Wiggle is about the Israeli army. It is a great poem. You just don't understand it. All dressed in green and vomit fire are key words. Looks like I never did the whole poem
You're right, I don't understand it the way you do. But your point is a good one, which I take to support my "cluster of strong and open images" mode of analysis: Dylan writes his lyrics in a way that invites clear images and interpretations that are not written out explicitly. What one gets from the texts depends on the interpretive key one brings. Yours are consistent and "sharp", but perhaps also so sharp that you may miss other readings. I would never want to state (or even know) what a Dylan song is about; I agree with Dylan's answer: “Some are about four minutes, some are about five, and some, believe it or not, are about eleven or twelve.”
[The new chord-playing approach he described is in Chronicles, Volume 1.] He may have mentioned something involving some interaction with Tom Petty, while being on tour, to give it context, from memory.
Fantastic analysis and a great approach to illustrating how the building blocks of chord functions are used to support the tension and release under the lyrics.
You seem like the only musician who may known what Bob Dylan was referring to regarding a change in the approach of chord usage (possibly chord substitutions he could employ to keep him engaged in playing his live sets on tour?).
He describes it as some breakthrough harmonic approach in playing the chords in his live set. He hurt or broke his hand then and seemed to have abandoned using the new musical approach.
P.S. I just found your masterful articles, today. I’d like to mention that my favorite song is “Shooting Star” as performed during the MTV unplugged-series concert. The studio album version, I’d heard, but it didn’t stay in my memory. Listening to it again, it seems to be the same arrangement and tempo. Somehow, the live version is so beautiful and heartbreaking. It could be the emotion that comes through more poignantly, sung live.
Your explanation for this (subjective), extreme emotional contrast between this (or other) recorded versions versus live performances would be greatly appreciated. I would think there is some musically-subtle difference beyond the timbre differences (like adding accordion live, etc.).
Some Dylan songs are very clear as to what they’re about: Masters of War is pretty damn clear, Positively Fourth Street, when he lived in the Village and was dealing with other’s jealousy, resentment, as well as loose-lipped sycophants, and people rummaging through his garbage, that too is pretty damn clear.
Many of Bob’s songs are pretty clear to me at least, and I consider it a bit of disingenuousness when someone claims ALL his work is obtuse and multi-layered to never be definitively interpreted.
Wiggle Wiggle, is not a bad song by any means and is right in line with his interest in fairy tales, nursery rhymes, children’s songs, and nonsense lyrics. There is some serious nonsense in that song, but it is multi -layered and open to interpretation.
To a non-Dylan fan or to haters the song must sound atrocious and is easy pickings for ridicule.
I can’t appreciate discussions about the Pulitzer awarded to Bob Dylan.
It’s a done deal, long in the past. And the Pulitzer itself, I don’t know anyone who is waiting with bated breath to see who the latest winners will be.
I think it was the committee’s intent to bestow upon Bob Dylan the title of Great Artist, you know, like Picasso, Philip Glass, Leonardo da Vinci, Walt Whitman, on and on, as Bob Dylan belongs in that pantheon.
I suspect many in the Fine Arts world still view Bob Dylan as a clown because, well, that’s just the way they think. He’s certainly as great a literary artist as Don DeLillo, or Cormac McCarthy.
The Pulitzer committee fired a canon shot across the bow of the literary establishment. Good for them.
Wiggle is about the Israeli army. It is a great poem. You just don't understand it. All dressed in green and vomit fire are key words. Looks like I never did the whole poem
You're right, I don't understand it the way you do. But your point is a good one, which I take to support my "cluster of strong and open images" mode of analysis: Dylan writes his lyrics in a way that invites clear images and interpretations that are not written out explicitly. What one gets from the texts depends on the interpretive key one brings. Yours are consistent and "sharp", but perhaps also so sharp that you may miss other readings. I would never want to state (or even know) what a Dylan song is about; I agree with Dylan's answer: “Some are about four minutes, some are about five, and some, believe it or not, are about eleven or twelve.”
[The new chord-playing approach he described is in Chronicles, Volume 1.] He may have mentioned something involving some interaction with Tom Petty, while being on tour, to give it context, from memory.
Fantastic analysis and a great approach to illustrating how the building blocks of chord functions are used to support the tension and release under the lyrics.
You seem like the only musician who may known what Bob Dylan was referring to regarding a change in the approach of chord usage (possibly chord substitutions he could employ to keep him engaged in playing his live sets on tour?).
He describes it as some breakthrough harmonic approach in playing the chords in his live set. He hurt or broke his hand then and seemed to have abandoned using the new musical approach.
P.S. I just found your masterful articles, today. I’d like to mention that my favorite song is “Shooting Star” as performed during the MTV unplugged-series concert. The studio album version, I’d heard, but it didn’t stay in my memory. Listening to it again, it seems to be the same arrangement and tempo. Somehow, the live version is so beautiful and heartbreaking. It could be the emotion that comes through more poignantly, sung live.
Your explanation for this (subjective), extreme emotional contrast between this (or other) recorded versions versus live performances would be greatly appreciated. I would think there is some musically-subtle difference beyond the timbre differences (like adding accordion live, etc.).
I've touched upon that remark in Chronicles in several posts, but I don't think I've given it a text of its own - yet. I'll have a look.
Shooting Star is a good request. Stay tuned.
I mis-named the Nobel, the Pulitzer, in my comment, my bad.
Some Dylan songs are very clear as to what they’re about: Masters of War is pretty damn clear, Positively Fourth Street, when he lived in the Village and was dealing with other’s jealousy, resentment, as well as loose-lipped sycophants, and people rummaging through his garbage, that too is pretty damn clear.
Many of Bob’s songs are pretty clear to me at least, and I consider it a bit of disingenuousness when someone claims ALL his work is obtuse and multi-layered to never be definitively interpreted.
Wiggle Wiggle, is not a bad song by any means and is right in line with his interest in fairy tales, nursery rhymes, children’s songs, and nonsense lyrics. There is some serious nonsense in that song, but it is multi -layered and open to interpretation.
To a non-Dylan fan or to haters the song must sound atrocious and is easy pickings for ridicule.
I can’t appreciate discussions about the Pulitzer awarded to Bob Dylan.
It’s a done deal, long in the past. And the Pulitzer itself, I don’t know anyone who is waiting with bated breath to see who the latest winners will be.
I think it was the committee’s intent to bestow upon Bob Dylan the title of Great Artist, you know, like Picasso, Philip Glass, Leonardo da Vinci, Walt Whitman, on and on, as Bob Dylan belongs in that pantheon.
I suspect many in the Fine Arts world still view Bob Dylan as a clown because, well, that’s just the way they think. He’s certainly as great a literary artist as Don DeLillo, or Cormac McCarthy.
The Pulitzer committee fired a canon shot across the bow of the literary establishment. Good for them.
“You can’t look at much, can you, Man.”
Fantastic Eyolf - Great thoughts and analysis - never understood people who denigrate Wiggle Wiggle. Looking forward to part 2.