Visions of Johanna

Visions of Johanna - Portsmouth UK, Summer 2000 -
The Never-Ending Tour -
www.bjorner.com/DSN22150%20-%2...
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Visions of Johanna -
words and music by Bob Dylan -
Ain't it just like the night to play tricks when
you're tryin' to be so quiet?
We sit here stranded, though we're all doin' our best to deny it
And Louise holds a handful of rain, temptin' you to defy it
Lights flicker from the opposite loft
In this room the heat pipes just cough
The country music station plays soft
But there's nothing, really nothing to turn off
Just Louise and her lover so entwined
And these visions of Johanna that conquer my mind
In the empty loft where the ladies play
blindman's bluff with the key chain
And the all-night girls they whisper
of escapades out on the "D" train
We can hear the night watchman click his flashlight
Ask himself if it's him or them that's really insane
Louise, she's all right, she's just near
She's delicate and seems like the mirror
But she just makes it all too concise and too clear
That Johanna's not here
The ghost of electricity howls in the bones of her face
Where these visions of Johanna have now taken my place
Inside the museums, infinity goes up on trial
Voices echo this is what salvation must be like after a while
But Mona Lisa musta had the highway blues
You can tell by the way she smiles
See the primitive wallflower freeze
When the jelly-faced women all sneeze
Hear the one with the mustache say, "Jeeze I can't find my knees"
How can I explain?
Oh, it's so hard to get on
And these visions of Johanna, they kept me up past the dawn
The peddler now speaks to the countess
who's pretending to care for him
Sayin', "Name me someone that's not a parasite and I'll go out and say a prayer for him"
But like Louise always says "Ya can't look at much, can ya man?"
As she, herself, prepares for him
And Madonna, she still has not showed
We see this empty cage now corrode
Where her cape of the stage once had flowed
The fiddler, he now steps to the road
He writes ev'rything's been returned which was owed
On the back of the fish truck that loads
While my conscience explodes
The harmonicas play the skeleton keys and the rain
And these visions of Johanna are now all that remain.

[@michaelquinlan6802]

A man such as this only comes along every couple hundred years or so.

[@chandrasiburian4380]

"Ghosts of electricity howls in the bones of her face" Hits me like a freight train

[@dombrunelli5082]

At his most poetic... "The ghost of electricity howls in the bones of her face.." Are you kidding me? Nothing better in the rock idiom

[@privatename3627]

NO ONE LIKE HIM !! ❤ My all time favorite

[@danemount6113]

Infinity goes up on trial

[@raulschwerdt]

Like your comment, miss this rock poetry

[@karonkommedal4612]

Once again Bob you are a legend and will a always remain so. Love hearing you. Music for my ears.

[@vedranaolujic1977]

🤩

[@johannablackstringer]

Proud to be named after such an amazing song, my mum only ever wanted a son to name him Robert Dylan and as I was her third born daughter she gave up and chose to name me after this song :)

[@annaalbury7748]

your mum has great taste

[@enlapaz]

How sweet this is a beauty

[@jamesflack4819]

I'm 71 in a days time ..... but I still love Bobs Music now the same as I did when I was 14/15 way back in 1964. This music is timeless and will endure through however many decades this world has left xxx.

[@jonhaber6999]

Only a genius could evolve like Dylan. I saw him in 1964 and he magnetized the crowd. The guitar intro here is something for the ages ! Rock on Bob , you have ennobled us all.

[@andybannon8259]

The greatest songwriter of all time

[@SidewaysSurfDrinksHQ]

“But Mona Lisa musta had the highway blues You can tell by the way she smiles”………what utter lyrical genius.Yet again from the master….

[@charlesclemens4004]

Bob's guitar playing is usually ignored. He is the ultimate.

[@philipclifton3058]

Damn RIGHT! Some serious licks right there and them chords... still trying to decipher!

[@markbastow3426]

what a fuckin treat that just was

[@bustedup]

” The ghost of electricity howls in the bones of her face “. That, right there, is one of the most beautiful lines I know and I will never know why.

[@MKActual.]

it has always resonated with me too!

[@MKActual.]

and the way he delivers it here is unreal!

[@jonhaber6999]

The soaring guitar, the plaintive voice, the detached persona.... and the ineffable poetry make him a Rock and Roll God.... worthy of the Noble prize . Rock On Bobby Z !!

[@richardthelionheart5594]

Who the heck ever said Dylan is not a musician. Blows the f'g doors off w/ his guitar play here.

[@NoSnoozeBlues1]

That's the best guitar solo I've ever heard him play.

[@wakeupbritt]

Stephen Stills once said Bob was “no musician” 😭 jealous of bobs songwriting talent a bit stephen?

[@jacoboglsi]

Superb version! I’m speechless listening to it over and over again, it’s going to be a long night…

[@monicalamb8578]

same here … gorgeous stuff !

[@mario7frankielee]

this is probably the best song & vid on the whole internet and believe me, i heard a few.

[@chanchoface3974]

You think this is this best song and video on the internet? Well if you can find a video of Bob Dylan doing this in 1966, your brain might melt.

[@mario7frankielee]

CHANCHOFACE i think i know which one! the version s from the sixties are outstanding,i know. but we all have memories connected to songs and those stoned-versions from the sixties remind me too much of my own hallucinogencloudyeverydaystonedness. these days i stay mostly with redwine. i have a lot of johanna version on my cannel filed under "visions" if you want to watch them you are more than welcome. bye.

[@dubbadan59]

"The ghost electricity howls in the bones of her face'" and "and nothing is said:" two of the top Dylan lyrics in one.

[@gordonm.7387]

Top 10. Burst your heart!

[@Klaudiart]

+mario7frankielee

[@jonhaber6999]

The man wrote 450+ songs, yet this performance has the most lyrical, haunting , percussive introduction. Bravo BOB.

[@lesevans6567]

The greatest poet ever. And, I was alive while he walked the earth. Seen him so many times. It sounds like bragging to say. I’m a fan of Bob Dylan!!!

[@MrPernell27]

It is bragging, but beautifully said. I’ve seen him 52. It’s incredible to think that we could have been born in any moment of human history. Yet we were lucky enough to be born in the time of Bob Dylan! How fortunate we are

[@johnbrown4568]

My favorite is Bob Dylan. Thank you Bob for the wonderful music over many decades.

[@ferrand4329]

For me the best Visions of Johanna ever

[@gerrycurran8966]

Hi Ferran. Best live version. The man is a genius. Take care.

[@sanderson9515]

"Mona Lisa must have had the highway blues, you can tell by the way she smiles." -- One of Dr. Bob's most memorable quotes.

[@kingsleysaxon9710]

Aint we lucky to share the same lifetime as Bob?

[@irenezafar966]

yes, we are, one of the very few good things about being alive under these goals.

[@RemingtonRidersMusic]

​Bob Dylan has been my touchstone through most of my life and has rescued me on more than one occasion. I often think how lucky I am for that.

[@thabompakanyane1429]

Transcendent, lyrical, erotic and truly sublime all at the same time. That's why he is a Nobel Laureate and all-time songwriter and mystique. What a gift to the human intellect.

[@lissonicarla]

Fantastico Bob !! Affascini catturi !! Che Bellissima music!!! un Gran bel suono!! Mi trasmette sempre belle senzazion e , Una Gioia dentro.. Indescrivibile .Sempre!!Sublime genial Dylan!!! Love

[@gerardhampson9089]

Bob is just magic he comes up with new ways to play a song that was from 1965 And it sounds so different so new ,reinvented ,

[@ThePorf]

Effortlessly Dylan. Great American Poet! A living Legend! Thank you!!!

[@desallen2174]

I realise his acoustic guitar is amped up but, man can he pick that thing. Not to mention his fret work. Brilliant and, I've always loved his singing. Down with all the naysayers. Pure poetry transmuted to music.

[@MrPernell27]

He never gets enough credit for his guitar work. He’s incredible

[@strangetrip837]

Our poet, our prophet, our companion ❤

[@DanFrechette]

Sometimes the only thing left that still makes any sense to me in my journey is Bob Dylan.

[@juanvarleta2558]

I had the privilege of seeing the Mona Lisa last month. My first thought: “Yup. Highway blues.”

[@britinbigd]

Remarkable songwriting and unmatchable delivery from the Maestro.

[@carolynnurwistrand9829]

The soul of this poet transcends time.

[@CaptainBeefheart90]

Bob Dylan transcends Bob Dylan

[@desallen2174]

Born in 1950, discovered Dylan in 1967. Since then my grandparents have gone, as have my parents. Dylan remains thankfully!!

[@terrydolan3962]

I didn't think I'd be able to like this without a harmonica, HOW WRONG I WAS, it is absolutely magical, it is utterly timeless, I am honoured t have seen him as many times as I have, but it would never be enough to capture his magnificence. 👑🎤🎸😎🕊✌️

[@EdmundSommer-hz8er]

Unfortunately I can't hear no Sound . What do I do wrong ?

[@EdmundSommer-hz8er]

😎🙄

[@MrPernell27]

51 shows and can’t wait for #52!!!!

[@thomassneade]

Portsmouth UK. Summer 2000. I was there !

[@erikvandenabbeele698]

These kind of endless moments of bliss, this mastery in words and play and sound ...is why we all love the greatness of this hero of our youth , who stayed with us through all those years, surprising us time and again, and...who, rightfully so, received a Nobel Prize for literature...Simply: great!

[@essiebl]

My thoughts exactly

[@richardjohnson3463]

Exactly! Uniquely unique, a master

[@frankparis151]

400 years from now he will be remembered as the Shakespeare of our time

[@gordonlyon2351]

we are very lucky to live at the same time that Bob is alive

[@david-pb4bi]

Inside the museums, infinity goes up on trial Voices echo this is what salvation must be like after a while. Think Shakespeare will be long forgotten.

[@GladysJovellar]

This is a great version of Vision of Johanna.

[@rogerarndt6416]

I'm 62, and have always listened to our Bands, right from Birth, 1950's - 60's - 70's - 8/'s - 9/'s I think you get me...now I love that music. Dylan...not like today...his shit is timeless...glad to be here, digging to show my kid's all I can, to let them know, we all think the same, in most case's were all closer then they think...music make's us tighter, in a good way....sorry to go on.

[@pellepege6716]

Roger Arndt

[@HoyaSaxaSD]

Happy birthday Bob! (May 24, 2023)

[@4711StGermain]

I'm a 67 yr old Dylan nut.....OMGosh thisis wonderous! Bob and I go back to 1964, in Paris.

[@123thof]

When I first heard this song in 1972, it shook my life down to the core. This is as powerful as the original.

[@warrenbartlett6405]

What a great version of this song. I love how Bob does some chordal solo playing too.😊

[@paulkilby1943]

A world without this man would be no world at all

[@patrickclements6507]

The drummer is AWESOME!!

[@burdettward8605]

He sure is.

[@dannymaguire3857]

And we never see him.

[@michaelquinlan6802]

Once every 500 years we see this genius.

[@mariobaldassari1872]

Mona Lisa must have had the highway blues you could tell by the way she smiles love that line.

[@eromadrol]

Bob Dylan amply deserves the Nobel Prize in Literature just for this simple song !

[@janiakowska]

congrats for nobel prize

[@BakersinJilin]

"the ghost of electricity howls in the bones of her face" whoa!

[@christinepalmer596]

Think this is my favourite live Dylan track, just sublime, love it Christine Palmer The Gold Coast Australia

[@johnpeters9267]

absolutely, from the west coast of Holland

[@janrobinson9472]

It just RINGS!!! He has the ultimate gift.

[@dr.douggraves7352]

Dylan is one of the greatest musical artists in American history.

[@laszlofucs7963]

humann history

[@marieholland8868]

Not ONE of the greatest...Bob Dylan is THE GREATEST musical artist in THE ENTIRE WORLD ❤

[@vickiehs9893]

I’m in love with Bob Dylan and have been for 60 yrs. My mentor and heartbeat! Vickie 💁‍♀️

[@stangovers7441]

One of his greatest from the poet of my generation. I've never heard him play lead guitar so well!! 😊😊

[@MrPernell27]

Poet of every generstion

[@joannapolitano]

one of my favorites and I love this version.

[@mariaschofield5712]

I love you BOB Dylan thanks for all the beautiful song's remember of me especial written like ( what can I do for you.) God bless you more my love .

[@w.davidbegleyjr1134]

Happy 79th birthday to the greatest singer songwriter of all time!

[@sebnn]

how in hell does this guy come up with these incredible songs

[@RemingtonRidersMusic]

One of his best and most haunting songs, an absolute masterpiece.

[@kathleenmiller4587]

Yes, but there are so many I hear them and then think they are the best, then I hear another and so on. 50 years and he still blows me away 😑

[@kathleenmiller4587]

The sublime king

[@1992leone]

All these years, Royal Albert, original, etc... this is my favorite version. Wrong notes and all. Thank you whoever captured this piece of music and world history. You see art being made right in front of you. He (THEY) had no idea where that song was going to take them. A masterpiece in 1966, a masterpiece then, a masterpiece now.

[@jamesflack4819]

I visit this page on a nightly basis and sometimes I think I must have a 'season ticket' to listen to this - It HAS to be Bobs most hypnotic song ever - it certainly has ME mesmerized xxxxx I think this must be what Salvation must be like after a while !!!!

[@Ptpop]

James Flack I just discovered this version today and have listened to it ten times.

[@edwardmoriarty2012]

PTPOP He never sings it the same. My HS sweetheart ('62) was named Johanna- did not last. Discovered this song in 1968, 2 yrs after it came out on "Blond on Blond". I've listened to as many versions as possible thru the years. Never hear done exactly the same. , but always haunts me in good way.

[@jamesflack4819]

I still feel breathless at times as I listen to this. I'm still sober(ish) - but I sort of listen although in a different timeframe. Its now 12.51 at night - but I'm mesmerized like a deer in the headlights of an oncoming car as I listen to this music. Hey man - I'm 68 years old but I still get a chill through my bones every time I listen to this. I just wish I was young enough to be an urban soldier again and pick up the cudgel to fight all those nasty people in government who make all these stupid decisions on our behalf (as we watch on from the sidelines and do nothing).

[@jamesflack4819]

I often listen to this track and get just 'so hypnotised' by the music. I often think I'm going to try and listen to all of the words - but start listening and get so entranced by the music and the beat of the tune that I get lost in the music. Its hard to say anything new about Bobs music except it is so timeless in my opinion. 50 years on - and I still feel like I'm 17 !!

[@janegriffiths5796]

I feel exactly the same........... though I am now 63! I feel so honoured to have been a huge fan of Bob since I was 16 years old. Thanks Bob. X

[@brandyncosner8137]

Just casually a brilliant guitar player 😎

[@sheenatropea7123]

Bob Dylan is just to good 👍 like he said He never repeat his songs 🎵 he gives himself the right to change the lyrics and music 🎶 Bravo 👏 🙌 👌 👍 ❤❤❤❤❤

[@jimsalvati8970]

His guitar playing is so natural and rhythmic with solo lines while singing in the song in the key du jour.

[@richardwhittier8881]

How many times can he redo his own song and make it better and better!

[@johnparsons5133]

Anytime

[@frankman9598]

lyrics that defy perfection,,,,,,,,,,we are indeed privileged to have lived in his time ,,,, health, happiness and long life Bob

[@alwaysfourfun1671]

This is the most entranching version of the most entranching song in Bob's repertoire. What a gorgeous rendition in all its aspects!

[@lissonicarla]

Bellissima music ! Adoroo! Grande bob! Sei una voce..( il tutto in una voce) ! Dylan!! ❤️❤️❤️

[@carlocontestabileciaccio5941]

A shining jewel. That's all. Nothing more to say. Thanks Bob

[@johnknottenbelt2502]

My all time favourite Dylan number off my very favourite Dylan album ! Epic !

[@johnknottenbelt2502]

Dylan the Poet of my generation ! Pure genius in every "poem" or lyric.

[@sqgator7673]

Best version of this song, better than studio recording.

[@HisNibs1]

Over the past two weeks I just keep playing this version over and over again. Here's to you Mr. Nobel Laureate!

[@jimmaculate5]

I love the way Bob plays guitar.

[@rcnotes]

Happy Birthday Bob!

[@keithnaylor1981]

There are lots of enigmatic quotations to be found from famous people, which you read and think ‘wow that’s so deep, so profound’ but here in this song it’s like EVERY line meets that description!

[@nancyrobinson7764]

Amen 🙏🏽 God’s gift to the world. If you don’t appreciate Bob’s lyrics, you gotta be living under a rock .

[@rcoates07]

Masterful vocal performance. I had the good fortune to be there, and it was a heartstopping moment when he delivered this out of nowhere in a small "nowheresville" town hall.

[@elainemochula1]

Can't imagine my life without Bob!

[@stanharris4890]

elaine mochula you and I girl !

[@ronmacdonald4134]

bravo!!!! neither can I.........

[@ptervin]

Twenty plus years and still one of the greats. Absolutely the best.

[@tombuckley1894]

20+? I think it's 60+ actually.

[@sanderson9515]

"She just makes it all too concise and clear" - That's our Bob, all right.

[@nathanwhitten8950]

A classic tune. My daughter is named Johanna. It was an automatic choice. Dylan sounds very clear hear. his playing...and that of the other guitarists is great. This is an excellent live version.

[@KarenJohnsonKJPR]

he had me at the instrumental intro. here we have him. bob dylan. we be so lucky.

[@ricardoneruda]

There's something about his performance here that makes this a top recording of this song (thank god someone in the audience bootlegged this video). That's typical Dylan: no performance is the same, always finding new quirks, new ways of saying the lines, different intonations and tempo. This one hits it at every level...

[@uweappelt2129]

Heute bin ich 60 und erinnere mich gern an diese , für mich 70 er jahre, war ne echt irre Zeit. Und " BOB " war immer dabei. BOB , MARIANNE,GRATEFUL DEAD , JETRU TULL, und und und , Danke das ich dieses alles miterleben durfte.

[@jamesrowan81]

It took me years to realize what a good acoustic guitar player he is.

[@jeanneobrien7381]

Yeah, when he wants to be.

[@jamesbradshaw3389]

Me to, yes Bob is a great player, he must have spent many long hours practicing to get this good

[@catherinecarter8987]

Me too James

[@geebud1880]

It is the accoustic guitar - how Bobbie touches the strings - the silvery-against-the stream touches - that's why for me this one is even more beautiful than the Fender versions. Plus, much applause for the way the drummer add to the magic swing of this song!

[@janrobinson9472]

ABsolutely! He has never been lauded for his picking and unique acoustic style. What a PURE Original!

[@lesliekirkland5783]

The greatest. Saw him live on the tour of 1966.

[@pattymcdaniel4726]

Yes INDEED How Lucky We Are.....His Music Has Gott Me Through Some Rough Times. ...

[@reginaldoinhani4881]

Esse homem, nunca precisou fazer média pra agradar ninguém, pouco sorri, sempre sério, nunca deu satisfação pra ninguém, mas foi o único no universo a ganhar todos os prêmios Nobel da academia de letras , superando filósofo, escritores, professores, ele é único, uma lenda . Ouço todos os dias da minha vida.

[@tubergetrude333]

E verdade. Obrigado por seus pensamentos.

[@BruceWhitworth]

I pray for him every day.

[@jamesbradshaw3389]

This recording proves what I have saying for many times. Bob Dylan is a very great guitar player, and so is his Celtic cousin Van Morrison

[@UmpireFred]

I can only agree! Listening to both since many, many years. Since the THEM times. Go the old boys!!!

[@jeffbayne15]

@@UmpireFred G L O R I A !

[@jamesbradshaw3389]

@@UmpireFred Thanks to you Manfred for your support and agreement

[@jamesbradshaw3389]

​@@jeffbayne15 Yes that is great one ,,,G L O R I A !

[@johnknottenbelt2727]

Takes me back to 1967, early evening & I was just feeling the gentle hellos of my trip coming on, sitting under the huge old avo trees in the backyard, with this masterpiece trying to hold conversation with me. The vibrations growing stronger by the minute before the curtains of the night were flung open & I was washed into another dimension not quite leaving the echoes of those visions behind.😊

[@newgutierrez7199]

What an amazing jam 🔥

[@ikantdanz]

Feeling blessed to have walked this earth the same time as Dylan. Can't imagine never having had the opportunity to experience his genius. What a gift he is.

[@waterman472]

Best version.

[@mytreasurechess]

Bob plays music to Music - lighting up his audience with the marvel of such art!

[@mikeisthestig]

An artist and master craftsman at work, unique, sublime and moving

[@jonhaber6999]

The accelerant , is the drummer ; The fuel, is the enraptured audience ....... THEN IGNITION, Dylan & Johanna just burning the house down ! This is unforgettable . Bravo, thanks, Dave !

[@fiorellafenati5395]

too sweet and sad

[@comediantomryan]

Even though we didn't get to hear "the harmonicas play the skeleton keys and the rain" this is one of the best recordings of this song.

[@jeffreymoore4034]

Thank You Bob Dylan for all the music you have left us to play ... and enjoy