The best Dylan album since "John Wesley Harding", seven long years later.
This is a great comeback. Accompanied by Robbie Robertson's "Band" and company (no kidding!), Bob returns to the inspiration of his better days, a convincing voice, and interesting melodies.

The orchestrating Band is clearly felt, right from the playful blues opener, "On A Night Like This". Lyrics align with his recent frivolous productions, but are well constructed.
But the grand return is the masterpiece "Going, Going, Gone", truly a great song. It's the synthesis of Dylan's evolution, a "Don't Think Twice" aged ten years, bitter with Robertson's guitar working hard to convey the right pathos.
Same goes for "Tough Mama", and "Hazel" which has been performed live recently and appeared quite convincing.
Another masterpiece is the song dedicated to his son Jakob (leader of the Wallflower, but then he was only a few years old), the wonderful "Forever Young", and the harsh "Dirge", an unsettling prologue of the album that's about to come and a chronicle of Dylan's inner turmoil in those years: "I hate myself for loving you, and the weakness that it showed, you were just a painted face on a trip down to suicide road". Simple accompaniment, Dylan's piano, full chords, and Robertson performing miracles on the acoustic, inspired, gritty voice. A real gem.
The other songs do not reach this level but do not spoil the atmosphere.
A curious note: already in the recording studio, Dylan replaces the song "Nobody 'Cept You", a good one, with "Wedding Song", written in those days and hastily recorded, with chords that are sometimes forgotten or shifted from major to minor, and a harmonica solo best forgotten. The lyrics contain some frame-worthy passages. An excellent song born, like many in Zimmy's songbook, by chance and impulse. Fortunately, "Nobody ‘Cept You" was resurfaced in the "Bootleg Series Vol 2". It could have replaced "Something There Is About You", mediocre. It's the beginning of a series of bizarre choices in Dylan's album tracklists, culminating with "Infidels".

An excellent album: the resurrection is almost complete, the transition phase has found a precise direction, and the results are palpable. Dylan is on tour with the Band, dazzling audiences, and is preparing for another four years on the crest of the wave, characterized by great albums and always on the road with the now-legendary "Rolling Thunder Revue" tour.

Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos

01   On a Night Like This (02:59)

02   Going, Going, Gone (03:28)

03   Tough Mama (04:16)

04   Hazel (02:49)

Hazel, dirty-blonde hair
I wouldn't be ashamed to be seen with you anywhere
You got something I want plenty of
Ooh, a little touch of your love

Hazel, stardust in your eye
You're goin' somewhere and so am I
I'd give you the sky high above
Ooh, for a little touch of your love

Oh no, I don't need any reminder
To know how much I really care
But it's just making me blinder and blinder
Because I'm up on a hill and still you're not there

Hazel, you called and I came
Now don't make me play this waiting game
You've got something I want plenty of
Ooh, a little touch of your love

05   Something There Is About You (04:43)

Something there is about you that strikes a match in me
Is it the way your body moves or is it the way your hair blows free?
Or is it because you remind me of something that used to be
Somethin' that crossed over from another century?

Thought I'd shaken the wonder and the phantoms of my youth
Rainy days on the Great Lakes, walkin' the hills of old Duluth
There was me and Danny Lopez, cold eyes, black night and then there was Ruth
Something there is about you that brings back a long-forgotten truth

Suddenly I found you and the spirit in me sings
Don't have to look no further, you're the soul of many things
I could say that I'd be faithful, I could say it in one sweet, easy breath
But to you that would be cruelty and to me it surely would be death

Something there is about you that moves with style and grace
I was in a whirlwind, now I'm in some better place
My hand's on the sabre and you've picked up the baton
Somethin' there is about you that I can't quite put my finger on

06   Forever Young (04:57)

May God bless and keep you always,
May your wishes all come true,
May you always do for others
And let others do for you.
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung,
May you stay forever young,
Forever young, forever young,
May you stay forever young.

May you grow up to be righteous,
May you grow up to be true,
May you always know the truth
And see the lights surrounding you.
May you always be courageous,
Stand upright and be strong,
May you stay forever young,
Forever young, forever young,
May you stay forever young.

May your hands always be busy,
May your feet always be swift,
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift.
May your heart always be joyful,
May your song always be sung,
May you stay forever young,
Forever young, forever young,
May you stay forever young.

07   Forever Young (02:48)

May God bless and keep you always,
May your wishes all come true,
May you always do for others
And let others do for you.
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung,
May you stay forever young,
Forever young, forever young,
May you stay forever young.

May you grow up to be righteous,
May you grow up to be true,
May you always know the truth
And see the lights surrounding you.
May you always be courageous,
Stand upright and be strong,
May you stay forever young,
Forever young, forever young,
May you stay forever young.

May your hands always be busy,
May your feet always be swift,
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift.
May your heart always be joyful,
May your song always be sung,
May you stay forever young,
Forever young, forever young,
May you stay forever young.

08   Dirge (05:37)

I hate myself for lovin' you and the weakness that it showed
You were just a painted face on a trip down Suicide Road.
The stage was set, the lights went out all around the old hotel,
I hate myself for lovin' you and I'm glad the curtain fell.

I hate that foolish game we played and the need that was expressed
And the mercy that you showed to me, who ever would have guessed?
I went out on Lower Broadway and I felt that place within,
That hollow place where martyrs weep and angels play with sin.

Heard your songs of freedom and man forever stripped,
Acting out his folly while his back is being whipped.
Like a slave in orbit, he's beaten 'til he's tame,
All for a moment's glory and it's a dirty, rotten shame.

There are those who worship loneliness, I'm not one of them,
In this age of fiberglass I'm searching for a gem.
The crystal ball up on the wall hasn't shown me nothing yet,
I've paid the price of solitude, but at least I'm out of debt.

Can't recall a useful thing you ever did for me
'Cept pat me on the back one time when I was on my knees.
We stared into each other's eyes 'til one of us would break,
No use to apologize, what diff'rence would it make?

So sing your praise of progress and of the Doom Machine,
The naked truth is still taboo whenever it can be seen.
Lady Luck, who shines on me, will tell you where I'm at,
I hate myself for lovin' you, but I should get over that.

09   You Angel You (02:54)

10   Never Say Goodbye (02:53)

11   Wedding Song (04:40)

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