Here’s a cut from Bob Dylan’s 2013 Bootleg Series release Another Self Portrait, which compiled alternate and discarded takes from the sessions for his most loathed album, Self Portrait. It’s a fine collection, and one that makes you wonder how Dylan ended up with such a dog of an album given the source material.
However, even more entertaining than the music on Another Self Portrait is the comment section of my initial post about this album back in 2013.
On that post, frequent commenter Dana took a shot at Dylan and walked into a buzzsaw of Dylan fanatics visiting from fan site Expecting Rain.
On the one side you have people who would praise a Bob Dylan album of assorted farts and belches, and on the other you have somebody who pretty much dismisses any Dylan output before or after Blood on the Tracks. I’m exaggerating both positions, but only slightly.
I put myself somewhere in the middle, but leaning toward the farts and belches.
From the dirty words and muddy cells your clothes are soiled and stained
But the dirty words and the muddy cells will soon be judged insane
So only stop and rest yourself and you are off again
Oh take off your thirsty boots
And stay for awhile
Your feet are hot and weary from a dusty mile
And maybe I can make you laugh
And maybe I can try
Just lookin’ for the evenin’
And the mornin’ in your eyes
Then tell me of the ones you saw
As far as you could see
Across the plains from field to town
Marchin’ to be free
And of the rusted prison gates that tumble by degree
Like laughing children one by one
Who look like you and me
So take off your thirsty boots and stay for awhile
Your feet are hot and weary from a dusty mile
And maybe I can make you laugh and maybe I can try
Just lookin’ for the evenin’ and the mornin’ in your eyes
I know that you’re no stranger down the crooked rainbow trail
From dancing cliff edge shattered sills of slander shackled jails
Where the voices drift up from below as walls are being scaled
Yes all of this and more my friend your song shall not be failed
Oh take off your thirsty boots and stay for awhile
Your feet are hot and weary, from a dusty mile
And maybe I can make you laugh, and maybe I can try
Just lookin for the evenin’ and the mornin’ in your eyes
So take off your thirsty boots and stay for awhile
Your feet are hot and weary from a dusty mile
And maybe I can make you laugh and maybe I can try
Lookin’ for the evenin’ and the mornin’ in your eyes.
Lol! This blog has become far less contentious since that time, perhaps in large part because I have been generally less harshly critical.
For the record, though, I am a fan of many of Dylan’s early albums, some of the ones in the 70’s and then his Time Out of Mind and successive work, save the covers and Christmas records.
And I like today’s song.😊