Manipulation:
It's about persuading you
That I'm what you want.
Every song Bob Dylan wrote or performed can be distilled in a haiku. NOTE FOR READERS: All posts from 2010 to 2014 should be considered out of date. Please disregard them. There are, or will be, new versions of each haiku.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Answer Me, My Love
She split long ago,
But our lovesick swain still calls,
Thinking she'll come back.
But our lovesick swain still calls,
Thinking she'll come back.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Do Think Twice, It's All Right
I'm posting a few songs twice or three times here or there. Sometimes I fix a syllabification error. Other times I alter or rewrite a haiku as new ideas come to me. Speaking of syllabification errors, I spied my first one. I bet there are others. I wrote:
That's six syllables! I fixed it.
Separately, I encountered an odd situation when I started writing up haiku based on songs that Dylan performed by other people with whom the songs are closely associated. Should I say that the water that stoned Van Morrison in "And It Stoned Me?" stoned Van in the haiku? Not necessarily, I concluded. I wrote these haiku because Bob Dylan stamped them with his own rendition. Therefore, the water stoned Bob -- even if he didn't get it himself from the mountain stream.
"Annie's song ain't great,
But it does something to Bob --
Mostly makes him feel sad."
That's six syllables! I fixed it.
Separately, I encountered an odd situation when I started writing up haiku based on songs that Dylan performed by other people with whom the songs are closely associated. Should I say that the water that stoned Van Morrison in "And It Stoned Me?" stoned Van in the haiku? Not necessarily, I concluded. I wrote these haiku because Bob Dylan stamped them with his own rendition. Therefore, the water stoned Bob -- even if he didn't get it himself from the mountain stream.
Annie's Going to Sing Her Song
Annie's song ain't great,
But it does something to Bob --
It makes him feel sad.
But it does something to Bob --
It makes him feel sad.
Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground
Getting ditched is bad.
Writing a song about it
Can make things better.
Writing a song about it
Can make things better.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Monday, December 27, 2010
Friday, December 24, 2010
All You Have to Do Is Dream
Bob invites his wife
To love him in his farmhouse...
And to "blow" his "horn."
To love him in his farmhouse...
And to "blow" his "horn."
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
All Along the Watchtower
Joker can't take life.
Thief says, "It is what it is...
Let others suffer."
Thief says, "It is what it is...
Let others suffer."
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Monday, December 20, 2010
Ain't No Man Righteous (No, Not One)
Bob tells listeners
They'd better get straight with God
Coz they all sinners.
They'd better get straight with God
Coz they all sinners.
(Ain't Gonna Play) Sun City
Bob ain't gonna play Sun City.
How many South Africans
Asked him if he would?
How many South Africans
Asked him if he would?
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Ain't Gonna Go to Hell for Anybody
I could be a jerk,
But then, I would go to hell,
So I'd rather not.
But then, I would go to hell,
So I'd rather not.