"My love she speaks like silence
With no ideals or violence
She doesn't have to say she's faithful
Yet she's true, like ice, like fire
People carry roses
And make promises by the hours
My love she laughs like the flowers
Valentines can't buy her.
In the dime stores and bus stations
People talk of situations
Read books, repeat quotations
Draw conclusions on the wall
Some speak of the future
My love she speaks softly
She knows there's no success like failure
And that failure's no succes at all."
- excerpt from Love Minus Zero/ No Limit by Bob Dylan, January 14, 1965.
With no ideals or violence
She doesn't have to say she's faithful
Yet she's true, like ice, like fire
People carry roses
And make promises by the hours
My love she laughs like the flowers
Valentines can't buy her.
In the dime stores and bus stations
People talk of situations
Read books, repeat quotations
Draw conclusions on the wall
Some speak of the future
My love she speaks softly
She knows there's no success like failure
And that failure's no succes at all."
- excerpt from Love Minus Zero/ No Limit by Bob Dylan, January 14, 1965.
On the occasion of the 45th anniversary of its recording, lyrics exceprted from my favorite Bob Dylan song, released by CBS Records as part of Bringing It All Back Home in 1965. Melodically unusual among Dylan's songs, it combines vaguely Latin diatonic chord sequences and notes of melancholy (it sounds as though I'm describing a perfume, and that's not farfetched). Rather a commentary than a protest, the song deserves to be heard much more often. Melody Gardot, Patricia Barber...?
Image:
Andy Warhol - unidentified woman, 1957, Museum of Modern Art, NYC.
18 comments:
Bob Dylan? I never would have guessed it.
As opposed to most other singers / songwriters today (and, to be painfully honest, also of his times), Dylan is a real poet. I had a period of about two years when I listened almost exclusively to Dylan. That was about 25 years ago (my goodness!). I must say that today I am not so fond of everything he did / does, but there are songs that are just tattooed into your heart, and "Love Minus Zero" is one of them, even if I was only two years old when it came out.
I love your blog for not just concentrating on prints and painting. You also include poetry (Rilke, for example), and I think both genres are interrelated.
Thanks for keeping the flame!
Klaus
I knew it right off the bat. I live with a Dylanite and I must tell him about the anniversary. I sense you like him too.
Dangerous to twin Dylan and Warhol, though, as the two kept such twitchingly opposed courts in New York City, at war over Edie Sedgwick and Nico if nothing else. My favourite Dylan song - oh goodness, let's say Boot of Spanish Leather.
I am sure you are far too good mannered to use one of Bob's own paintings here, Jane.
I only found out recently he's been exhibiting around the world - some of the prints are down here in Oz at present.
http://www.bobdylanart.com/exhibition.asp
And also a broadcaster on a public radio station - what else can't the man do? Incroyable.
Rosaria, my sentiments too, when I first heard it (recorded by someone else. When you hear the music, you get that feeling all over again.
Anonymous, me too! For some (obscure) reason I associate this song with Paul Simon's 'The Dangling Converstaion', about which I've also written here. Another song that should be performed more.
CL,I've held the idea for some time, waiting for the anniversary. Have to have things to look forward to in winter - other than spring!
Neil, I was trying for the zeitgeist, which can be dangerous for anyone who wasn't there. Hope it worked.
Genevieve, I take Bob Dylan to be one more example of a talented person who is not necessarily what we imagine him to be. Any good manners on my part can be attributed to my parents - they worked hard on me.
Jane, How wonderful to come across this post. Ever since I first heard "Love Minus Zero," way back when it was first released and I was but a callow youth, it has been my favourite Dylan song (although "To Ramona" runs it a close second. The lyrics are imprinted on my brain, but I particularly love the last four lines, "The wind howls like a hammer, etc." So poetic and they never fail to remind me also of the great poet Dylan Thomas, whose magical use of language, like Bob Dylan's, seemed to be able to say so much of what I, as a teenager then,just couldn't.
Andy, I'm glad you enjoyed it. I hope it makes people here the melody in their heads. I wish Lucien Levy-Dhurmer and some other underrated artists attracted more comment. I'm sure it's not because I've said the final word. Along that line, some of the most visited pieces I've written have evoked no comments.
Jane, I've quite often wanted to comment on more of your posts, particularly on some of the art/artists you've featured, but , although you may not said the final word, I've felt, in truth, that any contribution by me to what you've posted would add little to the subject. I wholeheartedly agree with your view that Levy-Dhurmer (and many others) are underrated and I think you do a great deal of good work to bring them to wider attention and hopefully stimulate your readers to explore further. Please keep up the good work and I'm confident I speak for many others in saying that our lack of comment in no way means lack of interest - we're probably mulling over new perceptions or ideas your posts have raised and just don't get round to conveying our appreciation and interest.
Andy, since you mention Lucien Levy-Dhurmer, I'll answer on the posy below. Thanks.
It's my favorite Bob Dylan song also.
Jane, just to reinforce what Andy says above about commenting: I should be packing for an overseas post for 3 months but I enjoy your blog too much to pack at the moment.
Welcome, ACraven. It is a puzzle to me why more singers - or instrumentalists - haven't done this. I want to be an A & R person!
Bessfones, I hope you are going to some interesting places. Please keep in touch. One of my (freelance) editors in is Paris.
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