I started the Dylan Weekends series back in the closing days of January. And here we are in the closing days of August, a full seven months later.
It took me that long to explore every studio album Dylan has released so far — 34 of them — while leaving out 20 other albums consisting of either greatest hits, live performances or unreleased tracks.
It is to those albums that I will turn my attention next, specifically the amazing bootleg series that is surely the best project of its sort ever attempted.
But today, I mark the end of the studio album retrospective with another track from 2009’s Christmas In the Heart. Here is Dylan’s rendition of my father’s favorite Christmas carol, ‘O Little Town of Bethlehem.’
It’s been a long and I hope interesting journey so far. I hope you’ll stick with me as I double back and check out some of the Bard’s detours along the way. Amen, indeed.
How still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shining
An everlasting Light
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight
How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of all His heavens.
No ear may hear His coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him still,
The dear Christ enters in.
Amen
Meet Me In Montauk 
At the time, I remember reading reviews wondering if Bob meant this album as a joke. I think anyone really listening can hear the way he solemnly sings “Amen” at the end of this song–the very last thing on the album–and figure out his intentions. It sounds as heartfelt to me as anything else he’s done.
Okay, rob!, please forgive me for this….but, man, this is just painful to hear. I imagine a room full of producers, engineers and studio musicians standing around, holding their breathe and fingers crossed, praying that Bob can make it through to the end of the song.
And Clay, as much as I really do like Dylan (my recent criticisms notwithstanding), isn’t SEVEN months of weekends dedicated to his music enough? Do we really need to now go back to bootlegs, unreleased tracks and live performances? I mean too much of ANYTHING for too long is just NOT a good thing!. As one of your most loyal readers, I beg of thee….move on to another weekend theme.
I actually think today’s interpretation is effective. This song shouldn’t be belted out by a diva; even Streisand held back when singing it.
Still, I’ve got to agree with Dana. I’m ready for some Motown, 80’s pop, tv theme songs, really just about anything would do, to take the place of Dylan each weekend 😉
I’ll be sure to let Dad know that you featured his favorite Christmas song today 🙂
Sorry, Dylan it is for at least awhile longer. Feel free to take the weekends off!
Oh, you would like that, wouldn’t you? But then the Zombies would win!