Posts Tagged ‘bob dylan’

Sara Dylan: The Inspiration Behind Bob Dylans Songs

The influence Sara Dylan had on her husband, Bob Dylan can be seen through out Dylan works. Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, author, musician, poet who has been a major figure in popular music for five decade. Sara’s influence on Dylan is portrayed in many of his music, especial the album Blood on the Tracks. There is no doubt that Sara influenced Dylan’s song the “Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands”, “Sara”, “Idiot Wind” and “Simply Twist of Fate”. Because Dylan’s song talks about simple concept of love, people in this generation and the future generation can easily understand love through Dylan’s work.

Sara Dylan, a fusion model and playboy bunny, was born in October 28, 1939 in Wilmington, Delaware. Her original name is Shirkey Marlin Noznisky. Before marring Bob Dylan, she was married to magazine photographer Hans Lownds, who requested that Sara change her name to Sara Lownds. In November 22, 1965 Sara Lownds was secretly married to Bob Dylan during Dylan’s tour break in Long Island. During her marriage to Bob Dylan, Sara Dylan had three sons and a daughter: Jesse, Anna, Samuel, and Jacob. Later in June 29 of 1977 the couple became divorced. 

Bob Dylan’s birth name is Robert Allen Zimmerman. He was born in May 24, 1941 in Duluth, Minnesota. His music genres include folk, rock, blues and country. He is well known singer-song writer, author, poet, artist, actor, screenwriter, and disc jockey. In Wikipedia it is written that he is consisted the greatest artist of all time by the Rolling Stone magazine. In 1999, Dylan was included into TIME magazine’s 100 most influence people in the 20th century. His most beloved work is Blood on the Tracks which is considered the best album of all times and standard for his future music to be measured against.

The turmoil that Dylan needed was given by his wife, Sara Dylan, to bring about Dylan masterpiece, Blood on the Tracks. Williamson, further states, that “we’re never left in any doubt that he’s dealing directly with the pain of the break-up of his marriage-“a corkscrew to my heart”, as he sang on You’re Big Girl Now. The song in the album consisted of tormented and bittersweet song. The songs in the legendary album, which sold 2 million copies is arranged delicately and the songs are sung with devotion that a psycho-spiritual folk gestalt is created. The album was recorded in September through December 30, 1974. It was released on January 17.  The album is  known for its naked pain and its brilliant, crystalline expression  include song like Tangles up In Blue, Simple Twist of Fate, You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When you Go, Meet Me In The Morning, Lily, Rose Mary &Jack of Hearts, If You See Her, Say Hello, Shelter From the Strom and Buckets of Rain. In recent time, Blood on the Tracks, has emerged in many surveys as the most revered of All Dylan release. According to Williamson, the songs on Blood on the Tracks Dylan expose his feeling honestly, painfully and with raw emotion.

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Bob Dylan Biography

Bob Dylan is the uncontested poet laureate of the rock and roll era and the pre-eminent singer/songwriter of modern times. Dylan has produced a large mass of work dating all the way back to 1962. Bob Dylan’s third album, The Times they are Changing, covered many songs. Dylan took other songs by artists from his genre and threw his raspy yet influential voice on it. In entry, we will analyze a song that Dylan covered from his album The Times They Are A-Changing and will compare and contrast the original artist version to Dylan’s version based on lyrical content, clarity and overall feel of the song.

See That My Grave is Kept Clean originally by Blind Lemon Jefferson was one of many songs that Dylan covered on this fourth album. Bob Dylan seemed to be somewhat infatuated with the song that he has four versions of See That My Grave is Kept Clean. “I have heard four Dylan versions of See That My Grave is Kept Clean: the [11/22/61 4C] Bob Dylan session II recording, subsequently released on that LP; the [12/22/61] Minnesota home tape; the [10/? /62a] 2nd Gaslight performance; and the [4/13/63] 2nd Mackenzie home tape.”  The Odum and Johnson book Negro Workaday Songs also included two proto-versions of Jefferson’s folk song. The only difference is Dylan used the original song, and Odum and Johnson changed the original elements of the song.

During the early 1930s See That My Grave is Kept Clean had been revised with version by Arthur Smith, Evans and McClain and Smith Casey. Although these version did not stick well, in 1961 Dave Van Ronk recorded the song and has been said to show debt to Jefferson. Though Van Ronk changes the verse order, his text draws on all but one Jefferson verse. The melodies are close and Van Ronk is one of the few to attempt Jefferson’s intricate guitar riffs.

After listening to Jefferson’s version then Dylan’s version a music listener is able to compare and contrast both songs with clarity. What both versions have in comparison is that the lyrics are the same, giving off the same message to listeners. The main difference that one can hear as soon as the song plays is the tone of both artists. Blind Lemon Jefferson has a low tone and according to the song he seems to be in sorrow and agony.  Bob Dylan, on the other hand, is expressing an angry side. He is pushing the lyrics out with forces which I have yet to hear in any of his songs.

Bob Dylan’s raspy voice is a powerful attack to make sure that his grave is kept clean. Jefferson is giving the audience a more subtle approach. Jefferson provides a smoother tone that Dylan abandons in this song. Bob Dylan sounds to be in a protest to make sure that his grave is kept clean.

Many people prefer Bob Dylan’s version because the tempo and tone is reaches an emotional point that hits home for people. Today, people are still surprised to hear Dylan take on such a powerful tone in his version.  The clarity in his vocals helps people understand the lyrics and the story of the song. Outside of Dylan’s version, a version that had yet to be mentioned above that I enjoyed was BB Kings version of See That My Grave is Kept Clean. His version adds more a rhythm and funk feel to the song. Blind Lemon Jefferson’s version would be one where the listener would sulk while Dylan’s version is a scream for change. BB King brings a rhythmic feel that one could tap his or her shoe to.

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