This year marks the tenth anniversary of Todd Haynes’ unique and excellent Bob Dylan biopic, I’m Not There, probably best known for featuring Cate Blanchett in a gender-bending, Oscar-nominated turn as mid-60s Dylan.
The movie contains mostly songs by Dylan himself, including a rare recording of the title song. But the original soundtrack album, a 2-disc set, features covers of Dylan songs by a host of other artists, both well- and little-known.
Today’s SOTD is a collaboration between Byrds frontman Roger McGuinn (who recorded his share of Dylan covers with his band in the 60s) and Calexico, an Arizona-based Tex-Mex indie band. They tackle ‘One More Cup of Coffee,’ a standout track from Dylan’s rich 1976 album Desire.
Your breath is sweet
Your eyes are like two jewels in the sky
Your back is straight, your hair is smooth
On the pillow where you lie
But I don’t sense affection
No gratitude or love
Your loyalty is not to me
But to the stars above
[Chorus]
One more cup of coffee for the road
One more cup of coffee before I go
To the valley below
[Verse 2]
Your daddy he’s an outlaw
And a wanderer by trade
He’ll teach you how to pick and choose
And how to throw the blade
He oversees his kingdom
So no stranger does intrude
His voice it trembles as he calls out
For another plate of food
[Chorus]
[Verse 3]
Your sister sees the future
Like your mama and yourself
You’ve never learned to read or write
There’s no books upon your shelf
And your pleasure knows no limits
Your voice is like a meadowlark
But your heart is like an ocean
Mysterious and dark
[Chorus]
After Blood on the Tracks, Desire is probably my next favorite Dylan album, helped in no small part by the fact that my sister played the album often during my formative music years.