It's actually Bob's producer laughing. According to legend, Bob was so used to playing alone he just started the song without cueing his backing band, and his producer found it hilarious. Bob loved the laugh so much he included it in the song.
False starts in songs are the best, they add so much to the atmosphere of the song and make you feel like you're hearing exactly what was happening in the studio at the time
one of my favorite ones is when Todd rundgren is laying down with most people think is a beautiful sensitive ballad called hello it's me. and you hear the BS in the studio with a couple of false starts I'm the long version
Well yeah, but this is a studio cut. The first part with laugh is from acoustic version take 1 (13 January '65), the rest of the song comes from band version take 2 (14 January '65).
It is said of women's good looks that it's a sort of a bloom on a woman, and if she doesn't have it it doesn't matter what else she has, and if she has it it doesn't matter what she doesn't have. It is in art as it is with women. Only have a certain beauty, a felicity, and that's everything. Dylan had the touch, the beautiful touch, and that's all that mattered for his fate. This explains very little if anything at all, but it does move the matter with I hope some aptness over to the category of 'inexplicable'. (Here and there it's the producer, possibly, who pulls the string and passes us some biscuit we delight in.)
@@j.bgoode5141 They say laughter is the best medicine! I started trying to describe why this song is awesome, but realized you almost need to write an entire thesis to do it justice. It still packs every bit as much punch as when I first heard it long ago.
Yes,Bringing it all Back Home is one of the most important albums in rock n roll history. It practically invented the folk rock genre and helped pave the way for other folk artists of the time to incorporate electric instrumentation into their sound.
@@chrisporter1971 That's what I used to think. But it just seems here that they all forgot their cue and didn't come in on time. That's not to say that they never did light a bifter up in recording sessions back then though, because they certainly did.
Somebody on Twitter did a collection of matching Spongebob Squarepants screenshots: twitter.com/NYMammoths/status/807566517290369024 +1 for a full animation though…
The lyrics are genius, but so is the music behind them. It's 6 and a half minutes of relentless rhythm that never fails but always sounds like it's about to go off the rails! It's chaotic and the musicians must have had a blast!
Came up tails, it rhymed with sails, so I made it back to the ship. "Tails" much more obviously rhymes with "jail" - shows how the coin toss was just a formality to alleviate his guilt at giving up on trying to break his friends out of jail and he was gonna go back to the ship either way..so subtle, so genius
Exactly, Bertram. Might be my favorite part of the song - tails, sails, jail... Also, "...I repeated that my friends were all in jail, with a sigh. He gave me his card. He said, "Call me if they die." Just love that
I used to make my Daughter listen to the Crucifucks on the way to school. Totally different vibe but their songs were funny too or I thought so when I was in high school. Today she's a h.s. art teacher, so obviously she found real adults to learn from!
Coolest voice in Rock. He invented everything. He even inspired half of the Beatles songs. I even heard a rumor he was doing DJ scratching back in 1964 for an Andy Warhol party.
My favourite thing about this album is how this song, which is arguably the most playful Dylan track of all time, is followed up immediately by Mr Tambourine Man, a song so poignantly beautiful it still chokes me up when I hear it to this day. The greatest genius of the modern era
Love it when Dylan is funny😎 and those rhymes!!! Someone commented somewhere that this song is like smoking your first joint. Just kick back and enjoy it~
@Bob Dylan Please do forgive me the honesty of this question here . . . 'but who in the blue heck (versus the "H" followed by an 'e' and what the 'll' else)', are you? DO answer me!
Incredible what a marathon of a song. Will listen 115 times Bob Dylan can’t get enough of this. Thank you Bob Dylan. You are something else!!!! Words fail me
I was riding on the Mayflower when I thought I spied some land I yelled for Captain Arab, I have you understand Who came running to the deck, said, "Boys, forget the whale Look on over yonder, cut the engines, change the sails" "Haul on the bowline", we sang that melody Like all tough sailors do when they are far away at sea "I think I'll call it America", I said as we hit land I took a deep breath, I fell down, I could not stand Captain Arab, he started writing up some deeds He said, "Let's set up a fort, then start buyin' the place with beads" Just then this cop comes down the street, crazy as a loon He throws us all in jail for carryin' harpoons Ah, me I busted out, don't even ask me how I went to get some help, I walked by a Guernsey cow Who directed me down to the Bowery slums Where people carried signs around, sayin', "Ban the bums" I jumped right into line, sayin', "I hope that I'm not late" When I realized I hadn't eaten for five days straight I went into a restaurant lookin' for the cook I told them I was the editor of a famous etiquette book The waitress, he was handsome, he wore a powder-blue cape I ordered some suzette, I said, "Could you please make that crepe" Just then the whole kitchen exploded from boilin' fat Food was flyin' everywhere, I left without my hat Now, I didn't mean to be nosy, but I went into a bank To get some bail for Arab and all the boys back in the tank They asked me for some collateral and I pulled down my pants They threw me in the alley, when up comes this girl from France Who invited me to her house, I went, but she had a friend Who knocked me out and robbed my boots and I was on the street again Well, I rapped upon a house with the U.S. flag upon display I said, "Could you help me out? I got some friends down the way" The man says, "Get out of here, I'll tear you limb from limb" I said, "You know, they refused Jesus, too", he said, "You're not Him" "Get out of here before I break your bones, I ain't your pop" I decided to have him arrested and I went looking for a cop 🎵🎶🎵🎶 I ran right outside, I hopped inside a cab I went out the other door, this Englishman said, "Fab" As he saw me leap a hot dog stand and a chariot that stood Parked across from a building advertising brotherhood I ran right through the front door like a hobo sailor does But it was just a funeral parlor and the man asked me who I was I repeated that my friends were all in jail, with a sigh He gave me his card, he said, "Call me if they die" I shook his hand and said, "Goodbye", ran out to the street When a bowling ball came down the road and knocked me off my feet A pay phone was ringing and it just about blew my mind When I picked it up and said, "Hello", this foot came through the line 🎵🎶🎵🎶 Well, by this time I was fed up at tryin' to make a stab At bringin' back any help for my friends and Captain Arab I decided to flip a coin, like either heads or tails Would let me know if I should go back to ship or back to jail So I hocked my sailor suit and I got a coin to flip It came up tails, it rhymed with sails, so I made it back to the ship Well, I got back and took the parkin' ticket off the mast I was ripping it to shreds when this Coast Guard boat went past They asked me my name and I said, "Captain Kidd" They believed me but they wanted to know what exactly that I did I said, for the Pope of Eruke I was employed They let me go right away, they were very paranoid Well, the last I heard of Arab, he was stuck on a whale That was married to the deputy sheriff of the jail But the funniest thing was, when I was leavin' the bay I saw three ships a-sailin', they were all heading my way I asked the captain what his name was And how come he didn't drive a truck He said his name was Columbus, I just said, "Good luck"
This song is a satire on the whole of American history, culture, and attitudes. Wishing Columbus good luck is driving in the final nail. And they complained that he didn't write protest songs any more!
back when i was a dj on the college station in my town, there was this guy who called himself Caveman, and he'd call me every time i was on to ask me to play this song. shouts out
I was riding on the mayflower when I thought I spied some land I was riding on the mayflower when I thought I spied some land I yelled down to captain arab, I'll have ya understand, Who came running to the deck and said boys forget the whale We're goin' over yonder. cut the engines. change the sails. Haul on that bowline we sang that melody, Like all tough sailors do when they're far away at sea. I think I'll call it america. I said as we hit land. I took a deep breath. I fell down, I could not stand. Captain arab he starting writing out some deeds He said let's build us a fort and start buying the place with beads. Just then a cop come down the street crazy as a loon They throws us all in jail for carryin' harpoons. Aw, me, I busted out don't even ask me how, I went lookin' for some help, I walked past a guernsey cow Who directed me down to the bowery slums Where people carried signs around sayin' ban the bums. I jumped right in line, sayin' I hope that I'm not late When I realized I hadn't eaten for five days straight. I went into a restaurant lookin' for the cook I told him I was the editor of a famous etiquette book. The waitress he was handsome and he wore a powder blue cape. I ordered up some suzette, I said could you please make that crepe Just then the whole kitchen exploded from boiling fat Food was flyin' everywhere I left without my hat. I didn't mean to be nosy but I went into a bank To get some bail for arab the boys back in the tank. They asked me for some collateral and I pulled down my pants. They threw me in the alley, when up comes this girl from france Who invited me to her house. I went, but she had a friend Who knocked me out an' robbed my boots an' was I on the street again. I rapped upon a house with a u.s. flag upon display. I said can you please help me out, I got some friends down the way. The man said get out of here I'll tear you limb from limb. I said you know, they refused jesus, too. he said you're not him. Get out of here before I break your bones. I ain't your pop. I decided to have him arrested and went looking for a cop. I ran right outside and hopped inside a cab I went out the other door this english man said fab As he saw me leap a hot dog stand and a chariot that stood Parked across from a building advertising brotherhood. I ran right through the front door like a hobo sailor does, But it was just a funeral parlor and the man asked me who I was I repeated that all my friends were in jail, with a sigh. He gave me his card and said call me if they die. I shook his hand and said goodbye and went back out on the street, When a bowling ball came down the road and knocked me off my feet. A pay phone was ringin' and it just about blew my mind When I picked it up an' said hello, this foot came through the line Well about this time I was fed up at trying to make a stab At bringing back any help for my friends and captain arab. I decided to flip a coin, like either heads or tails, Would let me know if I should go back to ship or back to jail. So I hocked my sailor's suit an' I got a coin to flip. It came up tails, it rhymed with sails, so I made it back to the ship. Well I got back and took the parking ticket off the mast. I was ripping it to shreds when this coast guard boat went past. They asked me my name and I said captain kidd They believed me but they wanted to know exactly what I did I said for the pope of eyruke I was employed They let me go right away, they were very paranoid Well the last I heard of arab he was stuck on the side of a whale That was married to the deputy sheriff of the jail But the funniest thing was as I was leavin' the bay I saw three ships sailing and they were all headed my way I asked the captain what his name was an' how come he didn't drive a truck He said his name was Columbus an' I just said good luck Source: LyricFind Songwriters: Bob Dylan
@@SpeegBJ I like the "you're not him" part and his pronunciation/flow of Ayy Rab (arab). I'm not american and I'm not sure if people just pronounce arabs like that tho ahah
@Bob Dylan Dear sir, I tried a couple of times to email, but the microsoft thing said it doesnt work. Perhaps there is another email address to use? All the best, Andrew Harvey
@@andrewharvey8877 yeah and when Columbus comes along at the end to "discover America" Dylan's out of there and just wishes him good luck (in other words good luck with all that crazy shit better you than me)
“Just then the whole kitchen exploded from boiling fat Food was flyin' everywhere I left without my hat” Reminds me of early July 1963 when I was dining at the Krystal in downtown Memphis. At first the fire was small but quickly became large prompting everyone to leave. We all escaped safely and the fire department quickly arrived but the diner was nearly destroyed.
Dylan performed the song 6 times live at the end of his 1988 never-ending tour. I saw one of the Tower Theater, PA shows before he closed in NYC. Was so great to hear him perform this gem with guitarist G.E. Smith and band. And after the show (okay, in my Dream . . . ): "I shook his hand and said goodbye and went back on the street".
I ordered up some suzette & could ya please make that crepe..... this is typical Dylan taking something, turning it around, making it rhyme all the while keeping it on the beat. this type of poetic genius is what make Bob...... well,,, Bob.
@@brianpreston9660 pls allow me to try to explain..... follow the lyrics from 2:00 in. if you were in a restaurant and ordered crepes you wouldnt order it as suzette. you would order crepes. he orders it in reverse to rhyme it with "cape" from the previous lyric. dont over think it, its just a song. cheers.
My brother and I would laugh and laugh listening to this when we were little kids. "He asked me for collateral, so I pulled down my pants" is still funny to me. My mom had to explain what "collateral" was lol. That made it even funnier. To this day, if anybody asks me for collateral......
YUP, Sooo many sides to this great artist, expressing his thoughts on Hattie Carol, lookin' back in 'My back pages' I really like the music in the lower cleft of that song, To Ramona. . .He is SO GREAT!
Master Dylan joins the great surrealists of photography, paint, and object; now with pure song. Then he shoves us into his soul with "Watching the River Flow", the single most powerful rock ballad ever done. Waiting for next, Bob! We met after the White Face tour, Harvard Square, your cordiality noted. Watch for my book, "Real Views", he's there. tnx
Listening back then it just was, listening now it’s an arcane kind of quirky museum relic observed described with lots and lots of adjectives! I miss when it just was. We listened just listened it was inside not outside our world for many of us.
The youngens getting getting into sea shanties via Tik Tok brought me here. Of course I listen to it in my car once a month, easy. Great tune. Real sea shanties sung by guys like the Clancys were a big influence on early Dylan.
I loooove how this is the same riff/groove/chord structure as motorpsycho nightmare. He does it with i shall be free no 7 and a few other songs too. Such genius story telling and so much referencing... wizardry
Im guessing he just woke up every morning and decided to write a song. Hope he lives forever. Id love to hear him play this song today after a million dreams behind.
One of the funniest songs ever written, just pure perfection. The rhymes he creates are terrific.
Bob wrote you for advise not advice?
@@truckerkevthepaidtourist Maybe a play on words? I don't see it myself...
how is this funny
Hilarious. A real gem.
Trudy, Long Haired Country Boy, and Uneasy Rider are three of the funniest songs ever written
It's actually Bob's producer laughing. According to legend, Bob was so used to playing alone he just started the song without cueing his backing band, and his producer found it hilarious. Bob loved the laugh so much he included it in the song.
That's right. It's not Bob laughing, not even close. Dear, dear, dearest song in the universe and my heart. Oh lord, bob
it was Tom Wilson
Noted Jazz producer from Verve, An implimet of Columbia.
That laughter track has to be on every version of this Classic, I think its Bobs way of making things his way
thanks matthew, i always wondered who was laughing as it's obviously not bob.
Although Bob does laugh briefly when he realises this haha
False starts in songs are the best, they add so much to the atmosphere of the song and make you feel like you're hearing exactly what was happening in the studio at the time
Agreed. It's a good ice breaker. This is the only one of those he did though, unfortunately.
one of my favorite ones is when Todd rundgren is laying down with most people think is a beautiful sensitive ballad called hello it's me. and you hear the BS in the studio with a couple of false starts I'm the long version
That is your reality.
Well yeah, but this is a studio cut. The first part with laugh is from acoustic version take 1 (13 January '65), the rest of the song comes from band version take 2 (14 January '65).
It is said of women's good looks that it's a sort of a bloom on a woman, and if she doesn't have it it doesn't matter what else she has, and if she has it it doesn't matter what she doesn't have.
It is in art as it is with women. Only have a certain beauty, a felicity, and that's everything. Dylan had the touch, the beautiful touch, and that's all that mattered for his fate. This explains very little if anything at all, but it does move the matter with I hope some aptness over to the category of 'inexplicable'.
(Here and there it's the producer, possibly, who pulls the string and passes us some biscuit we delight in.)
Interesting that tails rhymes better with jail, but he twisted it to rhyme with sails to give him the excuse of heading back to the boat. Genius.
This song is so good I can't even explain.
no need to explain, it only gets in the way..
@@MD-wm7go You can easilly miss a twist of humour in this masterpiece if you change position in your chair
Dave Johnson you are so right Dave.
I can ..... medicine ✨🌈☮️
@@j.bgoode5141 They say laughter is the best medicine! I started trying to describe why this song is awesome, but realized you almost need to write an entire thesis to do it justice. It still packs every bit as much punch as when I first heard it long ago.
It's 2024 and for some reason, I find this tune a refreshing break from today's world.
This is the first rock song I remember where a screwup was purposefully left in to add character to the song.
Stoners
The screw up, came from the acoustic take of this song . It was added to the electric performance later.
Rock song?
Yes,Bringing it all Back Home is one of the most important albums in rock n roll history. It practically invented the folk rock genre and helped pave the way for other folk artists of the time to incorporate electric instrumentation into their sound.
@@chrisporter1971 That's what I used to think. But it just seems here that they all forgot their cue and didn't come in on time.
That's not to say that they never did light a bifter up in recording sessions back then though, because they certainly did.
This song needs to be animated/illustrated as some kind of comic or cartoon
I can't believe it hasn't! Have you seen the Seuss-esque animation for Nick Cave's "Red Right Hand"?
wantsn lillyleven Thaler%BullionptchuOnly coat%tNtt nauticulllullusohoHOowhatterye Tee.
Somebody on Twitter did a collection of matching Spongebob Squarepants screenshots: twitter.com/NYMammoths/status/807566517290369024
+1 for a full animation though…
Preferably done in the style of Robert Crumb...
It's hilarious ..... of course yo feel guilty and subject to be critiqued.uh?
The lyrics are genius, but so is the music behind them. It's 6 and a half minutes of relentless rhythm that never fails but always sounds like it's about to go off the rails! It's chaotic and the musicians must have had a blast!
That or good meth.....lol...
...5 days straight...
ANOTHER spark of poetic & musical genius . it's even more amazing considering he was only 24 !
start again! take two :)
BILL YOUR RIGHT
"All along the 'bowline' we sang the melodies...." LOVE IT!!!
A song that really exemplifies Dylan's genius.
And his humor!
If you asked him today, he wouldn't have a clue how he wrote it. He says it was kind of magic at the time.
Came up tails, it rhymed with sails, so I made it back to the ship. "Tails" much more obviously rhymes with "jail" - shows how the coin toss was just a formality to alleviate his guilt at giving up on trying to break his friends out of jail and he was gonna go back to the ship either way..so subtle, so genius
Exactly, Bertram. Might be my favorite part of the song - tails, sails, jail... Also, "...I repeated that my friends were all in jail, with a sigh. He gave me his card. He said, "Call me if they die." Just love that
@@georgekuhn1305 Yes, I think it's my favourite line too and so logical.
I've heard the song countless times, but never thought of that.
I kind of figured that! :-D
@@georgekuhn1305 It's funny cause the guy was an undertaker.
One of Dylan's best rockers. You can't keep yourself from grooving.
YO Pig! What up? Good 2 c ur comment!
They Have A Strict Rules About "Grooving"
I first heard this in 1966 and today hearing it again its still as funny and fresh as ever.
Thanks Bob
Tom
I never get tired of this song. My dreams are just as ridiculous.
This surrealistic and wildly entertaining poetry, riding on a galloping horse of feel-good music is something that only Bob Dylan can do.
This has always been one of my favorites - pure invention, pure fun.
I used to listen to this with my dad everyday before school.. pulling up to the gates with this blasting.. love you dad ♥️
You had a great dad!
I used to make my Daughter listen to the Crucifucks on the way to school. Totally different vibe but their songs were funny too or I thought so when I was in high school. Today she's a h.s. art teacher, so obviously she found real adults to learn from!
One of the best tunes ever! "When a bowling ball came down the road and knocked me off my feet" love that line.
This was one of my first favorite Dylan songs. The drive, the storyline the humor... It's just a riot
And I just said "Good luck" 👍
The lyrics in this song... so good
💯!👏👏
i've literally been looking for this version for a decade
so glad all these classics are back on youtube.
its not the version from 1965
They just used the intro from the 1965 version
@@DieLazergurken I believe you, but I can't tell the difference between this and the album version. It's also at least ten years since I heard it.
@@DieLazergurken this is the version from 1965. It's on 'Bringing It All Back Home'
This song still makes me smile after all these years.
This might be my favourite Bob Dylan song at least right now.
I'm like you I go through phases with him.
Coolest voice in Rock. He invented everything. He even inspired half of the Beatles songs. I even heard a rumor he was doing DJ scratching back in 1964 for an Andy Warhol party.
And doing the Harlem Shake.
He basically invented the 1960s.
@@JMarinelli Best ever ppl need talk of him now before he leaves us love you Bob
My favourite thing about this album is how this song, which is arguably the most playful Dylan track of all time, is followed up immediately by Mr Tambourine Man, a song so poignantly beautiful it still chokes me up when I hear it to this day. The greatest genius of the modern era
..Thanks, Bob. Got me through much.
Who would ever give a thumbs down to this masterpiece? I love Bob, always have.
Idiots are all over tue world...
Those who would give a thumbs down would be those that think Bob had lost his sense of humor by 1968.
I was born in 1992 and I’ll tell you, Bob Dylan’s the best there’s ever been.
Someone born in Jan 93 agrees 👍
@@fredjohnson3183 And Dylan lives on. I was born in 64 so I got into him late as well. So many fantastic songs Many you'll see made famous by others.
@@fredjohnson3183 And I born in 2004 agree aswell
Born in 96, you are correct sir
I was born in 68 and have seen Bob live 25 times since 87 and I'd say your absolutely correct with that statement bud.
Love it when Dylan is funny😎 and those rhymes!!!
Someone commented somewhere that this song is like smoking your first joint. Just kick back and enjoy it~
The start is the most wholesome thing ever
It's amazing, isn't it?
Thanks to my father for making this the first album I was ever aware of. And making these songs My nursery rhymes. All love to William Donald.
Times today are so very tough. But to have a cool song to listen to, it can calm one's soul. Thus, to Bob Dylan . . . I believe in you.
@Bob Dylan Please do forgive me the honesty of this question here . . . 'but who in the blue heck (versus the "H" followed by an 'e' and what the 'll' else)', are you? DO answer me!
Highway 61 Rev, Subterranean Homesick Blues and Cookie.s and Dennis Hopper.s dialogue in apocalypse now mean more to me than lead.
Ban the bums. A quintessential Dylan line if ever I heard one.
Incredible what a marathon of a song. Will listen 115 times Bob Dylan can’t get enough of this. Thank you
Bob Dylan. You are something else!!!! Words fail me
I was riding on the Mayflower when I thought I spied some land
I yelled for Captain Arab, I have you understand
Who came running to the deck, said, "Boys, forget the whale
Look on over yonder, cut the engines, change the sails"
"Haul on the bowline", we sang that melody
Like all tough sailors do when they are far away at sea
"I think I'll call it America", I said as we hit land
I took a deep breath, I fell down, I could not stand
Captain Arab, he started writing up some deeds
He said, "Let's set up a fort, then start buyin' the place with beads"
Just then this cop comes down the street, crazy as a loon
He throws us all in jail for carryin' harpoons
Ah, me I busted out, don't even ask me how
I went to get some help, I walked by a Guernsey cow
Who directed me down to the Bowery slums
Where people carried signs around, sayin', "Ban the bums"
I jumped right into line, sayin', "I hope that I'm not late"
When I realized I hadn't eaten for five days straight
I went into a restaurant lookin' for the cook
I told them I was the editor of a famous etiquette book
The waitress, he was handsome, he wore a powder-blue cape
I ordered some suzette, I said, "Could you please make that crepe"
Just then the whole kitchen exploded from boilin' fat
Food was flyin' everywhere, I left without my hat
Now, I didn't mean to be nosy, but I went into a bank
To get some bail for Arab and all the boys back in the tank
They asked me for some collateral and I pulled down my pants
They threw me in the alley, when up comes this girl from France
Who invited me to her house, I went, but she had a friend
Who knocked me out and robbed my boots and I was on the street again
Well, I rapped upon a house with the U.S. flag upon display
I said, "Could you help me out? I got some friends down the way"
The man says, "Get out of here, I'll tear you limb from limb"
I said, "You know, they refused Jesus, too", he said, "You're not Him"
"Get out of here before I break your bones, I ain't your pop"
I decided to have him arrested and I went looking for a cop
🎵🎶🎵🎶
I ran right outside, I hopped inside a cab
I went out the other door, this Englishman said, "Fab"
As he saw me leap a hot dog stand and a chariot that stood
Parked across from a building advertising brotherhood
I ran right through the front door like a hobo sailor does
But it was just a funeral parlor and the man asked me who I was
I repeated that my friends were all in jail, with a sigh
He gave me his card, he said, "Call me if they die"
I shook his hand and said, "Goodbye", ran out to the street
When a bowling ball came down the road and knocked me off my feet
A pay phone was ringing and it just about blew my mind
When I picked it up and said, "Hello", this foot came through the line
🎵🎶🎵🎶
Well, by this time I was fed up at tryin' to make a stab
At bringin' back any help for my friends and Captain Arab
I decided to flip a coin, like either heads or tails
Would let me know if I should go back to ship or back to jail
So I hocked my sailor suit and I got a coin to flip
It came up tails, it rhymed with sails, so I made it back to the ship
Well, I got back and took the parkin' ticket off the mast
I was ripping it to shreds when this Coast Guard boat went past
They asked me my name and I said, "Captain Kidd"
They believed me but they wanted to know what exactly that I did
I said, for the Pope of Eruke I was employed
They let me go right away, they were very paranoid
Well, the last I heard of Arab, he was stuck on a whale
That was married to the deputy sheriff of the jail
But the funniest thing was, when I was leavin' the bay
I saw three ships a-sailin', they were all heading my way
I asked the captain what his name was
And how come he didn't drive a truck
He said his name was Columbus, I just said, "Good luck"
This song is a satire on the whole of American history, culture, and attitudes. Wishing Columbus good luck is driving in the final nail. And they complained that he didn't write protest songs any more!
@@stephenlee1756 How did that whole Columbus thing pan out anyway ?
This is the song that made me fall in love with Dylan.
Hurricane did it for me
Me, too! Heard it on the Havard University radio station, more than 50 years ago. I was transfixed.
Bien, la mía fue Hurricaine. Saludos
for me it was Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts
Beautiful bad ass surreal comedic piece of work
I love this album!
Best Dylan song ever
It was one of those legends why those guys were "The Band". They put up with Bob Dylan just to see where it ends up. RIP Mickey Jones🤘
One of the most original songs ever written
Great song by Bob D. 💗💕💖
Love the laughter
Everytime I listen to 115th Dream I end up wanting to re-read Moby Dick, damn you Bob!
Still the best opening to a song ever.
P.S. I love an harmonica playing singer and guitar player. Whew! Love you, Mr. Zimmerman.
This is hilarious, well done Mr Bob Dylan Bob, I’m in stitches. You are the most incredible storyteller.
This is the music I listen to when I'm pissed off; instantly puts me in a good mood.
bob could have gotten the nobel prize on this one alone!!😄
back when i was a dj on the college station in my town, there was this guy who called himself Caveman, and he'd call me every time i was on to ask me to play this song. shouts out
My favorite band is the Doors, but man, it's Shakespeare in plays & Bob Dylan in songs if you want to hear the masters of the English language.
I was riding on the mayflower when I thought I spied some land
I was riding on the mayflower when I thought I spied some land
I yelled down to captain arab, I'll have ya understand,
Who came running to the deck and said boys forget the whale
We're goin' over yonder. cut the engines. change the sails.
Haul on that bowline we sang that melody,
Like all tough sailors do when they're far away at sea.
I think I'll call it america. I said as we hit land.
I took a deep breath. I fell down, I could not stand.
Captain arab he starting writing out some deeds
He said let's build us a fort and start buying the place with beads.
Just then a cop come down the street crazy as a loon
They throws us all in jail for carryin' harpoons.
Aw, me, I busted out don't even ask me how,
I went lookin' for some help, I walked past a guernsey cow
Who directed me down to the bowery slums
Where people carried signs around sayin' ban the bums.
I jumped right in line, sayin' I hope that I'm not late
When I realized I hadn't eaten for five days straight.
I went into a restaurant lookin' for the cook
I told him I was the editor of a famous etiquette book.
The waitress he was handsome and he wore a powder blue cape.
I ordered up some suzette, I said could you please make that crepe
Just then the whole kitchen exploded from boiling fat
Food was flyin' everywhere I left without my hat.
I didn't mean to be nosy but I went into a bank
To get some bail for arab the boys back in the tank.
They asked me for some collateral and I pulled down my pants.
They threw me in the alley, when up comes this girl from france
Who invited me to her house. I went, but she had a friend
Who knocked me out an' robbed my boots an' was I on the street again.
I rapped upon a house with a u.s. flag upon display.
I said can you please help me out, I got some friends down the way.
The man said get out of here I'll tear you limb from limb.
I said you know, they refused jesus, too. he said you're not him.
Get out of here before I break your bones. I ain't your pop.
I decided to have him arrested and went looking for a cop.
I ran right outside and hopped inside a cab
I went out the other door this english man said fab
As he saw me leap a hot dog stand and a chariot that stood
Parked across from a building advertising brotherhood.
I ran right through the front door like a hobo sailor does,
But it was just a funeral parlor and the man asked me who I was
I repeated that all my friends were in jail, with a sigh.
He gave me his card and said call me if they die.
I shook his hand and said goodbye and went back out on the street,
When a bowling ball came down the road and knocked me off my feet.
A pay phone was ringin' and it just about blew my mind
When I picked it up an' said hello, this foot came through the line
Well about this time I was fed up at trying to make a stab
At bringing back any help for my friends and captain arab.
I decided to flip a coin, like either heads or tails,
Would let me know if I should go back to ship or back to jail.
So I hocked my sailor's suit an' I got a coin to flip.
It came up tails, it rhymed with sails, so I made it back to the ship.
Well I got back and took the parking ticket off the mast.
I was ripping it to shreds when this coast guard boat went past.
They asked me my name and I said captain kidd
They believed me but they wanted to know exactly what I did
I said for the pope of eyruke I was employed
They let me go right away, they were very paranoid
Well the last I heard of arab he was stuck on the side of a whale
That was married to the deputy sheriff of the jail
But the funniest thing was as I was leavin' the bay
I saw three ships sailing and they were all headed my way
I asked the captain what his name was an' how come he didn't drive a truck
He said his name was Columbus an' I just said good luck
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Bob Dylan
It's captain Ahab
Dylan has the widest mind,,,and it sounds like he has a deep heart, for all people, tribes,and unions. Nothing like these flying words.
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Ha ha ha ha... Okay take two... I always loved that false start and the laughing which followed. I am glad they left it in the final recording.
This is pure genius! Thank you for sharing.
@smc just listen to the words U think where did amazing song from just genius and that tune classic 1 of the best keep your boots on bob tremendous
Said his name was Columbus, I just said "good luck."
Turn left at Greenland..
Yes, favorite lyrics here.
Best plot twist ever
@@SpeegBJ I like the "you're not him" part and his pronunciation/flow of Ayy Rab (arab). I'm not american and I'm not sure if people just pronounce arabs like that tho ahah
I played this song often when I was a late night disc jockey ages ago. You need to pay attention to take it all in.
History of America. Summed up perfect. Brilliant. 'This Foot Came through the line....'
@Bob Dylan Dear sir, I tried a couple of times to email, but the microsoft thing said it doesnt work.
Perhaps there is another email address to use?
All the best,
Andrew Harvey
@@andrewharvey8877 yeah and when Columbus comes along at the end to "discover America" Dylan's out of there and just wishes him good luck (in other words good luck with all that crazy shit better you than me)
Its Impossible not to enjoy this! The comments are all brilliant. Dylan people just get it dont they?
I'm 60 ish and always loved Bob's songs
“Just then the whole kitchen exploded from boiling fat
Food was flyin' everywhere I left without my hat”
Reminds me of early July 1963 when I was dining at the Krystal in downtown Memphis. At first the fire was small but quickly became large prompting everyone to leave. We all escaped safely and the fire department quickly arrived but the diner was nearly destroyed.
These lyrics... genius :)
The great thing is that your comment can be put under every Dylan song and it would be 100% accurate.
There are some throwaways, "...Why he did not drive a truck?"
Actually All of Dylan's lyrics are genius. Love him since forever, Awesome and Amazed with his talent ....
lol the laugh added so much atmosphere to the song
Que hermosa locura musical Bob..siempre marcando el camino..genio loco maravilloso.. Salutee🍷
2:20 that subtle tension building guitar as Dylan delivers the line: "just then, the whole kitchen exploded from boiling fat" is genius.
Reminds me of getting off the train in Boston at north station at the old Boston garden for some reason in the parking lot
Dylan performed the song 6 times live at the end of his 1988 never-ending tour. I saw one of the Tower Theater, PA shows before he closed in NYC. Was so great to hear him perform this gem with guitarist G.E. Smith and band. And after the show (okay, in my Dream . . . ): "I shook his hand and said goodbye and went back on the street".
Oh man...ur lucky...im from Philly.u? What u think of new song?
I ordered up some suzette & could ya please make that crepe.....
this is typical Dylan taking something, turning it around, making it rhyme all the while keeping it on the beat. this type of poetic genius is what make Bob...... well,,, Bob.
What the hell are you talking about??
@@brianpreston9660 pls allow me to try to explain.....
follow the lyrics from 2:00 in.
if you were in a restaurant and ordered crepes you wouldnt order it as suzette. you would order crepes. he orders it in reverse to rhyme it with "cape" from the previous lyric.
dont over think it, its just a song. cheers.
Lol oh gracious you are singing this greaaaaat...love it...funny as well
My brother and I would laugh and laugh listening to this when we were little kids. "He asked me for collateral, so I pulled down my pants" is still funny to me. My mom had to explain what "collateral" was lol. That made it even funnier. To this day, if anybody asks me for collateral......
Best. Song. Ever.
Hands down, this is the best story ever written. Prove me wrong.
Heads up, it's not a story, can't prove it though.
Truly brilliant!💚
Bob Dylan brings you exacly what happened in the studio ? THanks Bob
What a genius.
Artistic ..jum
YUP, Sooo many sides to this great artist, expressing his thoughts on Hattie Carol, lookin' back in 'My back pages' I really like the music in the lower cleft of that song, To Ramona. . .He is SO GREAT!
So glad this got uploaded!
Master Dylan joins the great surrealists of photography, paint, and object; now with pure song. Then he shoves us into his soul with "Watching the River Flow", the single most powerful rock ballad ever done. Waiting for next, Bob! We met after the White Face tour, Harvard Square, your cordiality noted. Watch for my book, "Real Views", he's there. tnx
Listening back then it just was, listening now it’s an arcane kind of quirky museum relic observed described with lots and lots of adjectives! I miss when it just was. We listened just listened it was inside not outside our world for many of us.
I can't help but laugh when he laughs in the beginning!
"They let me go right away, they were very paranoid" unreal!
"He said let's set up a fort and stsrt buying the place with beads..." Lol!!
My understanding is this line is bout the pilgrims buying land from the natives....hence the beads.....just a thought
My understanding is this line is bout the pilgrims buying land off the natives.....hence the beads....
In 1626, Peter Minuit bought Manhattan island from the Natives with beads and trinkets that were worth $24
@@fuzzface8252 AND MANHATTAN WAS ONCE A HILL....
The youngens getting getting into sea shanties via Tik Tok brought me here. Of course I listen to it in my car once a month, easy. Great tune. Real sea shanties sung by guys like the Clancys were a big influence on early Dylan.
Genius Genius Genius!
I loooove how this is the same riff/groove/chord structure as motorpsycho nightmare. He does it with i shall be free no 7 and a few other songs too. Such genius story telling and so much referencing... wizardry
Great song and great delivery on Dylan's part. "Ffffood was fffflying everywhere..." very illustrative with his vocal! Wow
So many clever lines here. If you listen carefully, it's a brilliantly funny song
I was all of 8 year of age when my elder brother introduced me to the joys of Dylan via this song.
freaking blues but beautiful, what a jenius BD🔈🔉🔊
I'm really enjoying Bob Dylan's music on his 80th birthday, on May 24, 2021. This is a great song. Cheers!
Bob you are so cute without having to try. Amazing how you know what to write. It flows through all your music 🎶
Im guessing he just woke up every morning and decided to write a song. Hope he lives forever. Id love to hear him play this song today after a million dreams behind.
Sure does got an insanely wild, creative imagination. Great song
I love that beginning. Lmao
"I ordered some Suzette. I said could you please make that crepe."
love this song.
Amazing!!!