Excellent commentary. Yet another example of Dylan making purposeful references that very few people catch - to their own detriment. Of course it shouldn't be necessary to know everything in Bob's head to enjoy a song, and I don't think it is on this one, but it's always so interesting when these references are pointed out and explained. Thanks for going deep into the Wiggle.
BTW: My theory has always been that if this track weren't the album opener - if it instead were in slot 7 say - then the album and song would be much more highly regarded. To jump right in with this much silliness just seems off putting to Dylan listeners and many seemingly never recover. I always enjoy this album and play it often. There is an alt-takes version (fan produced) of it that is excellent too.
The connection to Sam Cooke's "Shake" had never occurred to me, but I would think that the song's most obvious precursor was Roy Orbison's first (I believe) Sun single "Ooby Dooby," especially since Dylan's fellow Wilbury had died just a year earlier. A song with a similar nursery rhyme flavor, it includes these couplets:
Well, ya wriggle to the left, you wriggle to the right
You do the ooby dooby with all of your might
and
Well, ya wriggle and ya shake, like a big rattlesnake
Ya do the ooby dooby 'till ya think your heart'll break
“As it turns out, “Wiggle, Wiggle” is not sloppy gibberish at all, but a cleverly crafted song rich in imagery and with a coherent theme and message. On one level the song is indeed a silly, nonsensical nursery rhyme, on the other it is an ironic song about the dangers of romantic love and ambition in life, well in accordance with similarly themed songs in Dylan’s work. It can be conceived as an exploration of sad and bad romance, seasoned with nods to songs in Bob’s record collection, but more interestingly as a fiery mock-song aimed at a world consumed with romance, sex and ambition. It goes against the grain. If the irony is lost on people, it might even strengthen the underlying satire and confirm the premise of the song.”
Hopefully we can put this controversy to rest. Like many of Dylan’s minor masterpieces this song is way over small-minded peoples heads.
Is your cousin (or you as cousin) making a parody or a persiflage of the interpretation of dylan songs? Take a part of a sentence and let us see how robert johnson or shakespeare or even bob himself have used these words. And so on and on...😇
Excellent commentary. Yet another example of Dylan making purposeful references that very few people catch - to their own detriment. Of course it shouldn't be necessary to know everything in Bob's head to enjoy a song, and I don't think it is on this one, but it's always so interesting when these references are pointed out and explained. Thanks for going deep into the Wiggle.
BTW: My theory has always been that if this track weren't the album opener - if it instead were in slot 7 say - then the album and song would be much more highly regarded. To jump right in with this much silliness just seems off putting to Dylan listeners and many seemingly never recover. I always enjoy this album and play it often. There is an alt-takes version (fan produced) of it that is excellent too.
The connection to Sam Cooke's "Shake" had never occurred to me, but I would think that the song's most obvious precursor was Roy Orbison's first (I believe) Sun single "Ooby Dooby," especially since Dylan's fellow Wilbury had died just a year earlier. A song with a similar nursery rhyme flavor, it includes these couplets:
Well, ya wriggle to the left, you wriggle to the right
You do the ooby dooby with all of your might
and
Well, ya wriggle and ya shake, like a big rattlesnake
Ya do the ooby dooby 'till ya think your heart'll break
Thanks for this succinct closing paragraph:
“As it turns out, “Wiggle, Wiggle” is not sloppy gibberish at all, but a cleverly crafted song rich in imagery and with a coherent theme and message. On one level the song is indeed a silly, nonsensical nursery rhyme, on the other it is an ironic song about the dangers of romantic love and ambition in life, well in accordance with similarly themed songs in Dylan’s work. It can be conceived as an exploration of sad and bad romance, seasoned with nods to songs in Bob’s record collection, but more interestingly as a fiery mock-song aimed at a world consumed with romance, sex and ambition. It goes against the grain. If the irony is lost on people, it might even strengthen the underlying satire and confirm the premise of the song.”
Hopefully we can put this controversy to rest. Like many of Dylan’s minor masterpieces this song is way over small-minded peoples heads.
But I think you nailed it.
This must leave Bobby laughing like the flowers.
Thanks.
Is your cousin (or you as cousin) making a parody or a persiflage of the interpretation of dylan songs? Take a part of a sentence and let us see how robert johnson or shakespeare or even bob himself have used these words. And so on and on...😇