(or, One Of Us Must Know (Sooner or Later))
How to pay tribute to one of my very favourite octogenarians? well, Dylan is a 1537 family affliction.
My aunt remembers sitting on the stairs outside her older brother (my dad’s) room listening to him listening to the early Dylan albums and ‘wishing I was old enough to be part of everything Dylan said life could be’. I think that is quite beautifully put.
My granny went to the Isle of Wight festival in 1969 solely to see Dylan, my parents told me they remember thinking ‘My God! she can’t go, she’s over 40! She might die!’. She didn’t die, she saw him and loved him*.
My mum, with whom I sometimes communicate solely through the medium of Dylan lyrics, dreamed about him on the eve of his birthday. Face to face with the voice of her generation, a man who fired her imagination to vertiginous heights and who’s art lit up the possibilities of a life lived less ordinarily, all she could think to say was ‘I’ve made you some parsnip soup‘.
To which the voice of her generation, a man who fired her imagination to vertiginous heights and who’s art lit up the possibilities of a life lived less ordinarily replied, ‘What is a parsnip?‘
Makes you think doesn’t it? after all, what is a parsnip when you really consider it deeply? I guess that is how you earn a Nobel prize**.
1076 Down (still).
PS: Have been playing this over and over and over for the last few days. Parsnips may in fact be the only thing Dylan doesn’t mention in the lyrics.
*and the Moody Blues apparently.
**and more prestigiously the 1537 #1 LP of 2020.
Lovely tribute.
Your gran at the Isle of Wight. Meaning she saw one of Jimi’s last concerts. Wow. I’d trade Bob’s thesaurus for that. And his vegetable identification book.
I know! She was ever such a proper, rather posh lady too. Hilarious stuff really.
Apologies to parsnips everywhere. Happy birthday, Bob.
Man, could you imagine if everyone hoped to be part of everything Dylan said life could be? Could life still be like that?
Great story about your granny! Thats awesome
“My granny went to the Isle of Wight festival in 1969 solely to see Dylan…”
That’s an epic granny! And based on what you said about your mom and dad, the same applies to them.
By the way, I would react the same way Dylan did if offered some parsnip soup. Does that mean I should get a Nobel Prize?
I came from middle class conservative American stock, so the fact that I liked Bob made me out to be some sort of rebel by the older generation. You’ve done a great tribute to him, his music can touch any generation.
I liked when he kept saying “beans” in Pat Garrett And Billy The Kid… that’s about the extent of my Dylan appreciation. Beans.
Give that man a Nobel prize!
Refried beans! BEANS
You’ve just made this year’s Nobel shortlist
I’d like to thank… BEANS
Bob Dylan is not only the most famous and influential, but also the greatest songwriter of the last 60 years.
Man it’s good to have ya back (Forgot to say that when you came for a visit). Too much good stuff to comment on the take. You havent lost the old touch. I too was listening to that album for an extended time. Next time I see Bob I’m going to subtly find a way to introduce that vegetable. “Met a man with a parsnip on his lip”
Thank you CB, it’s a treat to be back.
Stuck inside of Mobile with a parsnip again?
“And Mr Jones”
One of those artists people give me shit for not owning. Unless you count the Wilburys.
I didn’t have a choice, I was brain washed.
Sometimes that’s not a bad thing?
Absolutely, the roots of all my musical folly were set very early for me.
“I admit I was the victim of abuse, but it was mostly musical in nature.” — A Mighty Wind
I’ve not seen that for years Mike, good call