I feel bad for Jakob Dylan, one of the most underrated songwriters in my collection. I mean, how do you expect to forge an independent career when your dad is friggin’ Bob Dylan?
He’s gone at it a few ways. Early on he didn’t say anything about his dad. People asked, of course, but he tried to let his music speak for itself. Later, he wrote some songs that mentioned his father and opened up a bit more in interviews, usually to say that Bob was a very devoted family man. The stories were interesting, but it didn’t do much to help his sales.
Lately he doesn’t get much press at all, so his last name isn’t really a problem… nobody seems to know or care much about him or his pedigree.
And that’s a true shame, because he absolutely has the goods. He’s put out several great albums with The Wallflowers and his recent solo debut is a delicate, haunting collection of acoustic folk-blues.
This song appeared on The Wallflowers’ best album, Breach, and it might be my favorite thing he’s written. It’s a lovely ballad from the perspective of a man who has left his small town for the big city and fallen on hard times there. I think the lyrics are worth quoting in full, and I’ve highlighted a few turns of phrase that I find particularly effective.
I thank heavens I fell
Must look more like myself
Now everyone is so kind
Everyone looks like a long lost friend of mine
I’m on top of the world again
When I’m looking up from under Babylon
I had a home in the fields
Earned my wage in the factories there
And I was raised by the mill
And I worked with my brothers there
I told my mother I’d always write
I headed west for the coast with the big city lights
Now mamma I’m so sorry I’ve forgotten
But now I’m looking up from under Babylon
Now tell me how far I’ve been and how deep was I in
Tell me how I conceived the vanity to believe
That I would not be outnumbered by the thumbs I have been under
Now stray dogs in the street
Learn how to beg, steal, borrow and cheat
And in the dead summer heat
I fell asleep with blood on my teeth
But those days before I met you girl
Were just ice cream falling down
on the shoes of my world
I’m so happy that you’re my friend
When we’re looking
up from under Babylon
Meet Me In Montauk 
Very nice sound and song. I’m somewhat familiar with him through The Wallflowers, but I’ve never listened enough to form much of an opinion about him. Of course, I don’t listen to Bob Dylan in large doses either š I could actually imagine doing more of that with Jakob. I would hope that if you are the child of someone as famous as Bob Dylan (or Billy Joel, Carly Simon and James Taylor) that you choose to pursue a career in music not for fame but to have a chance to do something you love. Probably none of these kids has to sell a ton of records to be set for life, so if they all can find a small but devoted following, at least they’re getting to perform music and people are getting a chance to hear it.
I have generally enjoyed his music, including this song from a very good Wallflowers album. I’m not really sure why he hasn’t enjoyed more sustained success because his songs are fairly accessible. At least we know Clay will keep supporting the impovershed Jakob:)