Sunday, July 19, 2015

New Morning

Days in the country,
Rabbits, groundhogs, blue skies and
You in the morning.

The title song from the "New Morning" album of 1970 is one of my favorite Bob Dylan songs. Most of the album contains songs that live in the country, with sunlight pouring out of them, along with rural dirt roads and old cars, running water, blue skies, cool mornings and hot days, and old wooden houses on the farm. This one is the epitome of the feeling, an impressionist's painting from the middle of the meadow on a day where you can see forever. The phrase "new morning" must be more than just a literal new morning. I would assume that he's talking about a new chapter in life -- wife, family, a dog, all that kind of thing. But why load meaning into a song that is crystal clear? The music matches the mood. It's just great, and every musician and singer sounds like they're into the vibe. Go listen to it. (Separately, there is an alternate version released on "Another Self Portrait," volume 10 of the Bootleg Series, which contains a horn section. It gives the song a completely different sound, but I can't decide which one I like better. I'm only sorry that I couldn't find a version of that to post here. The album version retains Al Kooper's French horn solo, which can warm you up in the middle of the coldest winter.)

Can’t you hear that rooster crowin’?
Rabbit runnin’ down across the road
Underneath the bridge where the water flowed through
So happy just to see you smile
Underneath the sky of blue
On this new morning, new morning
On this new morning with you

Can’t you hear that motor turnin’?
Automobile comin’ into style
Comin’ down the road for a country mile or two
So happy just to see you smile
Underneath the sky of blue
On this new morning, new morning
On this new morning with you

The night passed away so quickly
It always does when you’re with me

Can’t you feel that sun a-shinin’?
Groundhog runnin’ by the country stream
This must be the day that all of my dreams come true
So happy just to be alive
Underneath the sky of blue
On this new morning, new morning
On this new morning with you

So happy just to be alive
Underneath the sky of blue
On this new morning, new morning
On this new morning with you
New morning . . .



1 comment:

  1. Hello Robert, yes another interesting analysis of a song from Bob Dtlan's Music Box http://thebobdylanproject.com/Song/id/444/New-Morning Join us inside and listen to every version of every song composed, recorded or performed by Bob Dylan.

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