Visions of Johanna

Visions of Johanna - Portsmouth UK, Summer 2000 -
The Never-Ending Tour -
www.bjorner.co...
Portsmouth, England. 24th September 2000 www.bjorner.com...
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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.

[@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 !!

[@ElizabethElliott-uz1ht]

Wonderful thank you for your love ❤️ Elizabeth

[@jackscharber8214]

Thank you so much for posting this. This has got to be the best version of this magnificent song. He's so revered and yet so deserving and so underappreciated from the masses. He's the Shakespeare of the 20th century. He should be studied in Middle School. God bless God and the genius he or it has blessed you with Bob.

[@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 .

[@michaelquinlan6802]

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

[@ElizabethElliott-uz1ht]

@@michaelquinlan6802 I believe that you are right, God bless you thank you, Elizabeth ❤️

[@david-pb4bi]

Apparently every two thousand years, not sure about the first one.

[@DontWorry-ooki]

Thank you

[@annakaczmarczyk2284]

Yes … or only the one time on era ❤

[@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.

[@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

[@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!

[@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.

[@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?

[@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.

[@80sRadDad]

it has always resonated with me too!

[@80sRadDad]

and the way he delivers it here is unreal!

[@jonhaber6999]

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

[@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 !

[@chandrasiburian4380]

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

[@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

[@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.

[@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

[@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 ,

[@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….

[@martinderry9045]

"inside the museum infinity goes up on trial" AND "the ghost of electricity howls in the bones of her face" .... immortal ...

[@paulkilby1943]

it matters not what the hell it all means when nobody else on Earth can put words together like this man

[@desallen2174]

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

[@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

[@johnbrown4568]

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

[@andybannon8259]

The greatest songwriter of all time

[@123thof]

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

[@4711StGermain]

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

[@frankman9598]

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

[@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.

[@HisNibs1]

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

[@1992leone]

This song, this version may be the most appropriate example of what Dylan is. It. Is. Perfect. This is Rock And Roll.

[@carolynnurwistrand9829]

The soul of this poet transcends time.

[@CaptainBeefheart90]

Bob Dylan transcends Bob Dylan

[@alandavies3727]

Can it get any better, really? What a legend this man is. I’m so glad that I was alive to witness this man’s whole life.

[@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]

🤩

[@britinbigd]

Remarkable songwriting and unmatchable delivery from the Maestro.

[@Dan_Frechette_Songwriter]

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

[@KarenJohnsonKJPR]

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

[@michaelquinlan6802]

Once every 500 years we see this genius.

[@ferrand4329]

For me the best Visions of Johanna ever

[@gerrycurran8966]

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

[@eromadrol]

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

[@warrenbartlett6405]

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

[@sebnn]

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

[@paulkilby1943]

A world without this man would be no world at all

[@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

[@thomassneade]

Portsmouth UK. Summer 2000. I was there !

[@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.

[@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.

[@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

[@GladysJovellar]

This is a great version of Vision of Johanna.

[@patrickclancy8945]

there is nothing this man cant do when it comes to music,a pure legend,

[@johnschilling3652]

Watch his set at woodstock 1994!

[@ladyblackstardust390]

Bob Dylan as awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature today. Epic! We're all giddy!

[@gordonm.7387]

His courage is its own reward for a long long time! Buddy Holly never got trophies! I love Bob. xxx

[@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

[@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

[@HoyaSaxaSD]

Happy birthday Bob! (May 24, 2023)

[@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...

[@mariobaldassari1872]

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

[@RogerFarrell-oc5pe]

Winner of the noble prize for literature! He's a showman, he's got the whole package. Up there all by himself.

[@milsims100]

There's so much to love about this performance. Brilliant arrangement, incredible intro, one of the best opening lines in pop music,Dylan's own vocals - you could almost think he knew he'd sound like this when he wrote the song 50 years ago! But what really brings a smile to face whenever I listen to it, which is often, is that by the end it sounds as if all the instruments are about to fall apart; even the words seem determined to leave his mouth in a random order.

[@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

[@strangetrip837]

Our poet, our prophet, our companion ❤

[@juanvarleta2558]

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

[@richardwhittier8881]

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

[@johnparsons5133]

Anytime

[@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 !

[@alexleik9382]

They way he sings the ghost of ‘lectricity line sounds like he knows it’s the greatest line ever written.

[@stephenlee1756]

Apart from about 50 others he also wrote.

[@alwaysfourfun1671]

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

[@sqgator7673]

Best version of this song, better than studio recording.

[@vickiehs9893]

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

[@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.

[@brandyncosner8137]

Just casually a brilliant guitar player 😎

[@elizabethpullen6334]

at 61 I am so gifted here in Maine to have seen him live 3 times...my hero..love him

[@elainemochula1]

Can't imagine my life without Bob!

[@stanharris4890]

elaine mochula you and I girl !

[@ronmacdonald4134]

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

[@sanderson9515]

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

[@davidrichardson9172]

This is among the most poetic of Dylan's many masterpieces. The beautiful, relentless melody suits Dylan's voice and simple, effective guitar work. A very different version of this song is done by Shelby Lynn and it is equally moving. This is a wonderful piece of work.

[@jimsalvati8970]

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

[@ptervin]

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

[@tombuckley1894]

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

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@lesliekirkland5783]

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

[@w.davidbegleyjr1134]

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

[@rebeccarobie1996]

Absolutely BEST rendition of this song! My son and I saw Dylan twice that year. Great memories!

[@lissonicarla]

Grande!!! Grande!!! Grandioso Dylan !!!! Non finisce mai di sorprendere!!! Gran bello ascoltarti !! Sei talmente grande !!! Unico! da non trovare più definizioni!! A un Talent così immenso!!! ( Un vero genio della musica!! ) Adoroo! Love you ❤️❤️❤️

[@carlocontestabileciaccio5941]

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

[@daniel21966]

What a great version -- almost makes it a country and western except one thing -- it is still awesome!

[@jeffreymoore4034]

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

[@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 ❤

[@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!!!!

[@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).

[@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.

[@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.

[@danielvazquezblanco3231]

These shows in Portsmouth in 2000 were incredible

[@williefinn4932]

dylan has a hypnotic control...if you`re to analyse this....very adequate singing....very adequate guitar playing...hard to make out the vocals...no rapport with the audience...even the camera man seems to lose interest before the end...yet, he is loved by millions and has written marvellous songs...great to see him win the nobel prize...genius.

[@joannapolitano]

one of my favorites and I love this version.

[@winslowmyers8724]

One of the most joyous instrumental and vocal performances of all time.

[@jimmaculate5]

I love the way Bob plays guitar.

[@davidpovey]

This song shows why Mr. Bob Dylan is awarded the Nobel Laureate for Literature 2016. And it also shows why he should be a Laureate for Music too - he plays a mean guitar line on "Visions". He truly is the Great Troubadour.

[@StevenAnderson-f2n]

Don't you love the way he says, "You can tell by the way she smiles?"

[@markbastow3426]

what a fuckin treat that just was

[@patrickclements6507]

The drummer is AWESOME!!

[@burdettward8605]

He sure is.

[@dannymaguire3857]

And we never see him.

[@jamesflack4819]

Genius - - - pure Genius. I'm a 67 year old male Bob - and I love you xxxx

[@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.

[@Teddyb1939]

Brilliant version of one of my favourite Dylan songs.Bob sounding and playing so good.

[@fernfreeman1729]

Notwithstanding everything else about his music that I love, I'm totally impressed by his guitar playing, it's out of this world.

[@thajiklanto5913]

Was just watching that. ☠️