(Over)interpreting Obama's Favorite Dylan Song

re: (Over)interpreting Obama's Favorite Dylan Song

toddweaver — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 05:58:18 GMT

I am a Bob Dylan fan - there are many songs that I like and if I had to pick a favorate I would have to decline. But Maggie's Farm - probably at the time a rebelious, confused, pot smoking young person could really latch onto the feeling, energy, and lyric of this song. At least he was feeling moved about something, Does he understand the lyrycs today? Did he understand them then - when he first developed a fondness for the song? One could posit he never really knew much about folk music or the vast library of work that Bob Dylan's career represents. Maggies Farm is an edge-y grundge hard ballad with lyrics that speak of stopping a mad cycle. Perhaps that is the message he was flailing for..

re: (Over)interpreting Obama's Favorite Dylan Song

Joe Altschule — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 17:38:52 GMT

I too have been a Bob fan for decades, we were born in the same year. It's been great to watch and listen to the words and music speak to different issues, for different reasons over the years. There has been the social stuff, political stuff, the angry personal stuff, and the just plain good poetic stuff, but all of it imaginative and relevant in its own way.

Going to dozens of Bob concerts is always revealing and enjoyable, even the one's where he forgets the words and mumbles too much. The favorite song thing is always challenging with Bob's music because the body of work lends itself to many choices. I've always been partial to "Love Minus Zero, No Limit" because to me it is one of his best heartfelt love songs, and it makes me think of my wife. I make her listen to it too much, and I have dragged her to way too many concerts over the years. I look at it as her dues for knowing me.

Here's a thought, Bob sings at the Democrastic convention one of the nights. Obama can pick the song. It would be marvelous.

re: (Over)interpreting Obama's Favorite Dylan Song

Joe Altschule — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 20:28:44 GMT

Here's a thought, Bob sings at the Democrastic convention one of the nights. Obama can pick the song. It would be marvelous.

re: (Over)interpreting Obama's Favorite Dylan Song

stewieann — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 23:02:36 GMT

I just love how people prematurely beat up on themselves for "overanalyzing" Obama. Probably just more white guilt. Please, if you feel guilty then *you* sacrifice something. Don't vote for Obama to relieve yourself. Someone who lives where it matters will pay. No one seems to mention that Hot town: Summer in the City: I ain't gonna work on Maggie's farm no more is the title of Bill Ayers publication. I notice that Obama seems to love to drop these puerile comments that you couldn't possibly nail him to the wall with. For instance, he likes Batman and Spiderman because they "have some inner turmoil." Could you imagine saying something like this on a job interview? Oh, but its just comic book characters. Certainly no one should judge him by these off hand remarks or the contents of his ipod. However, when you have to judge the possible President of the US by how he responds to a Rorschach test or by his Freudian slips then it says you just don't know him very well. What's wrong with someone hanging around a bit longer to get some more experience? He ain't working at the mill, people. Good God! Vote accordingly!