingo yacht with the captain who liked their company and took them to those trips for free.. One of the main reasons I wanted to learn English was to understand the meaning of songs ~ and so then I needed to find songs which would be interesting to understand:-) that's how I got to Dylan. Interestingly I was indifferent to album version of Gates of Eden until I heard concert version of it on some bootleg from a guy who had great bootleg collection and shared it for free with anyone who's interested ~ he sent me huge pile of CDs and DVDs with flac files! Which I have not cheched all completely because I was moving a lot and then started travelling and just hope now that it's still safe somewhere probably in different places.. I can't say now which exactly concert it was but that version really touched me deeply! I could really feel the song! And found then how it can be important ~ the way the song is perfomed. Because it can be just automatic repetition of words or it can be really felt from inside:-) (and so I often feel it with my own songs too when I try to record them and express the right feeling, not just repeat words) I don't know what was wrong for me in album version, I don't say it's bad, maybe I should listen to it to check again.. But from that concert version I could really get the energy of the message! Which made me greatly interested in learning and playing that song. But again, I was perceiving it mostly intuitively without doing research or analysis ~ so if you have one I do need to check. In those times ~ from around 20 years ago to a bit more than 10 years ago ~ I researched all I could find, but I don't remember wide-spread information about such analyses as you do. Maybe I didn't check then absolutely all. But anyway I see that it needs knowlege of many historical facts ~ so it's valuable that you gather it all together and share. And I love also how you just logically get the meaning of the things which I as artist probably perceived in more surreal way as visions bringing me particular feelings, but I was not trying to explain it in words to mysef. So this information is totally a treasure! 💎

[@CalicoSilver]

@@anoccasionaldream Thank you so much for this marvelous comment! I really appreciate your taking the time to offer it. And I am happy to meet you. Cheers. Jeff

[@jayy2493]

Great great video! 😁👍 thanks for the help on my English homework.

[@CalicoSilver]

Just make the check out to “CalicoSilver”. Haha!!

[@CalicoSilver]

Thanks Jayy!

[@thirdcoast5755]

Thanks for the video. I’m still trying to figure the song out so it helps to hear what others think. I always assumed the “agents” and “superhuman crew” part was about the music business, but now I’m not so sure.

[@CalicoSilver]

You might very well be right. Those agents and superhumans could be any self-important people, true. Thanks for your comment.

[@kenkaplan3654]

I think these people represent archetypes of "normal society" who round up everyone who "knows more than they do". The kerosene is brought by "**insurance agents** who prevent anyone from "escaping to Desolation Row).This harkens back to these two verses (or more) in "It's All Right Ma (I'm Only Bleeding. ) Advertisements (consumption society )wants us to think we are "superhuman" for buying their products "Advertising signs that con you Into thinking you're the one That can do what's never been done That can win what's never been won Meantime life outside goes on All around you." And a more direct correlation with that verse in DR :"While one who sings with his tongue on fire Gargles in the rat race choir Bent out of shape from society's pliers Cares not to come up any higher But rather get you down in the hole That he's in." Hope this helps

[@chameshiperera3248]

Absolutely love this video❤ Definitely put a lot of verses of the song in an entirely different light for me. I never would have understood a lot of the biblical references if it wasn't for this

[@chameshiperera3248]

Also I never knew about Einstein's friend the monk. I always thought "his friend a jealous monk" was a reference to the constant disagreements between the religious and the scientific communities

[@CalicoSilver]

Thanks, Chameshi. I enjoyed making this video, and want to remind everyone who sees it that I could be completely wrong about everything I said in it! Hahaha. But yes, I love this song and very much enjoyed talking about it. Thanks again. Jeff

[@CalicoSilver]

@@chameshiperera3248 That is what I always thought too, Chameshi. I thought it was referencing a conflict between faith and science.....but I recently had read about Einstein's priest friend and fellow scientist who was relatively underappreciated compared to Einstein, and thought of this song. So...I just thought it would be an interesting thing to talk about here. Cheers. Jeff

[@firezera]

Great interpretation, learned a lot, after all I'm just a 16yo amazed by Bob Dylan's lyrics but I don't know anything about their meaning.

[@CalicoSilver]

Thanks. Glad you enjoyed the video. Cheers. Jeff

[@personampauperis7595]

Enjoyed it very much. "Which Side Are You On" is also obviously a reference to the union solidarity song.

[@electricfence61]

Wonderful wonderful review of this masterpiece Jeff, thank you. Having listened to your observations on this song I'm wondering now if l ever ' really ' listened to it at all. I always thought of Dylan as prince of the absurd, now l wonder was l mistaken?

[@CalicoSilver]

Thanks, Mick. Keep in mind that I am only reading into this song what my own feeble brain is capable of deriving from it. Someone recently told me that my Dylan interpretations are too prosaic, which is perhaps somewhat true, but I do try to view them from a poetic standpoint. Also, I just enjoy the challenge of a good interpretive endeavor. I do see a lot of consistency in the lyrics of Dylan that makes me think I am at least on to something.....even if that "something" might be totally wrong....ha!

[@AnthonyKiyola]

Great analysis. I have been wanting to watch this since you first posted it but I wanted to give myself time to watch it. I agree with you about Dylan not divulging its meaning. It's one of my favourite songs and I was blown away by it when I first heard it as a 15 year old: I had heard nothing like it. I like your idea of Desolation Row being a desirable place..... at least I think you said that. Cheers

[@CalicoSilver]

Thanks, Anthony! I heard the Hwy61 album in the car today during a road trip and I am still amazed at how great it is. My favorite Dylan album, I think.....at least today! Haha.

[@kenkaplan3654]

Most serious rock critics agree with Calico that Desolation Row is a sanctuary from societal madness.

[@danhelwig]

Desolation row has a wave length like the swell of the ocean in the instrumentals and Dylan's singing which grabs your attention in a very subtle way.

[@CalicoSilver]

I agree. It grabs you and takes you on a ride where you never notice how much time is going by. Wavelength indeed.

[@colleenkesterson7692]

I am glad that Dylan never explains his lyrics. They apply to so many levels and will continue to do that into the future. I am sure that he will be a revered poet if as he says if anyone reads poetry in the future. English majors at least. I disagreed with the line about the commissioner with one hand on the tightrope walker and one in his pocket. I think that is where some store their money. Thank you for this, such good insights that I will continue to ponder.

[@CalicoSilver]

Good point about the blind commissioner with his money in his pants! For some reason I didn’t think of that. Thanks Colleen. Cheers. Jeff

[@jeffreybrooks4061]

I love this song . This song is the reason we all love Dylan. I think what you said is probably pretty much spot on. I've listened to it and i always try to figure ok where was he going with that line. Its definitely alot of fun and can be very intresting where your mind will take you.

[@CalicoSilver]

His lyrics always take me on mental journeys.....probably to places he never intended, haha! But fun and rewarding nonetheless. Thanks, Jeffrey

[@ericosullivan6575]

I'm a college student studying English Literature and, as im 21 years old i haven't read everything that may have influenced Dylan, only Jack Kerouac's on the road and Allen Ginsberg's Howl Kaddish and other poems.' I have read Chronicles and i adore slipping into the madness of Dylan's Poem 'Tarantula,' but i have read Ezra Pound and particularly T.S. Elliot who i adore. And i think your right that The Wasteland had influence on Dylan's work around this period. I'm pretty sure that Dylan has admitted his love for the wasteland in his radio hour and even read some of it. This poem 'Desolation Row' i never realized was as immensely multi layered as this. Probably because I've been listening to the song for long i had become ear blind to it. Desolation Row is where Bob Dylan is in this song. It's where his intellect lies and his heart and soul. Al Coopers guitar is what makes this song have a soft almost mournful yet restful feeling. So beautiful. This realm called 'desolation row' is almost transcendental. Its the place where the waves on the surface of the mind (The stock market, Money, Societal Status) have been transcended to a more quiet, peaceful and free place. We all want to go their such as the line 'and though her eyes are fixed upon Noah's great rainbow she spends her time peaking into desolation row.' We dont go, cause once you get their and the doorknobs broke, you wont easily except communication from anybody else and it's probably hard to return from. Just magnificent stuff. George Harrison once said in his song 'within you, without you' from Sgt peppers after he engaged with Tracendental Meditation with the rest of the Beatles in India, 'We were talking about the love that's gone so cold And the people who gain the world and lose their soul They don't know, they can't see, are you one of them? ('Ballad of a Thin Man' for sure) [Chorus 2] When you've seen beyond yourself then you may find Peace of mind is waiting there And the time will come when you see we're all one And life flows on within you and without you. No bloody wonder George was great friends with bob right up untill the day he passed on. Bob is one of the most beautiful poets ever. This analyses has made my mind explode hahahah. Thank you so much for this Jeff. As always. Best channel for analyses on youtube. BTW, since the next bootleg series is covering this period, which i am soo exited for, I'd love to recommend an analyses of 'Angelina.' Thanks so much for another Steller analyses on Bob and sorry for the long comment, but i wanted to wait a while and really think about it first.

[@CalicoSilver]

Thanks for your great comment, Eric! I have read it multiple times just because it was so good. I very much appreciate your taking the time to post this. And yes, I love "Farewell Angelina" and will put it on my queue for future analysis. Thanks again, and best wishes. Jeff

[@gerryfjellberg6030]

Hi Calico! I profoundly enjoy your comments. Just a suggestion: Do you think there could be a transgression from Ophelia to Joan Of Arch in the line "She wears an iron west", and "Her profession is her religion" etc. ? What is amazing, among other things, is Dylan´s profound reading at such a young age! I am a professional literature university teacher, and I have never met a student of his capacity. All the best! G. Fjellberg.

[@CalicoSilver]

Thanks for your great comment. I really appreciate it. Yes, I love your Ophelia-to-JoanOfArc idea. Dylan's lyrics are so pregnant with interpretive opportunity and enjoyment - they are filled with history, culture, poetry.... He definitely "contains multitudes". He must have a brain like a sponge. Even at such an early age. Thanks again. Jeff

[@Folkster1915]

Incredible video

[@CalicoSilver]

Thanks.

[@Bill-hl6zo]

I enjoyed listening to your perspective on this song. Shortly after I became a Christian, I came across a teacher on late night cable who was Jewish who became born again and began teaching the Gospel through old testament scripture. I became fascinated and read everything I could get my hands on regarding feast days and such. Therefore, it is my opinion that "Across the Street they've nailed the curtains" is reference to Jews who continued celebrating Passover in spite of being in hiding. " They fantum of the opera in a perfect image of a preist." The male head of each home wore the priestly garment, pure white, for Passover. Referred to here as " The fantom of the opera in a perfect image of a priest"7 I'm referring to the fact that he and his family lived inside a secret or difficult room to find. They nailed the curtains, I think, means that they had to conceal the lighted candle, the very first thing done at sundown...the woman of the house had to light the candle. Also, and again, just my opinion, is that the verse beginning Praise be to Nero's Neptune, in this case, I believe refers to the ship of nearly 1,000 Jews loaded on a German ship and sent to Cuba who turned them away and later appealed to several countries who also would not take them in--including the United States. It was a propaganda effort that worked brilliantly. The German mastermind whose idea that antisemitism was rife also in the west. The ship eventually returned to Europe, As a result many who thought they were going to be free living in the west ended up in the gas chambers, though many were saved by European countries not under Nazi rule. Back near Cuba, we see what I believe to be the German captain wrestling with his conscious, have begun to feel deeply sad about his Jewish passengers, at one point contemplating running his ship aground. Calypso music came about in the Carribian I think in the 30s. It's style was a form of mocking authority, thus, colypso singers laugh at them and fishermen hold flowers. The name of a book and movie called "Voyage of the Damned". Just my opinion.

[@CalicoSilver]

Hi Bill. Wow, thanks for your amazing comment and very interesting insights into this great song. You are bringing in insight that I don't have, regarding the Jewish feast days and such. Also the part about the German ship carrying 1000 Jews, about which I knew nothing. Thanks for your input!! Cheers. Jeff

[@Bill-hl6zo]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/r2K1qYmKd7x-qNk Hope this is ok, posting this link.

[@Bill-hl6zo]

I have not seen the movie, so ...

[@henrykerfoot8427]

I always saw Desolation Row (& much of Dylan's songwriting) as a reflection of a general movement towards a sort of series of 'surrealistic snapshots'. An earlier example would be Ezra Pound and T.S. Eliot. Pound had a whole poem that was one image - "The apparition of these faces in the crowd, petals on a wet, black bough" And in "The Wasteland", Eliot presented a sort of slide show (sort of "as if a magic lantern threw the nerves as patterns in a screen" in Prufrock). Indeed, The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock presents a series of images, starting with an introduction (Oh, do not say "What is it? Let us go and make our visit.' Then "In the room the women come and go, talking of Michaelangelo", first image of the inanity of 'society'. And on to image #2 of streets with yellow fog... Segueing to an image of a nervous suitor. Then the women (#2) again.

[@CalicoSilver]

I like it, Henry. Great comment, thanks. I've often wondered if Dylan's writing was/is a series of snapshots or short-short-stories also. Like the examples you mention, yes. Like Keats' Grecian Urn even. Like browsing through a museum. As much as I am drawn to finding threads and links within and without his lyrics, I also I like this idea very much. Thanks again. Jeff

[@ferguswebster7714]

This is the greatest song ever written imho. Very excited to hear your interpretation.

[@CalicoSilver]

Thanks, Fergus!

[@ferguswebster7714]

You’re welcome. I’d never realised the significance of the difference between the characters who are on or off desolation row before, or thought of it as a good place to be. It’s still to me a tragic song, but not so apocalyptic. Lots of other useful references explained too. Thank you.

[@cullenbrownmusic]

hey this is so great! thank you, incredible also how I’ve never thought about what rolling stone could actually mean i think desolation row connects with creative people in a world where most people take symbolism so literally. Those people i don’t believe are in the desolation row, or that stream of consciousness

[@CalicoSilver]

Thanks. I probably greatly over-thought this lyric but it was fun anyway. Haha!

[@cullenbrownmusic]

@@CalicoSilver no no it was great

[@Llama_charmer]

What a fantastic insight into one of my favourite dylan songs, yet also one of the most puzzling. I do have a question however for you sir. The line that references Einstein playing the electric violin, do you think theres any particular reason he plays the "electric violin"? Is it perhaps just so the line fit the song rhythmically or is there more to it? If you have any thoughts on this id love to hear them.

[@CalicoSilver]

Thanks. Haha, I have no real idea about why Einstein was playing electric violin other than perhaps it alludes to Einstein’s scientific prowess married with his musical passion, hence the “electric”? Maybe. 😉😂

[@paulgalligan1916]

Great to see ya Jeff thanks man 👍👌☘

[@CalicoSilver]

Thanks Paulie! Jeff

[@gavinbutler5219]

Great review jeff ,desolation row sounds like the place to be, it reminds me of key west, a place tantalising in reach where we can find solace.

[@CalicoSilver]

Thanks Gavin. Yes, Desolation Row, Gates Of Eden, Key West……

[@johnlauber670]

The reason that I prefer a novel to a film from a novel, is that I prefer my interpretation to be fluid. I can read a novel more than once. Most films I do not see more than once since an interpretation is fixed at that point. I'm hearing your analysis while I type this, but not really listening. I first heard desolation row as it was being blasted from some speakers on a porch roof, while I was riding in a car, in traffic on a country road, near the entrance to the 1973 concert at Watkins Glen, NY, with the Grateful Dead, the Allman Brothers and the Band. That is what I always associate the lyrics to and every time I listen to it, It is from a different place in my moods, environment or needs. If I thought I knew what it was about, I'd listen to something else.

[@bloodbucket7171]

I really enjoyed theses thx ,

[@CalicoSilver]

Thanks - I am happy people are enjoying these discussions. Cheers! Jeff

[@danielcochrane8169]

Amazing. Thank you

[@CalicoSilver]

Thank you, Daniel. I really appreciate your kind and encouraging comment. Cheers. Jeff

[@arcitejack]

Good lord this is brilliant.

[@CalicoSilver]

Haha, well either brilliant or bullcaca, one or the other, haha. But seriously, thanks so much for your kind and encouranging comment, Jack. Cheers. Jeff

[@georgecoventry8441]

Your interpretation of this song really impresses me, Jeff! I had interpreted it in the opposite manner when I was back in my 20's...I saw Desolation Row as being symbolically a place of poverty, desolation, despair, and all kinds of negative stuff...but after listening to your take on it, backed up by very specific observation of the lyrics (not "on" but "from", etc), I think you've probably got it right. One thing that limited my understanding of Dylan's lyrics in my youth was that I didn't give enough recognition to the profound influence that the Bible and the Judeo-Christian tradition had on his writings...as I wasn't much interested in those traditions at the time. Every point you've made makes sense to me now. What I really wonder is this: Did Bob consciously *calculate* all the symbols and meanings in the lyrics AS he was writing them? Or did he do it instinctively, subconsciously or superconsciously, by pure flow of inspiration/intuition? Did he, in effect, surrender himself to something much greater than himself to work *through* him....which is how the greatest creative work happens? (in my opinion) And is that why all those meanings are so perfectly encapsulated in the lyrics? I think probably so. I don't think he did it by conscious calculation. He probably figured it out afterward, though. I'd love to know for sure, but I don't expect I ever will. I have discovered myself that the best lyrics are written not by mental calculation, but simply by "stepping aside" and letting inspiration do whatever it will do. You've got to get your own *mind* out of the way, and then it happens........or it doesn't...........but when it does, it's really something! As Bob once said to Joan Baez (about "falling in love" with the right person, the person who is really meant to be your partner).........he said basically, don't THINK about it, because thinking will "f--- you up"....follow only your heart, because your heart knows better than your mind ever will. He was right. And Joan agreed that, yes, he was right.

[@CalicoSilver]

What a GREAT comment, George!! Thank you so much for sharing this with me (and whoever reads this). I noticed a similar emphasis on the "in" or "out" and "to" and "from", etc., regarding the Gates Of Eden in that song also. I pay close attention to those words to help me formulate an interpretation. I also study the final verses of a song first, and then go to the beginning and work from there.....it often helps in the interpretation. As a lover of The Bible and the interpretive challenges and joys it offers, I very much appreciate how Dylan uses so many Biblical references and themes in hi songs. As to whether he consciously does so or whether the Bible is so ingrained in him that he does so sub- or super-consciously, I don't know. Many enthusiasts seem to think that his inclusion of Biblical references only began with his evangelical phase, but it began much much earlier, all the way back to his beginning. I would be interested in knowing whether he grew up reading the Bible or not.....I'm not enough of a Dylan biographical expert to know stuff like that. He mentioned in his Ed Bradley 60 Minutes interview that he "made a deal" with "the commander in chief" (which some have foolishly taken to mean with "the devil" but that is nonsense), and implied that a lot of his finest lyrics seem to come from that resulting wellspring of inspiration. And he sings about it all the time, his inspiration from poetic "tambourine man", "mother of muses", et al.. He has never been one to seem to imply that his art comes solely from HIM, but from inspirations. That brutal honesty (even admitting to "theft" from his inspirations) is one of the many things I admire about him as an artist....and is why I think his art touches so many people from so many walks of life. As for "getting out of the way" of inspiration and letting it happen, you make an EXCELLENT point there, George! You are so right. I've written many songs of my own and there are some that only have one verse that came quickly and perfectly at the time I wrote them......and for years later I agonized over attempting to "finish" those songs, because some of them I really like.....but several years ago I decided to stop trying to do so and leave them as is. I'd obviously made the point I wanted to make in the song with that one verse....and nothing more needed to be said....so "leave it alone", I told myself. One thing I will say about Dylan....if he writes a song with 24 verses in it (haha), they're almost always worth hearing....all 24 verses. Very little filler/fluff. But sometimes he says a LOT in a few verses, like on some of those great short songs on John Wesley Harding...like All Along The Watchtower which contains a world all to itself. Finally, about following your heart over your mind......truer words were NEVER spoken. Never. Thanks again, George. I really really enjoyed your comment (as always). I really appreciate your companionship via this channel. All my best to you, my friend. Jeff

[@gratefulkm]

@@CalicoSilver Bob lives with the Akashic library, He cant call information, but when he hears something or reads he can tell if the writers were also linked to the Akashic library Its like the Phrase "made of sterner stuff" This phrase is echoing cortex to cortex eternally just by its being repeated in everyday life and nothing will ever be able to erase it, no reading or writing is needed ever Now there are layers to understanding the meaning of the phrase For example you can invent a temporary association to the phrase , like people can be stronger or less likely to change , etc etc, But on real examination its obvious that those meanings can be associated with any number of words and they all match, So the association is false because,, There is a real reason in the first instance for those exact words to be sent echoing with eternal meaning forever Because the words are the exact words needed to help people in the future who may live in a society that has forgotten all correct meanings to their language But 1 person can hear the words be doing something, then suddenly their cortex tells them this is what the words really mean and upon examination its perfect no loop holes Because that person has accessed the Akashic library So sometimes he will be writing and its from his individual experience and knowledge, other times he is writing stuff that maybe 6 months later, his cortex tells him what he really wrote in the Eternal sense But since "Bringing it all back home" he has known he was existing eteranlly Before then he was just a kid playing folk songs "16 years, 16 banners, united over the fields" so do as he says esoteric means several rules can be looked at always reducing the numbers to a single number , e,g, United so 1+6= 7 so then that's 7 years, 7 banners over the fields no sense Lets as " above as below" "7 years, 7 banners over the DESERT" Now that's real wisdom eternal and that was fully intended

[@whipsmartt7371]

great analysis!

[@CalicoSilver]

Thanks! I really enjoyed doing this one. I will be posting my interpretation of All Along The Watchtower soon, I hope. Thanks for your comment. Jeff

[@bradleyclabo7163]

One of the things I love about Dylan's lyrics is that it can lead to so many varied and personal interpretations. Consider this: I always believed that the lyric - refers to Timothy Leary. Leary being compared to Einstein as both men were great thinkers of their time, being a reference to how Leary felt giving away this knowledge would help bring equality to the world, and being his message of leaving the past behind by "Dropping Out". The refers to how Leary developed an almost religious-like following. refers to his establishment connections and relatively clean-cut appearance, and how this scared the older generation into believing he would lead their children astray. (He was called the most dangerous man in America by Nixon). seems like a veiled insult to Leary by Dylan, hinting that Dylan didn't believe in the notion of reaching spiritual or social enlightenment by use of drugs and Vedic chants. Finally, being a Deadhead I always think of anything "electric" as having to do with LSD (Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test, etc). The line conjures up images of Leary as a sort of Pied-Piper figure, leading people through LSD fueled paths to Desolation Row. I really love your idea of Desolation Row being a place with freedom from social and political pressures; and not some kind of "skid row". I think this interpretation of this verse ties in nicely to that notion.

[@CalicoSilver]

Thanks for your great comment and interpretive ideas regarding this magnificent song, Bradley. I appreciate it. Jeff

[@MrSonicsez]

Thanks for the intelligent and thoughtful analysis of my favorite Dylan song. I understand and appreciate the song even more for watching your review, however, I have a couple of suggestions. In the "agents" stanza At midnight all the agents and the superhuman crew Come out and round up everyone that knows more than they do Then they bring them to the factory where the heart-attack machine Is strapped across their shoulders and then the kerosene Is brought down from the castles by insurance men who go Check to see that nobody is escaping to Desolation Row I believe that the villains are music industry people. The "agents" and the "super human crew" sign artists who can write, play, and sing ("who know more than they do"). The industry cannot make art, it relies on the work of others. The "factory" is the corporation. where the "heart attack machine" (a contract favoring the company). "Kerosine" is probably poison, brought by "insurance men" who are company lawyers. My interpretation of the "Cinderella" stanza hinges on one letter; "s" in "ambulances." The plural means that more than one person was carried off. Here's my interpretation. Cinderella, she seems so easy, "It takes one to know one, " she smiles And puts her hands in her back pockets Bette Davis style And in comes Romeo, he's moaning. "You Belong to Me I Believe" And someone says, "You're in the wrong place, my friend, you'd better leave" And the only sound that's left after the ambulances go Is Cinderella sweeping up on Desolation Row Cinderella seems easy, but she is treacherous and aware of this. She flirts, even before Romeo enters the scene. "Someone" objects to Romeo cutting in, a fight ensues, and ambulances come. Cinderella is left sweeping up and waiting to repeat. Cinderella is a catalyst, much like the Jack of Harts in Lilly, R0osemasry, and the Jack Of Hearts."Beyond that, I have no idea, "Romeo" could be the United States, and "someone" could be the Soviet Union, or communism in general, with "Cinderella" representing any number of leaders the two have tried to woo. I have no idea about that point. Thanks again for your post. I enjoyed it and it made me think.

[@CalicoSilver]

Cool insights! Thanks!!

[@chrisboerger465]

You're back! Was getting a little worried, hope everything is well. Can we expect your New York review shortly?

[@CalicoSilver]

It is second on my queue, Chris, and coming very soon. Gotta review a '60s album I've always wanted to review first (hopefully today), then "New York" shortly after that. Yeah, it is coming (unless I drop dead first.....).

[@nebojsag.5871]

Like a Rolling Stone seemed to me like some rich guy who hated homeless people and then ended up on the street starving. One of the very few songs by that crazy man that actually make sense.

[@trudy5963]

I think the last line confirms your idea that it's a good or preferred place. Thanks, it always confused me before.

[@CalicoSilver]

Yes it always made much more sense to me that it was a preferred place, Trudy. Thanks. Jeff

[@gibby6904]

Another favorite....I love the psychedelic version on Bootleg 7.....

[@CalicoSilver]

There was a time when I didn't think I cared as much for this song as everyone else.....but then I listened and listened and listened....and then I read the lyrics over and over.....and it opened up for me like a flower......and then I understood why everyone loved it so much.

[@gibby6904]

@@CalicoSilver it's a beauty ....even though they are very different songs it seems to want to played with Visions Of Johanna......don't know why...

[@jeffreywu3687]

Great review! Really appreciate your work. "Which side are you on?" was probably referring to the protest song wrote by Florence Reece. Nevertheless, you taught me so much! 🙏 Thanks.

[@CalicoSilver]

Thanks Jeffrey! I really appreciate your kind comment. Cheers! from Another Jeff ;-)

[@danmillward3480]

So what you are saying is desolation row was like a modern day arch....that's very intenseting...the counterculture was a way of escaping the sins of the modern times....I love that

[@carmelo4896]

You get a thumbs up from me Will be watching your next vid from Desolation Row

[@CalicoSilver]

Thanks Carmelo! I really appreciate your comment. Cheers! Jeff

[@demonsbutterfly]

His version of this epic tragedy on “MTV unplugged” is fantastic.

[@CalicoSilver]

Indeed it is!

[@demonsbutterfly]

This song still knocks me out, every time i hear it. Just imagine his writing process… Nice work Jeff I do prefer the “other” earlier semi electric version. Less Harmonica :) I hope you have cooled down after the Pay for view!!

[@CalicoSilver]

I can easily imagine his writing process (which is kinda why I used that image of him at the typewriter as the thumbnail for this video). I think Dylan has a very broad and unencumbered ("but for the sky there are no fences facing") artistic/literary/historical range of sight that is open to him and from which he can easily extract ideas, references, etc., and I think the only difficulty for creators like him is that he actually has to reign in the flood of ideas and references so that they can become manageable. No lack of inspiration in this guy; more likely he has to use discipline to manage the flood of inspiration. I love most versions of this song that I've heard by Dylan. The only versions I have not liked are when some artists cover the song with a vocal style that exhibits a complete lack of artistic or literary sympathy with the lyrics that they are singing.....as if they could be singing out of the phone book and exhibit the exact same faux emotive approach. Haha! But there are many who do great jobs of covering this song. I almost posted the 1989 live footage of Bob Weir and The Dead performing this song.....or Chris Smither's superb cover here on KZbin (which unfortunately skips a verse or two, but it is great nonetheless). As for the pay-per-view thing, yeah I am over that stuff. But I had to delete that video just hours after I'd posted it because it was "going viral" (had 2000 views in just 6 hours or so) and the comments that were pouring in (most of which I was deleting as they did) were becoming way too ridiculous.....from Dylan cultists who didn't even see his "performance" or who didn't even see enough of my video to know that I praised the music and the singing and playing, just not the marketing and lip-synching.....but that doesn't matter to the cultists.....they were offended that I dared to have a negative opinion about anything related to Dylan at all. Anyway, I just took it down and decided to take a break from KZbin for a while to clear it out of my mind. Thanks as always for your comment. Jeff

[@jaynawilliams8923]

It's poetry.

[@gudlisner501]

Dylan has given himself a great get out of explaining anything clause, by saying that he didn’t write this stuff, it wrote itself, he was merely a channel.

[@CalicoSilver]

Yep. And while I enjoy the intellectual exercise (or perhaps wankery) of thinking about these lyrics, sometimes I do wonder why I bother when Dylan doesn’t seem to know what they’re about either, haha!

[@alexandervaneijken7741]

Perhaps Mrs. Clinton should write a longish poem entitled ,The Deplorables,, (without the irony please,in the style of Bertold Brecht perhaps)

[@alexandervaneijken7741]

To be quite honest here these lyrics of Mr. Dylan are beyond my comprehension (as is : Stuck inside of Mobile on Blonde on Blonde It is very difficult with certain long poems to dovetail all the elements in it and come to a coherent whole. So I was very curious to know what you made of it and I was as usual very much impressed with your effort. I salute you for it. However: what bothers me ,and I am very much interested in your response, is that your entire interpretation hangs on the thought (premisse) that ,,Desolation Row,,is a good place,a good state of mind of you will. A place to be ,a state of mind to have,aspiring to. Really all the translations (German,Dutch,French,Spanish) come up with words,notion like: Zerstörung, Destruction, Troosteloos etc etc ALL extremely negative connotations,without exception. When you confront a person and ask to the meaning of Desolation,Desolate not ONE of these persons would have a positive association. Mr. Dylan ,I suppose,must know this. So why on earth would you choose this particular title for this lyric when in fact it is your aim ,intention is to describe a good place., a good state of mind I do not buy it (unless you wanted to be willfully obtuse,but that is childish behaviour. ) So: suppose Desolation row is a bad place to be, your interpretation falls apart. Alternatively :then what does it all mean?. Bayond me,as of this moment in time. My question to you :do you think Dylan made the right choice as far as the title is concerned. One other thing: Like a rolling stone ,without shackles etc. of course that is quite correct However; in this particular context and text I think not. Have a nice day Jeff (you and yours) It IS Jeff isn,t it

[@CalicoSilver]

Hi Alexander. Yes, I realize fully that my "interpretations" always stand on the very precipice of being totally blown to smithereens. My interpretation of "desolation row" as being a preferable place to "outside of desolation row" is akin to my interpretation of "inside the gates of eden" as being preferable to "outside the gates od eden", and I base these interpretations on the whole of the songs (i.e., when I take in all of the lyrics of these substantial songs, I come away with a clear (for me) feeling that these are preferable "places" to be). But you are right: "desolation" has negative connotations to most people.....but then again, most people would prefer to be outside of desolation row, outside the gates of eden, NOT like a rolling stone, etc.. So from the POV of most people, and I think these songs are written from that POV (and perhaps intentionally humorously so), these are "desolate" places. But from those who have broken away from the mainstream POV's, the opposite is true. That is what I gather from these songs. I think Dylan thinks this way and intentionally titles this song/place/state as "desolate" for that purpose. But then again, I peer into the abyss of being completely wrong, too! Hahahaha. Jeff

[@CalicoSilver]

Oh, and by the way, Stuck Inside of Mobile is perhaps my favorite Bob Dylan song and yet I have little idea of what it is about! A tough nut to crack, that one....or it seems so, anyway.....but one day I will give it my best shot. ;-)

[@cullenbrownmusic]

Hey! You know Van Morrison is a great lyric writer! i would love to see your views off of something out of astral weeks

[@CalicoSilver]

Despite several attempts, I’ve never cared much for the music or performance style of Van Morrison, so I’ve never given his lyrics much thought. If any of this changes to the point where I become an enthusiast of his work, I’ll consider posting a video about it. Cheers. Jeff

[@cullenbrownmusic]

@@CalicoSilver yes i can understand not liking his live stuff, i love itt. butt… astral weeks album i strongly recomend. its my alltime favorite record. and the liricss are so good. i rarely listen when people ask me too, butt this is timless

[@Brekner]

You know, I went on and googled what "like a rolling stone" means: "One meaning is that a person who never settles down in one place will not be successful. Another is that someone who is always moving, with no roots in one place, avoids responsibilities. This proverb was said to be first used in the fifteen hundreds." Yeaaaah, nothing of sorts came to my mind when trying to explain the meaning, lol.

[@CalicoSilver]

Wow, I had no idea that the phrase was that old! Thanks for the info. Relatedly, last year I lived no where. Just an old 1998 vehicle with my wife and 2 dogs. Stayed in one short-term rental after another, a few weeks here, a few weeks there, never knowing where we'd end up. No address, no job, nothing. It was like heaven!! (well, to me, anyway....not so much to my wife, haha) Now we've just settled down again, have a house, live in a beautiful place....but need a new roof, need to mend the stone retaining walls, need to this, need to that..... I really MISS being rootless, like a rolling stone. It was heaven.

[@akossz]

The desolation row is (or could be) the narrow path

[@CalicoSilver]

Yes I think you are right. Thanks!

[@RobertOsborne-j4r]

Edie Sedgwick right?

[@nigelevans8259]

you used to be so amusused at napoleon in rags and the language that he used, go to him now you can't refuse when you got nothing you got, nothing to lose, your invisible now you've got no secerets to conceal.

[@dennisg.582]

'A Rolling Stone' gathers no moss (money)

[@strangepretty7991]

I like your interpretation. I would add that Romeo is mistaking Cinderella for Juliette. Secondly, that i believe Desolation Row is where Dylan goes to forfeit his place as a commenter on society and a ‘literary’ musician. I think a lot of the album is about his want to write songs that are less ‘voice of a generation’ and just make songs that are fun and experimental to him. This person that wrote him the letter about him stepping away from the world (the doorknob broke) encourages him to continue with his previous stance, and he wrote this song to tell her he is well aware of all these literary characters: Cinderella, Romeo, Nero, T.S Elliott etc etc. and societies wrongs as well, he knows them so well that he can rearrange their faces and give them all a another name, weaving them into this intricate story of fiction and non fiction, creating this new world. but he has chosen to turn them off and revert to his own world - Desolation Row.

[@CalicoSilver]

Excellent comment and interpretation! Thanks for sharing it. Cheers! Jeff

[@Mythologos]

This might be a double-post, I'm having internet connection issues! I really enjoy your lyric interpretations, they're better than what comes out of most Dylan scholarship; but for me, this era of Dylan doesn't really work well with close readings, such as you'd give Virgil, Chaucer, Dante, Shakespeare, T.S. Eliot etc., since Dylan's technique was generally to take drugs, plunk himself in front of a typewriter, crank out pages of free verse, and then staple that to a pre-existing folk tune or blues riff. The depth in these lyrics (ending with Blonde on Blonde) is mostly derived from Dylan's vast literary frame of reference, a free association game that can't ever miss, since everyone will interpret the dizzying array of inference, reference and quotation differently. He was still under the spell of the Beats, the approach is primarily "stream of consciousness". As Dylan mastered his craft, regardless of who is doing the close reading (scholars range from classicists to specialists in Italian Renaissance literature) the readings overwhelmingly cohere - to my mind, this is a hallmark of genuine literature. Desolation Row is my favorite song and favorite lyric of the early era but I think it was probably composed quickly and underwent very little revision (the archive in Oklahoma might prove me wrong, though!); despite its free roaming and wide ranging scope, there are through-lines that give it more substance than other lyrics from this period, but for me, the "party" doesn't start until John Wesley Harding and the game ain't really afoot until Oh, Mercy.

[@CalicoSilver]

Thanks for your comment. Yes, I've often wondered to what extent the drugs and "stream of consciousness" and Beat influence, etc., affected the lyrics he was writing at the time. I'm sure the drugs made a huge impact, but I'm not sold on the notion that they or a stream-of-consciousness methodology resulted in mere word-salad or free-associative conglomeration, or in lyrics unworthy of interpretive endeavor. I read in these lyrics great poetry. I really appreciate your intelligent and well-stated comment, but I think we'd disagree somewhat on when the "party started". I find great logic and poetic cohesion in even earlier lyrics like 1964's "Chimes Of Freedom", "My Back Pages", "To Ramona"....even "Ballad in Plain D" (which I attempt to defend in a video I posted). But you make some excellent points and again, I appreciate your input. Cheers! Jeff

[@kenkaplan3654]

I think this is partly true but I think both can be correct. In surrealism Dylan is going for a **feeling** The feeling is as much apart of the interpretation as the strict lyrics. Tombstone Blues or the song Highway 61 (with the brilliant use of the siren whistle) are at a frenetic, out of control pace of a society careening toward catastrophe in utter madness. Desolation Row is much more constrained and the narrator is much more in control and we might say "objective". He is less reactive to the madness. The idea this dong does not have specific reference points is to be rejected as the first verse makes clear. And allusions do not have to be completely didactic to know the reference point. (The letter in the last verse is a very specific reference to a 1965 letter to Dylan published in "Sing Out" magazine) Take these two verses from Tombstone Blues, probably written in 1965 (which i believe is a surrealistic take on Vietnam-soldiers die for nothing (tombstones)- as well as general societal madness and authority) "Now, John the blacksmith, after torturing a thief Says to the hero, the Commander-in-chief "Tell me, great hero, but please make it brief Is there a hole for me to get sick in?" The Commander-in-chief answers him while chasing a fly Saying, "Death to all those who have whimper and cry" And, dropping a barbell, he points to the sky Saying, "The sun's not yellow, it's chicken" This is an incredible assault on a religion that would condone such a war and anti human values. Both Jesus (in the religion) and the US President (officially-LBJ) are "Commanders in Chief" "The king of the Philistines (Philistines were historical enemies of Israel but modern meaning is "guided by materialism and usually disdainful of intellectual or artistic values"). his **soldiers to save** Puts jawbones on their_ tombstones_(inverting Samson and soldiers as hero) and **flatters their graves** Puts the pied pipers in prison and fattens the slaves Then **sends them out to the jungle**. Gypsy Davey with a **blowtorch he burns out their camps** With his faithful slave Pedro behind him he tramps With a fantastic collection of stamps To win friends and influence his uncle. One does not have to be a rocket scientist to know what the artist is getting at. Yes he throws images often at blinding speed and nor every lyric is specific to something but the idea (that Dylan himself proclaimed) that these songs have no specific literary or textural meaning is preposterous. Andi in a song like "It's Alright Ma" , Dylan is extremely specific and didactic in his scathing critique of the culture.

[@kenkaplan3654]

@@CalicoSilver Agree totally. Dylan was steeped in culture and history and had an incredible mind, He desperately tried to avoid being pinned down in conventional interviews to explain the complexity of the fusion of music, lyric and energy of his art. I think there was a lot of channeling from higher mind in his songs and lyrics, it sometimes I agree just poured through him, but the idea he did not know what he was after is nonsense. After the 6 albums from "Freewheein" through" Blonde on Blonde" what more can one say about American contradictions? "it's Alright Ma" is about as relevant (sadly so) as when it was written nearly 60 years ago. You might like the later work of Leonard Cohen, the only lyricist close to Dylan in brilliance (Everybody Knows, Closing Time, Democracy is Coming-to the USA, The Future, Anthem, You Want it Darker, more)

[@mikemestas9835]

you remind me of a scientist explaining to me photosynthesis and smoking the most enlightening weed back in ROK 72

[@CalicoSilver]

Must come from my 20 years of teaching college chemistry, Mike! Hahaha.

[@philipmay6003]

Bob Dylan's father told him of the 1920 lynching that took place in the town he grew up in, Duluth, Minnesota as well as the post cards and the sailors in the shop. The song is about this event and the individuals that took part in allowing it to happen and then covering it up. Wikipedia: Duluth Lynching has a good write up on the event details. The song is about the lynching of three Black circus workers in Duluth, Minnesota on June 15th, 1920. The three men were accused by James "Jimmie" Sullivan, 18 of assaulting and robbing James and his girlfriend Irene Tusken, age 19, and raping Irene. Sullivan's claim that Tusken was raped has been questioned. When she was examined by her physician, Dr. David Graham, on the morning of June 15, he found no physical evidence of rape or assault. After reading the details on Wikipedia and listening to the song, I believe that Desolation Row may be Highway 61 or Duluth, Minnesota.

[@CalicoSilver]

Yes I believe a small part at the beginning of the song was inspired by this event, but not at all the entire song.

[@lesterjohnston8888]

To me it's an acid trip but it's a good trip so therefore that's where it's at and taken from

[@CalicoSilver]

It might very well have been buoyed by an acid trip or something, but there is just so much depth to these lyrics nonetheless. Thanks for the comment, Lester. Cheers! Jeff

[@spotty67]

Calico am reminded of My Hearts In The high Lands, gentle and fair. Honey sicca blooming in the wild wood air. Last verse says, well am already there in my mind, hell that's good enough for now. I read Bob's father told him about those lynching's of three black men and it wasn't them who did the dirty deeds. The black guy's were the scape goats. Nazism, KKK, its all there right between the lines. Maybe someday you can do a contrast of Highlands and Desolation Row. Thanks for the content.

[@CalicoSilver]

Thanks!

[@ChrisFP2]

This is brilliant. The holocaust part really is a powerful analysis.

[@CalicoSilver]

Thanks, Chris. I appreciate your kind and encouraging comment. Cheers. Jeff

[@paddysh]

The title of this video is also ambiguous! Is the review lyrical, is it a review of the lyrics. When I read the title I actually thought of Charlie McCoy's guitar on the song, which, for me, gives the song such a lyrical quality.

[@CalicoSilver]

Charlie McCoy's playing was indeed lyrical here, I agree! Great point. Thanks for your comment.

[@Bill-hl6zo]

My personal view of the song that Bob was drawing a parallel between racism in America and antisemitism in Europe. He's asking us to search our own hearts.

[@CalicoSilver]

Interesting idea, Bill.....

[@padraigoconnor]

I like your review, and I think you're dead right about Desolation Row being the place they're escaping to, that outsider place, apart from society. However I think you might have the wrong idea about Casanova being the unwanted bullsh't artist. I think he's being punished because he went there, by the religious crew for being too free by the priest and his lot with the curtains nailed shut censoriously. The Phantom shouts to the skinny girls to get out of there. I think that's religion trying to shut down sexual freedom. Romeo is kicked out for being a chauvinist brute, but Casanova is punished for going there. Just my take. Also I think the Superhuman Crew refers to Neitzsche's Superman idea which the Nazis erroneously took up.

[@CalicoSilver]

Thanks very much for your insight, Padraig. I appreciate it. Jeff

[@padraigoconnor]

@@CalicoSilver No problem. Thanks for yours!

[@andreacvecic]

Steinbeck?

[@CalicoSilver]

Maybe so, yes. Thanks.

[@Oandad]

I wrote this before I watch your video so you wouldn't influence my interpretation of the song. Desolation Row isn't a place, it's a mindset or a lifestyle where a meagre existence is all one needs to be truly happy. The only person who doesn't belong is Romeo with his materialistic needs and he was asked to lease. As for me, I'm the good samaritan getting ready for the show because the only place I could truly enjoy a carnival would be on Desolation Row.

[@CalicoSilver]

Exactly, Oandad! I agree with you 100% that Desolation Row is not an actual place but a state of mind and of freedom and independence of thought, removed ("desolate") from the "madding crowd" of frankly nonsensical coersions and expectations and...well, slavery. You are right - Romeo doesn't belong, nor does several of the other characters in the song like Casanova who, like Romeo, seemed to have been "punished" for attempting to "go to" Desolation Row. Great great song. Yep, I hear ya - you and me both would greatly prefer "desolation" over the alternative. I hear ya. Great comment. Thanks. Jeff

[@Oandad]

​@@CalicoSilver Ophelia sees it but she doesn't know how to obtain it, her vice is her religion. Casanova, he's been to the row but he's can't get past his own vices and is being manipulated by the powers-that-be. The Good Samaritan knows how to get there, he's on the verge of enlightenment. The Titanic is the sinking ship, our materialistic society and Desolation Row is the place that's just around the corner that CCR sings about.

[@CalicoSilver]

Excellent!! Right on the mark!! Thanks.

[@Oandad]

oh, and I love your broken door knob analogy, past the point of no return.

[@colleenkesterson7692]

@@CalicoSilver Yes of course Desolation Row is not a place. I was sitting here thinking how did I miss all this in the songs of the 60s and later. I think I had it buried but didn't know what I know. This lyrics from great minds on a different level have illuminated so much. I am in my 70s now but I think better late than never to get a handle on this higher level of being.

[@alexandervaneijken7741]

and I base these interpretations on the whole of the songs (i.e., when I take in all of the lyrics of these substantial songs, I come away with a clear (for me) feeling that these are preferable "places" to be) I agree completely with this statement(take in All the lyrcs) Perhaps all the stanzas FORCE you to think Desolation Row is a GOOD place But let us look up the terms Desolate and Desolation in the O. U P dictionary: 1. Desolate:To late waste (Waste land,remember,you mentioned that too) to make bare 2. Desolation: The action of desolating or laying waste UTTER DEVASTATION I even will go even so far as to say that AUSCHWITZ was the ultimate Desolation ROW !! And that is a GOOD PLACE ??? Remember the Filthy doctor,he WORKED in Desolation Row for christ,s sake) It is not a matter what most poeple think but simply what is.(alway a bit weak: ,,What Most people think,, implies ,,but Not clever me oh no!) Is that the BEST term Dylan could find to express his idea of a good place,a place to be? (preferable) You see why I said I did not comprehend this lyric I apologise for being so heavy handed You know I have the greatest respect for your insights into his lyrics. Have a nice day Jeff as usual

[@CalicoSilver]

I hear ya, Alexander. But Dr. Filth was not on Desolation Row. Anyway, I hear ya. I still think one can use a word that represents the POV of others in an ironic way. A recent example was when a certain political candidate referred to those citizens who would not vote for her as “deplorables”, and now those very citizens often proudly refer to themselves as deplorables, haha. It is clear to me that Desolation Row is the place to be for those who break away “far from the madding crowd” and evade societal coercions, manipulations, and expectations, and who consider being called “desolate” a worthy price to pay. 👍😉

[@alexandervaneijken7741]

@@CalicoSilver Thank you for your reply Jeff. Apoligies if sounding a bit harsh in my previous. I still think that mr: Dylan chose a very poor title for his lyrc What also bothers me about this lyric is the namedropping. As if he knows the work of Einstein,T.S. Eliot ,Ezra Pound,Shakespeare et al at his fingertips. And this for a 27 year old person without any formal education. Can it be that Dylan,at this point in his career was considered by the multitudes such a Godlike figure and intellectual that part of him played along with these notions? I wonder. Also in view of his later lyrics that,generally speaking,were less laden with symbolic rhetoric. I dislike irony by the way when used as y cloak When I talk to a person who interweaves his conversation with fancy names I always get the urge to question his or her real knowledge (as far as possible) Anyway: Let ,s agree to disagree . I ramble on a bit ,sorry Really looking forward to your views on :Stuck inside of Mobil I learn a lot from you ,believe you me and enjoy your videos enormously . Alexander

[@alexandervaneijken7741]

@@CalicoSilver Would not the meaning of this lyric be more clear to a lot of people if the title were something like: Outsider,s Row I suppose my whole argument rests on the notion that I find the word ,,Desolation ,,a far too strong a qualification for the group of people Dylan had in mind. In 1965 the term ,,outsider ,,was considered a positive qualitication. Outsider equals Freethinker equals individualism ,

[@CalicoSilver]

@@alexandervaneijken7741 Dylan is a poet and artist who chooses his own expressive means and tools, many of which I might have or might not have chosen if I were anywhere near the creative soul that he was enough to create my own poetry and art that others would want to enjoy and talk about So I don't question his choices - not because I think they are all infallibly perfect from my limited POV, but because I deeply respect and trust his abilities. As for his age and lack of "formal training", who gives a damn about any of that? I have two degrees from major universities but I learned more about my field by working 6 months than I did in all those years of university "formal training". I think Dylan is a sponge with an astonishing memory, given all the references in his lyrics (and yes I do think he knows more about those references than most of us, regardless of his age). Yes, we'll have to agree to disagree, Alexander. I think Dylan is the most amazing artist of his time - who even comes close? That is my opinion, anyway....which isn't worth much, haha!! Cheers! Jeff

[@Herzeleydt_Diesentrueb]

Dear me - you don't say

[@CalicoSilver]

....and it took me 40-some minutes to say it too.....whatever it was I said....which probably wasn't much....haha!

[@michaelwalsh5984]

Do pancho and lefty

[@CalicoSilver]

Believe it or not, I can hum the melody to that song but have no idea what it is about because I've never paid attention to the lyrics! Haha. I should do so. Thanks for the suggestion. Jeff

[@michaelwalsh5984]

@@CalicoSilver one of the finest tunes ever written!

[@martysumner8432]

My take is all the characters names were changed, and represent something completely different...a commentary of the post WWII world, for example..Ophelia represents the atom bomb. On 22nd birthday of atom bomb we had the hydrogen bomb (old maid). Eyes glancing into Noah's great rainbow, ie post apocalyptic world. You got Einstein right!! Iron curtain reference, Stalin's reign of terror, etc...Yes Desolation Row is the place to view all things clearly.

[@CalicoSilver]

Awesome input, Marty! Ophelia. I never could grasp that one. But I think you’ve nailed it!! Thanks. Jeff

[@joeoliveira8558]

A rolling stone has no volition of its own, no purpose, no place of being.

[@CalicoSilver]

In other words, precisely the characteristics of a free entity. Haha!

[@joeoliveira8558]

you can squeeze the lemon that way, if you like it.@@CalicoSilver

[@ardalla535]

One thought that jumped out here that I had never noted before: the commissioner's hand in his pants might refer to delusions of grandeur. At one time (esp Napoleonic era), having your hand in your pants (coat) while posing for a portrait was a sign of nobility. In other words, the commissioner is a pompous fool, i.e. he's full of himself. Is that what Dylan is getting at? Probably not. I don't think Bob's train of thought was along those lines at the time. The theme here is more like, look what life has become in America ... it's a total circus. Everything is on its head; you want reality? try life on the street.

[@CalicoSilver]

Thanks.

[@iangriffin6479]

A characteristic pose of Britain's King Charles!

[@mrdanker6756]

The brown passports are the citizens taking the law in their own hands and breaking into the jail to lynch the prisoners The commissioner told the police not to defend the prisoners against the angry mob. There was a sort of tightrope they had to wlbalance on where they had to defend the prisoners but not cause casualties in doing so. He was blinded and doomed to fall when walking the tightrope, but he was in the same trance as the crowd, and enjoying himself all the while. The circus was both literal and metaphorical. The 3 victims were circus workers for a 1 night traveling circus.

[@CalicoSilver]

Thanks! I appreciate your insights/clarifications very much. Jeff