The Story Behind "Brownsville Girl"

[@9Ballr]

2:10 You can't tell that story without telling us what verse he wrote in the studio!

[@Turtle152]

"People who suffer together have stronger ties than people who are most content," "We don't do what we believe in, we do what's convenient & then we repent," "Something for nothing is everybody's plan"-- "Knocked Out Loaded" had lines that could've become famous if he'd written them in '66 instead of '86

[@jeanwillis7774]

Danville Girl..Brownsville Girl..is an absolute epic,stand alone anthem...Dylan knew exactly how he wanted this to sound...the passion in his voice both singing and narrating is perfect...they’ll never be another..to me and it would seem many others here..it’s a masterpiece 😎🇨🇦

[@RubenCastilloGomez]

The added instruments and "wall of sound" contribute to the cinematographic feeling and to the imagery and drama of the lyrics. To me the studio version is a masterpiece. The Chorus is like a Greek Theater Chorus commenting, laughing at and mocking the protagonist.

[@julian3265]

Nunca había hecho esa conexión con el Coro griego. Genio.

[@83josephardy]

Agreed

[@pablosjc]

Agree wholeheartedly. This is one of Dylan’s finest works. A true masterpiece that strangely almost no one knows about

[@karlmehltretter2677]

Agreed I much prefer "Brownsville Girl" to "New Danville Girl"

[@karlmehltretter2677]

I like Brownsville Girl with its "wall of sound" also much better than Danville Girl... But I can relate to his position, all the stuff that was added later when he was not there...

[@isumbras1]

The film he refers to is 'The Gunfighter' starring Gregory Peck. Great movie and Brownsville Girl is a fabulous song.

[@bobhas1]

jimmy ringo

[@terryfalwell3896]

And I'll watch him in anything. Great line

[@tenpercentfordabigguy8550]

Funny how people who suffer together have stronger connections than those who are most content. What a lyric.

[@davidmclachlan6592]

Awesome...!

[@Th0mas1977g]

My favorite line of all time

[@MichaelPetrone-ng5yx]

Now I've always been the kind of person who doesn't like to trespass much - O if there's an original thought out there I could use one right now - me I'm feeling pretty good but that ain't saying much I could be doing a whole lot better - if you were just here by my side show me how - Guaranteed - if you text that to your girlfriend who isn't familiar with Dylan's works you're going to get an AWW - guaranteed

[@ZeligUbique]

@@Th0mas1977gone of mine too

[@Chickenhawk9932]

That swirl of sound sweeps you up into the epicness of the song - perfectly fitting - show me all around the world.

[@MJPMD]

I love this song. The story feels like a sequel to Tangled Up in Blue..."drove that car as far as we could, ended up out west..."

[@grantwiscour]

"till the wheels fall off and burn"

[@ZeligUbique]

with all these lyric references you all make me realize there’s other folks out there like me

[@desolation2row]

I have always adored the album version.... It's pure Spectoresque and cinematic, perhaps in homage to Shepard's collaboration.... Anyway, it makes me smile every time we get to the end and he reveals that ...the only thing we knew about Henry Porter is that his name wasn't Henry Porter.... Pure genius, after 11 minutes

[@1828tolstoy]

Where are you tonight is so unappreciated That song just grabs you nothing else matters

[@LesEvans-i2v]

Brownsville Girl is a masterpiece

[@grantwiscour]

I bought this album on cassette when it came it. I thought most of it was brilliance. So many quotable lines in Brownsville Girl. The visual story he paints inside your mind with the rambling tale has always left me wanting more.

[@kevincwilson4310]

The saxophone wrings the last tear from my eye, every time.

[@robertkristiansen3085]

Agree

[@timoakes450]

Sam -loss lol

[@SafetyMentalst]

Thoughts Words and Actions will endure Actions Words and Thoughts do mature Thoughts into Actions Of Words be sure Words Actions and Thoughts are an allure Thoughts to Words to Actions the cure To Loneliness

[@grantwiscour]

@@SafetyMentalst The only thing we knew for sure about Henry Porter is that his name wasn't Henry Porter...

[@foiran]

and its one of his classic songs, ride it till the wheels fall off and buuuuurrrrnnnnn

[@treintjefop]

I was in a record shop and Brownville Girl was playing, I immediately bought the album! I was overwhelmed by it!

[@MichaelPetrone-ng5yx]

I get that - many have always commented about his guitar playing or his voice but probably like you I always recognized that Bob Dylan did not hear music - Along with his song writing his gift was he heard SOUND -

[@pearljam1984]

Well "Brownsville Girl with your Brownsville Curls..." is the chorus so there is a chorus by definition.

[@seenoevo3497]

I love the "wall of sound" or "swirl of sound" on Brownsville Girl. Too bad I can't find the song on You Tube.

[@Abrown465]

In my opinion, this song ranks number one on the list of top 3 under appreciated Dylan masterpieces. The other two are "Where are you Tonight" and "Angelina"

[@GD-rd6ig]

Red River Shore

[@dcse55]

"Tomorrow's Such a Long Time" has got to be in there, too.

[@miltonotto]

always liked that song. so nostalgic. sun coming up over the Rockies. who hasn't been there?

[@iainfleming2853]

I want to know the verse he whipped up in 10 minutes 😩

[@telabib]

I love that song.

[@sergiogrimaldo5712]

Its a great song and poetry in motion one of my favorite Dylan song

[@BonsaiBarry-dh3pz]

Dylan's ability to write this type of song is unsurpassed. Seriously the guy is the greatest singer songwriter ever. I've 'seen' this film tho it's never been filmed.

[@jongalt1776]

Everyone has their own interpretation of Dylan's songs. This video is about the technical side of Brownsville Girl but does not go into the poetic side of the song. I will give my poetic interpretation of Brownsville Girl 1986. First off I should note that Brownsville is a town in Texas near San Antonio. The song reminds me of the 1984 movie, Paris Texas which is further north than Brownsville. The movie was adapted from the play written by L. M. Kit Carson and Sam Shepard. A number of years prior to the release of the movie and the song I drove across Texas from East to West. A lot of lonely two lane highways in rolling hills. At night the roads were totally dark except for a rare headlight and on occasion lit up by the stars and moon. A vast expanse of emptiness which is also the feeling you get in the song and in parts of the movie Paris Texas. Life traveled can at times be a vast expanse of emptiness and darkness punctuated with small interludes of something to cling on to.; i.e. the rare headlights on the road. To mean that is what Brownsville Girl is about.

[@BonsaiBarry-dh3pz]

Dylan's ability to write this type of song is unsurpassed. Seriously the guy the greatest singer songwriter ever. I've 'seen' this film tho it's never been filmed.

[@stephenmartin8680]

"I didnt know whether to duck or to run - so I ran" - brilliant -" the only thing we knew for certain about henry porter was that his name wasn't henry porter" feckin unbelievable. This song is a film score - like lily, rosemary and the break of hearts. Bob has taken us on many journeys with his unque stgyle of writng and delivery - who are these guys anyway - I'm just hunting round trying to find the song - love from spain

[@jaw444]

+stephen martin Sam Shepard, the playwright and movie director, gets co-writer credits on this, their collaboration shows both of their ultra creative influences, apparently harmonizing brilliantly. I didn't realize until just now when i looked him up that Sam Shepard just died, about a week ago, of ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease, that's a bad one). He left an amazing body of work behind, one sparkling piece of it being the co-writer on one of Dylan's very best songs. The Gregory Peck/Gunfighter theme is just amazing, imaginative and real. that movie was in the theaters in 1950, Dylan was 9 or 10 then. and his dad used to run a movie theater, among other things he did. i bet Dylan saw that movie when it was out, like it says in the song. No kid would miss a Western with Gregory Peck. The movie has a plot involving a broken hearted man who longs for a past true love, a lonely misunderstood loner, who makes it his life's purpose to re-ignite a love from years before, the only time he was ever happy. That's why he was riding across the desert, to get back to her. typical plot in old movies like that. here is something said in wikipedia about Sam Shepard, i can see why Dylan liked working with him: "Shepard's plays are chiefly known for their bleak, poetic, often surrealist elements, black humor, and rootless characters living on the outskirts of American society."

[@highjenks3d]

I lived in that town that aka Henry porter lived and there is a wrecking yard north of town

[@JoeySinko]

This song is amazing! I karaoke to it in my car on repeat and it drives my girlfriend crazy. Once is never enough! Even if it is 11 something mins long.

[@paulkilby1943]

me too

[@Chapps1941]

Me too too

[@PaulSaether]

Me too three.

[@knockedoutloaded279]

You wanna ramble is great. Precious memories is great, under yuor spell is great.

[@Th0mas1977g]

Favorite song of all time!!

[@tourmalinehunter]

It was one of those anthems to those of us who were young and didn't know any different . One of the greatest songs of all time IMO .

[@ZeligUbique]

me too

[@reubenhunter609]

"All I remember about it is that it starred Gregory Peck, he wore a gun and he was shot in the back"....Shepard and Dylan in the same room is all I need.

[@robertkristiansen3085]

I Love this Song ,any of the Version

[@MargauxMachek]

Brownsville Girl. EPIC.

[@seanjockel43]

As far as I know Dylan has never performed it in concert. That would be something to see..

[@stonedtommy403]

A song that can make u cry!

[@djo75_MN]

Ira Ingber, guitarist from Minneapolis.

[@robertog9938]

Somebody in this referred to the album version as becoming "sort of a Phil Spector record". Yeah. I like it. Are the Ronettes still around? Love to hear them do Brownsville Girl.

[@rootboycooks]

Damn, I would sure like to hear the clean mix!

[@MichaelPetrone-ng5yx]

I heard it on KZbin I don't know if it's still there -

[@kdecody]

Sounds like an anthem to me!

[@Kevin-d5z]

I love this wall of sound

[@bobhas1]

He is insane, this is one of the all time classics.

[@northe69]

" is funny how things never turn out the way we had them planned"

[@Raymantico]

He means the song "Danville Girl" which was retitled "Brownsville Girl"...

[@DylanRadio]

I think you're referring to Ira Ingber, one of the guitarists. Pretty cool guy, actually.

[@pking4hjg]

One of a multitude of ingenious songs by Bob Dylan, this one worth the price of the otherwise less than inspiring record album.

[@samblackwell3479]

I like the cover.

[@dandelion0]

Woooo, I most of all love that line "Now I know she ain't you but she's here and she's got that dark rhythm in her soul." It's chicken skin stuff, ain't it?

[@marcellejogaudinn3836]

sweet. Thank you for the video. 💓

[@morrisonreed1]

no disrespect but i personally ;perhaps because its the first one i heard ;really love the version on the album .I think Bob wanted it to be grand like a hollywood movie ...staring Gregory Peck

[@colinwilliams553]

What an AMAZING story, this is why BOB DYLAN is a fu#king genius.what a GODDAM lyricist.Love ya,Bob.

[@j.c985]

The production worked perfectly, I think it still sounds fresh today. I don’t know why some people in rock have such an aversion to wall of sound. It’s great, it sounds great.

[@georgecoventry8441]

Okay, here is a more stripped down version of "Brownsville Girl" that Bob recorded for the album Empire Burlesque, but it remained among the outtakes. It was called "New Danville Girl" at that time, and there are some lyrical differences here and there. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jGWvl6enf7qtaK8

[@ZeligUbique]

yeah , i like the verse where he talks about shadows on an old stone wall

[@WhiteCamry]

Is there a way to digitally break down "Brownsville Girl" to hear the separate tracks?

[@georgecoventry8441]

Interesting. I'd love to hear the "clean" version that was there before the "wall of sound". Either way, though, "Brownsville Girl" is a simply marvelous song.

[@adamgoldman9500]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qpWxqYNtrJVqhLM

[@Kevin-d5z]

In fact ikocked out loaded is one of my favorites

[@benjenkins1943]

And we drove to Amarillo, a sign just out side town read 'welcome to the home of the living dead where even the swap meets are corrupt" how did he know, 1 Dylan lyric sumed it up nailed it.

[@desolation2row]

Actually.. It's "S.W.A.T teams are corrupt....".../

[@MikeyPikeyPix]

The idea for the new verse mostlikely came to him while he was singing it, so he took a break to write it with his small pen and small piece of paper.

[@MJPMD]

...and this movie..."Can't get it out of my head..." and "Something about that movie though, well I just can't get it out of my head But I can't remember why I was in it or what part I was supposed to play"...he's puzzling over his Oedipal conflict, why always feels guilty and sabotages relationships...

[@stevevaughn2040]

It is a great story.

[@rlfstr]

It's not a music video. The clips are from the movie Thelma & Louise... which works great.

[@kenzoric4451]

I'd love to know which verse it was that was added at the last minute

[@LesEvans-i2v]

Brownsville Girl is a masterp

[@gettingstronger]

I don't care what this guy says...the song is perfect!

[@SafetyMentalst]

Thoughts Words and Actions will endure Actions Words and Thoughts do mature Thoughts into Actions Of Words be sure Words Actions and Thoughts are an allure Thoughts to Words to Actions the cure To Loneliness

[@MichaelPetrone-ng5yx]

The lyrics sound like a connection of circumstances the timing of which have a consistency that make it mathematically impossible that it can be anything else but God - well known scripture verse says God works all things together for those He loves and have been called according to his purpose which was Redemption even before the creation -well the word in the original text for works together is synergy where we get our word symphony - it means that all of human history that is accurately described in the history of ancient Israel was just a roll-out for what was purposed even before creation - synergy/symphony All the parts in sections of all the different instruments playing together in the harmonies that come from the timing of the connections that can only be put together by the Holy Spirit - it happens to me all of the time and it is only in looking back in retrospect that I can see the many pieces and how they were put together -when I tell the story I feel like Tom Hanks sitting on that bench with the 32 different people waiting for the bus - AMAZING Life

[@mondoenterprises6710]

It was an anthem about the times we were living in back then in the 80's. You didn't know who you could trust even if you were sleeping next to her...and about how a man has to live his life by a code of honor especially when there's treason all around...The basic message was You Better Watch Your Back If You're Going To Make It Thru This Life...

[@laParka777]

you know i think its kinda cool that he mentions Blonde on Blonde because at the time B on B was recorded, Kris Kristofferson (who was born in Brownsville, Tx) had a chance to witness the sound recording, and i believe it had some play in Kristoffersons music career later in life.

[@moreanimalspirits]

I guess the drums gets too me. And, maybe some of the horns. But I like the professional mix. And the background singers really stand out. And the vocals stand out more in the official version.

[@davidayer2168]

Was the 10 minute verse he whipped off the last verse of the song as recorded?

[@threeleggedman]

1:54 Who is this guy? He has the chords mixed up..and he's in the wrong key. lol.. He's in G, the song is in A. But if it was G they'd still be mixed up. InG, it's G, C, Am, D Not G, Am, C, D

[@yltcraxe]

kerpital I noticed same thing. could be at least one gtr was capoed, or recording pitch shifted? doesn't seem capoed though. seems like it's just in A.... the last chord sounds like the gtr stays on the same voicing (or moves just a little) and bass moves to the fifth making the chord more like E7sus or E9sus. but result seems to be A-D-Bm7-E7sus-A.... and maybe it's played G-C-Am7-D7sus with capo at 2nd fret, or pitch shifted. I will say maybe they rehearsed a different version, or maybe he is playing the minor chord second but bass forces the major sound. I found a live version where the key is G, and second chord does seem to go to the minor first. it's G Am7 D7sus G also,the song does have an intro that is musically not the same exact progression (though it uses the same chords).

[@karlmehltretter2677]

the key is not so important. The 4 chords were correct, just the order was different.

[@threeleggedman]

@@karlmehltretter2677 True about the key, but the order of the chords is kind of important. Especially if you want to play the song. He doesn't remember.

[@telebob]

No whining.... Brownsville Girl is a great song, the production is a little disconcerting sometimes, but for the most part I like the drama..... and it doesn't sound like a Phil Spector record..... When you're driving across the desert... try it.... you'll understand....

[@highjenks3d]

Welcome to the home of the living dead where even the swap meet is corrupt , my home town Amarillo

[@grinchybanana]

WHat verse did he write on a whim?

[@goodnitesteve]

Phenomenal video

[@Voodoochil111111]

Nahh don't. The released version is great. His vocals are just great.

[@GunClinger]

"Wall of sound". -- referring to the over-dubs. See Phil Spector

[@rlfstr]

Send me a message, I can hook you up with the original "New Danville Girl" version of the song if you're interested.

[@dcsole54]

ralfsu you mean the original Brownsville Girl from Greatest Hits Vol 3?

[@MsLilsy2u]

Who the frick are these guys? The song is great. It was Bob's song, it IS a landmark song... "Some female vocalists"?? That song has some of the best back up vocals I've ever heard. Always gives me chills. He can keep his "clean version" I'll sticky with the down and dirty version.

[@RubyG6360]

Do we know the verse he wrote on the spot?

[@salbellajr]

I’m hearing G C Am D. But I just heard it so maybe I’m wrong?

[@gwydiot]

Dylan knew what the song needed. the original is incomplete. Ira just feels left out because his lead got submerged a bit, but the final version is a masterpiece. i've been playing guitar for 50 years. so, sour grapes.

[@kevinjoseph517]

whats this musicians name?

[@renaldowe]

I happen to like New Danville version best, but what I really find comical and enjoy is everyone arguing about it. You people do understand that it is differences in taste that make music possible, right? Otherwise we could have quit after the first "best song ever"

[@TKasmir]

Seems like a nice guy and I'm usually interested in hearing opinions and stories from those close to Dylan's recording sessions. But saying that a masterpiece was replaced with a Phil Spector like treatment? C'mon. That takes nerve. I'd love to hear a stripped down version of the song but the all-girl chorus and sax on the released version is priceless.

[@scottadams2318]

Agreed

[@kingpleasure]

"That's why he's Bob Dylan. He can do that." Duuuuuuuuuuuuuh. No shit Sherlock! Mess of sound....well that's your concept, but you were a sideman not Dylan, so what would you know. As they say in movie production, When you record your album, you can do it like that, get it? This song is perfect and one of the greatest he's ever done, so we don't need 15 year later quarterbacks.

[@adanacman666]

actually it was a one off, a joke written with sam shepard,but it was filler, so lighten up......

[@danfriedman6873]

Who is the Englishman

[@dcsole54]

Why did Dylan do the Danville version and then scrub the Brownsville version from the Internet? I heard the Brownsville version from Greatest Hits Vol 3 on Pandora today and it much better than these Danville versions.

[@jaw444]

it wasn't Dylan. Sony scrubs ALL of the stuff they own from you tube. If you find anything from a studio album, i'll bet it won't be there for long. This (New Danville Girl) is from an out take for Empire Burlesque. Thank goodness people can at least hear this version, not everybody has the albums and hearing just this song could inspire someone to go out and get the album. Personally, i like this version better of the two, but i love hearing either one, they are different and good in different ways. Dylan liked it the way it is on Knocked Out Loaded. i'm not putting it down, it's great. just personally, i like this version where his voice is more prominent in the mix, and the nuances in his voice, and i like the harmonica sound better than i like the horns. i like fewer back up singers like this one has. i'm glad they both exist, it's not a competition.

[@Texaskilljoy]

Im actually from brownsville texas,its alright lol

[@highjenks3d]

And I'm actually from Amarillo texas

[@GD-rd6ig]

I always liked Brownsville. I was there for a party once.

[@Chapps1941]

One of his Top 5 songs from his worst decade. Most musicians can't even point to that being their *whole* career

[@miltonotto]

duhh

[@Schnids1655]

Shortest 11 minute song there is

[@PaulSaether]

Desolation Row, Sad-eyed Lady, Brownsville Girl, Highlands. We'd go to that 4-song Bob concert wouldn't we.

[@knockedoutloaded279]

Only two bad covers on it, could have been a great album with two more original good songs..

[@arcticgummibear4500]

No..it was A, D, Bm, E...

[@uucp]

Interesting. Makes me feel almost guilty for liking the song as released.

[@robertcabrera1842]

b

[@wewillforgetthisname]

so this guy thinks he knows music better than bob dylan?

[@kayburns3849]

I just watched a video of the lyrics to Brownsville Girl.Dylan had to have been on a trip when he and Sam Shepherd wrote it.Dylan cooked his brain and each year shows how little is left of it.

[@nemorable1]

stick to your teen games, kay.

[@stephenmartin8680]

sorry - jack of hearts - too many coronitas!!