"Couldn't help but make me feel ashamed to live in a land where justice is a game." The story of Rueben Carter could have been pulled from the headlines of yesterday's paper, but we are missing today's poetic voices and if there are any out there they aren't spitting the truth like Bob did.
I still remember the sheer ANGER I felt the first time I heard this song. I'm not American and I'm not black, but it still stirred strong feelings. I was so happy years later when I heard that the Hurricane had been exonerated. Tears of joy!
You want one song to explain why Bob Dylan is a genius? This is it. "Couldn't help but make me feel ashamed to live in a land where justice is a game" Nobel prize earned right there.
Fantastic reaction! The story of Ruben "Hurrican" Carter is a tragic one and illustrates some of the racism that contributed to the turbulence of the post WWII era. Bob's song helped bring attention to the injustice and he was eventually freed (unlike the innocent Leonard Peltier). There are some other great storytellers that others will suggest, but I recommend The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald by Gordon Lightfoot (a true maritime disaster) and Ticking by Elton John, which I think is based loosely on a true story..
@@Andible Dylan doesn't perform the song because Ruben is dead. And your fever dreams about him being proven guilty are just gibberish. You aren't a source. No murder weapon was ever found and the evidence was circumstantial. The witnesses were coached. BUT YOU HAVE THE TRUTH. Lol.
Reuben Carter is the fighter Hurricane, who Dylan tried to get free from jail for many years. Dylan won the Nobel Prize for his songwriting and this song was pivotal in that decision.
"To the black folks he was just a crazy n****r no one doubted that he pulled the trigger." Dylan exposed them all! This got Ruben a retrial. "And all the real criminals are free to drink martinis and watch the sunrise." If you have the time,pull up the lyrics and listen one more time. Great reaction! ❤❤❤❤
Bob had the beautiful, wonderful Scarlet Rivera playing violin on this song. I just love Dylan's "angry" songs. I recommend Dylan's Idiot Wind. Hurricane is a true story, and Dylan was instrumental in getting Rubin Hurricane Carter released.
Do you know how Bob met scarlet.Bob likes a good nosey round towns,they met because she was busking and Bob being Bob asked to to come play with him.And the rest,as they say is history.
Dylan is a force of nature. Back then the n-word wasn't as radioactive. Around the same time Chevy Chase used it live on SNL in a skit with Richard Pryor.
It not always the word, it's the context in how it's used. The fact that this is a song about racism, social commentary, black injustice and oppression by the white police/community, the use of the word is justified and in context. It adds bite and anger to the song and paints a picture of what the bigots thought about the situation.
My daughter got to meet him here in Canada. We all listened to this song, read his book, and wanted justice for him. Thanks for playing this outstanding song.
10:11 yes, this dude was a real person that was potentially one of the best boxers in the world, but his career was cut short. Luckily, he’s now out of jail many years later after it’s been proved he was innocent. Too late to give him back all he lost though. It’s a shame.
One of my favorite songs. Have loved it since I was a teenager. Rubin Carter was still imprisoned when I first heard this. It was a great day when he gained his freedom. RIP Hurricane. (There is a movie about this story - The Hurricane - Denzel Washington played Rubin Carter.)
I remember when this happened. Dylan took 10:50 that night and worked into a musical biography. He had done it before, with songs like "The Lonesome death of Hattie Carroll" and "Hollis Brown". Dylan is the most gifted lyricist I've ever heard, moreso than Leonard Cohen or Paul Simon, both of whom have great writing credentials. His poetry is what earned him the Nobel Prize in literature. When I got his first album in 1963, it was as if I had been given sight for the first time. I was blown away. I have almost all his albums, and have them all in my computer hard drive. It takes a very long time to listen to them all, but I don't mind. I'm 80 now, and I have the time to spare.
WICKED VIOLIN..... I knew you would really like this story about a boxer falsely framed/blamed for murder. Try this song about another black boxer.... "Who Killed Davy Moore".... You will shake your head in amazement at the honesty Dylan displays..
A true story teller, the message is always loud and clear in Bob's lyrics. Every song is a masterpiece and I always feel like I'm there while the scene unfolds. . . Poetry in motion.
Such a pleasure to see you get to this track. I watched every movement of your face as critical moments came up. This song is worth a lifetime of listens. Cheers mate.
I went to the Night Of The Hurricane concert to raise money for Ruben "Hurricane" Carter at the Houston Astrodome. Isaac Hayes, Stevie Wonder, Carlos Santana, Stephen Stills, The Byrds, and Bob Dylan's Rolling Thunder Revue. 1975. Ruben Carter finally released in 1988
I thought I knew every word to all Dylan. Then I sang Subterranean Homesick Blues to a friend.today. I couldn't get past, "Man with a coonskin cap and a Bic Pen wants 11$ bills and you only got ten." I couldn't go any farther, so good on you, Mark. Worth a brag. : o ). Is it Bic pen or Pig Pen ?
Great reaction to a sad story. I loved the electric violin and cymbals. People who criticized Dylan for going electric were wrong! I really love this song since I first heard it.
Wow! Never "saw" anyone to react to this gem of Bob D. ... Bob Dylan had a lot of great lyrics. Really, really great lyrics ... that's why Bob Dylan got the "Nobel Prize in Literature" in 2016. I might be wrong, but as far as I know, Bob Dylan is the first songwriter/musician ever to receive the Nobel Prize for his lyrics! :-) But well, ... he sure deserved it, man! :) P.S.: This is a true story he's singing about! :) Oh, regarding to this ... I mean the "story telling". Have you ever heard "A Boy Named Sue" by Johnny Cash!? o_O *epic
Ok. Couple of things: Firstly, I have loved Bob Dylan since 1963 when my big sister (Inga) who was an art student introduced me to him. First saw him at the Isle of Wight in 1969 when I was 17 and Bob was 28. I last saw Bob in my home town of Hull a couple of years ago in 2022 when I was 71 and he was 82. (Look at those numbers). Seen Bob 8 or 9 times now and he was good sometimes. I'm a Bobfan. But Bob did something special here with this Hurricane song: He sang someone else's song. The lyrics of Hurricane were written by a guy called Jacques Levy (As were most songs on 'Desire'.) So - imagine Bob Receiving those lyrics from Jacques and saying "I'll write a tune to fit your words and I'll sing it to fit your words". Only a true genius could do that. Hey man - You must be puttin' me on. As we all know, His Bobness is a genius. Other songs that were co-written were: 'Wheels on Fire' and 'I shall be released'. Thank you for your time.
Story of Rubin Hurricane Carter: 1966 Pistol shots ring out in the barroom night Enter Patty Valentine from the upper hall She sees a bartender in a pool of blood Cries out, "my God, they killed them all" Here comes the story of the Hurricane The man the authorities came to blame For somethin' that he never done Put in a prison cell, but one time he coulda been The champion of the world Three bodies lyin' there, does Patty see And another man named Bello, movin' around mysteriously "I didn't do it" he says, and he throws up his hands "I was only robbin' the register, I hope you understand" "I saw them leavin'" he says, and he stops "One of us had better call up the cops" And so Patty calls the cops And they arrive on the scene With their red lights flashin' in a hot New Jersey night Meanwhile, far away in another part of town Rubin Carter and a couple of friends are drivin' around Number one contender for the middleweight crown Had no idea what kinda shit was about to go down When a cop pulled him over to the side of the road Just like the time before and the time before that In Paterson that's just the way things go If you're black you might as well not show up on the street 'Less you want to draw the heat Alfred Bello had a partner and he had a rap for the cops Him and Arthur Dexter Bradley were just out prowlin' around He said "I saw two men runnin' out, they looked like middleweights Jumped into a white car with out-of-state plates" And Miss Patty Valentine just nodded her head Cop said "Wait a minute, boys, this one's not dead" So they took him to the infirmary And though this man could hardly see They told him he could identify the guilty men Four in the mornin' and they haul Rubin in They took him to the hospital and they brought him upstairs The wounded man looks up through his one dyin' eye Say "Why'd you bring him in here for? He ain't the guy" Here's the story of the Hurricane The man the authorities came to blame For somethin' that he never done Put in a prison cell, but one time he coulda been The champion of the world Four months later, the ghettos are in flame Rubin's in South America, fightin' for his name While Arthur Dexter Bradley's still in the robbery game And the cops are puttin' the screws to him, lookin' for somebody to blame "Remember that murder that happened in a bar?" "Remember you said you saw the getaway car?" "You think you'd like to play ball with the law?" "Think it mighta been that fighter that you saw runnin' that night?" "Don't forget that you are white" Arthur Dexter Bradley said "I'm really not sure" The cops said "A poor boy like you, could use this break We got you for the motel job and we're talkin' to your friend Bello You don't want to have to go back to jail, be a nice fellow You'll be doin' society a favor That son of a bitch is brave and gettin' braver We want to put his ass in stir We want to pin this triple murder on him He ain't no Gentleman Jim" Rubin could take a man out with just one punch But he never did like to talk about it all that much "It's my work" he'd say, "and I do it for pay And when it's over I'd just as soon go on my way" Up to some paradise Where the trout streams flow and the air is nice And ride a horse along a trail But then they took him to the jailhouse Where they try to turn a man into a mouse All of Rubin's cards were marked in advance The trial was a pig-circus, he never had a chance The judge made Rubin's witnesses drunkards from the slums To the white folks who watched, he was a revolutionary bum And for the black folks he was just a crazy nigger No one doubted that he pulled the trigger And though they could not produce the gun The D.A. said he was the one who did the deed And the all-white jury agreed Rubin Carter was falsely tried The crime was murder one, guess who testified? Bello and Bradley and they both baldly lied And the newspapers, they all went along for the ride How can the life of such a man Be in the palm of some fool's hand? To see him obviously framed Couldn't help but make me feel ashamed to live in a land Where justice is a game Now all the criminals in their coats and their ties Are free to drink martinis and watch the sun rise While Rubin sits like Buddha in a ten-foot cell An innocent man in a living hell Yes, that's the story of the Hurricane But it won't be over 'til they clear his name And give him back the time he's done Put in a prison cell, but one time he coulda been The champion of the world Source: LyricFind Songwriters: Bob Dylan / Jacques Levy
Bob Dylan wrote that for the famous fighter Hurricane, who was a black fighter falsely imprisoned for years and years. It’s heartbreaking to watch the Denzel movie. But some good people fought like hell to get him out.
The greatest creator of song ever his work and the man himself will be argued about for next 1000 years, one of the things about Dylan he gets people talking
Look up the story of Hurricane Carter. He truly could have been the middle weight champion of the world. Dylan & several other notables of the time went to bat for him & didn't let up until he was freed. 😢
Ruben Carter WAS the number 1 contender for the boxing middleweight championship. They reckon he would have been the champion too. He received the world championship belt by the WBC when he was finally released from prison. Denied Washington played him in the film The Hurricane. I recommend that you watch it & you will get the song straight away. God bless. M.F.McCorriston U.K. 🍀🏴🇮🇪🙏🇮🇪🏴🍀
I'm 66. I grew up being a Huge boxing fan( still am) I remember watching Ruben fight on TV a couple of times. He got his nickname Hurricane legitimately because that's how he fought. Imagine a 160 pound Mike Tyson! I'm not convinced he would ever had become World Champion because in the 60s the middle weight division had a lot of Great fighters. But he was good and very entertaining. 🥴🤔🥴
There’s a movie about it called Hurricane, yes sadly a true story. Bob Dylan was friends w/ him & visited him regularly. There r pics of the visits bc bob didn’t want ppl to forget Rubin.
The line "Rubin sits like Buddha in a ten foot cell" isn't random. Rubin Carter's writing's on and about Buddhism are profound and wonderful. It was/is more than racism. It was/is white fear of black excellence. Rubin Carter is a renaissance man in the true sense of the word. A world class athlete, a poet, intellectual, spiritual teacher.
I remember when the album Desire came out. I bought the album and the song Hurricane was my favorite. As time passed I read that many blacks and Ruben himself accused Bob of making money off this song. I stopped following Rubens's plight and stopped listening to the song. The song cried out the truth and nothing else and I'm glad I listened to it again.
Incredible song. I dont think he should have included a certain word. But other than that, absolutely amazing song. I like your reactions. Bob is the best
The master story teller,draws you in before you know what the heck is going on. Get a listen to Senor(Tales of Yankee power) that is a perfect example of how the master works.
One of Dylan's best songs especially musically speaking! ♥ I suggest the following Dylan songs: Visions of Johanna, Things Have Changed, Shelter From The Storm, & It's All Over Now Baby Blue
Rubin "Hurricane" Carter's life, though marked by immense hardship and injustice, also saw perseverance, triumph, and dedication to fighting for a better world. Here's a summary of his journey after the events depicted in Bob Dylan's ballad: **Years in Prison (1967-1988):** While Carter fought his wrongful conviction from behind bars, he spent nearly 20 years enduring the harsh realities of prison life. However, he remained active in writing, publishing his powerful autobiography "The Sixteenth Round," which helped galvanize public support for his case. **Exoneration and Release (1988):** Finally, in 1988, a federal judge overturned Carter's conviction due to prosecutorial misconduct and insufficient evidence. Carter walked free a man exonerated, reunited with his family and supporters after two decades of injustice. **Life After Prison (1988-2014):** Despite the ordeal, Carter never lost his fighting spirit. He became a powerful advocate against wrongful convictions, working tirelessly to expose flaws in the justice system and help others wrongly imprisoned. He founded the Innocence Project, an organization dedicated to exonerating the innocent, and actively spoke out against racism and prejudice. **Legacy and Passing (2014):** Carter passed away in 2014 at the age of 76, leaving behind a legacy of courage, resilience, and unwavering commitment to justice. His story continues to inspire generations, reminding us of the importance of fighting for what's right even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.
The best part of this reaction is when you start to realize what the song is about. It starts off as a great tune, enjoyable. But then the truth hits and magnifies the song's reason to be.
he was in direct contact with RC while he was in prison, and exchanged letters with him. it helped him to paint what ceratainly is a vivid picture. great choice!! a sick, tragic, and true story (as others have already noted to you). keep up the good work.
You really have to do a reaction to Bob Dylan's Masters of War. It's hauntingly chilling both in it's lyrics and how horribly relevant it still remains today.
I’m sure others have pointed out there’s a very good movie starting Denzel Washington as Rubin Carter called Hurricane.. well worth the watch 👍 love your channel! Cheers
Rubin "The Hurricane" Carter was an American boxer in the middleweight division. Carter was innocently convicted of triple murder, but was released after 19 years in prison on the grounds that the sentence was based on "an appeal to racism rather than reason, and secrecy rather than openness.
Just remember he is not just doing a song he is telling a True story of a boxer and the he does not hold back he tells it like it is. One of the best songwriters ever.
Rubin "Hurricane" Carter was eventually freed, thanks in a large part to Bob Dylan and this song. He brought attention to the injustice of the case.
Rubin Carter wasn’t released until ten years later.
"It's a shame to live in a land where justice is a game."
It certainly is. 😢
This is about a true story. Dylan is a natural storyteller!
Yes he is but credit must be given to Jaques Levy who co wrote the lyrics with Bob.
He did not get a nobel prize in literature for nothing.
Well he won somthing for figh on out the ring and that a fact.
YOUR SO WRONG!! YES IN LITERATURE 😊
Yeah he Did
I am the Fact Finder
@@cathyhetzel7692 when you tell somebody they’re wrong. You might want to spell the words correctly 😂😂😂you moron.
What a story..and it all RHYMES..
Bob is a GENIUS..
This song helped Ruben get a re-trial!!!
"Couldn't help but make me feel ashamed to live in a land where justice is a game." The story of Rueben Carter could have been pulled from the headlines of yesterday's paper, but we are missing today's poetic voices and if there are any out there they aren't spitting the truth like Bob did.
Bob dylan, johny cash, Bob marley, and 2pac. Legend story tellers
Never be another singer/songwriter like Bob Dylan. A prophet for the ages.
A protest song, but also a masterpiece. That’s our Bob.
Why „but“?
I’m really happy that young people are discovering Bob Dylan.
That's our Bob Dylan..for the people.
I still remember the sheer ANGER I felt the first time I heard this song. I'm not American and I'm not black, but it still stirred strong feelings. I was so happy years later when I heard that the Hurricane had been exonerated. Tears of joy!
You want one song to explain why Bob Dylan is a genius? This is it.
"Couldn't help but make me feel ashamed
to live in a land where justice is a game"
Nobel prize earned right there.
Fantastic reaction! The story of Ruben "Hurrican" Carter is a tragic one and illustrates some of the racism that contributed to the turbulence of the post WWII era. Bob's song helped bring attention to the injustice and he was eventually freed (unlike the innocent Leonard Peltier). There are some other great storytellers that others will suggest, but I recommend The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald by Gordon Lightfoot (a true maritime disaster) and Ticking by Elton John, which I think is based loosely on a true story..
Thanks for telling all this, I didn't know the story. It helps to understand the meaning of the song.
Last i read,, it turned out he wasn't really innocent, which is why dylan refuses to perform the song.
@@Andible not even true.
@@bartstarr100 Look it up
@@Andible Dylan doesn't perform the song because Ruben is dead. And your fever dreams about him being proven guilty are just gibberish. You aren't a source. No murder weapon was ever found and the evidence was circumstantial. The witnesses were coached. BUT YOU HAVE THE TRUTH. Lol.
Reuben Carter is the fighter Hurricane, who Dylan tried to get free from jail for many years. Dylan won the Nobel Prize for his songwriting and this song was pivotal in that decision.
"To the black folks he was just a crazy n****r no one doubted that he pulled the trigger." Dylan exposed them all! This got Ruben a retrial. "And all the real criminals are free to drink martinis and watch the sunrise." If you have the time,pull up the lyrics and listen one more time. Great reaction! ❤❤❤❤
If you haven't done it yet, "Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll" is another great one.
I could never stand The Lonesome Death... The story is bullshit and overall it is so maudlin I can't not laugh.
Bob actually went to visit Rubin in prison! Bob wrote this after reading Carter's Autobiography while the Hurricane was still in jail.
I think it's safe to say Bob Dylan has another New Fan who appreciates The Master Story Teller.
The lyrics are always one of a kind. The music that accompanies the words is always superbly done with Dylan's standards.
Bob had the beautiful, wonderful Scarlet Rivera playing violin on this song. I just love Dylan's "angry" songs. I recommend Dylan's Idiot Wind. Hurricane is a true story, and Dylan was instrumental in getting Rubin Hurricane Carter released.
Do you know how Bob met scarlet.Bob likes a good nosey round towns,they met because she was busking and Bob being Bob asked to to come play with him.And the rest,as they say is history.
Dylan is a force of nature. Back then the n-word wasn't as radioactive. Around the same time Chevy Chase used it live on SNL in a skit with Richard Pryor.
It not always the word, it's the context in how it's used. The fact that this is a song about racism, social commentary, black injustice and oppression by the white police/community, the use of the word is justified and in context. It adds bite and anger to the song and paints a picture of what the bigots thought about the situation.
My daughter got to meet him here in Canada. We all listened to this song, read his book, and wanted justice for him. Thanks for playing this outstanding song.
10:11 yes, this dude was a real person that was potentially one of the best boxers in the world, but his career was cut short. Luckily, he’s now out of jail many years later after it’s been proved he was innocent. Too late to give him back all he lost though. It’s a shame.
You must see the movie "Hurricane" starring Denzel Washington as Rubin. An amazing job!
One of my favorite songs. Have loved it since I was a teenager. Rubin Carter was still imprisoned when I first heard this. It was a great day when he gained his freedom. RIP Hurricane. (There is a movie about this story - The Hurricane - Denzel Washington played Rubin Carter.)
A true story .Denzel washington plays him in a film.Great reaction.
Ya, Bob stepped up & was instrumental, no pun intended, in seeing justice being served.
Dylan's writing this song and his "Rolling Thunder Review" tour basically led to them reexamining Hurricane Carter's case, and him being freed.
Always loved Bob Dylan
I remember when this happened. Dylan took 10:50 that night and worked into a musical biography. He had done it before, with songs like "The Lonesome death of Hattie Carroll" and "Hollis Brown". Dylan is the most gifted lyricist I've ever heard, moreso than Leonard Cohen or Paul Simon, both of whom have great writing credentials. His poetry is what earned him the Nobel Prize in literature. When I got his first album in 1963, it was as if I had been given sight for the first time.
I was blown away. I have almost all his albums, and have them all in my computer hard drive. It takes a very long time to listen to them all, but I don't mind. I'm 80 now, and I have the time to spare.
"and the all white jury agreed..." Two systems of justice in this country.
it's not surprising that Dylan won a Nobel Prize for Literature. Poetry set to music!
WICKED VIOLIN..... I knew you would really like this story about a boxer falsely framed/blamed for murder. Try this song about another black boxer.... "Who Killed Davy Moore".... You will shake your head in amazement at the honesty Dylan displays..
A powerful shot from Country Bob , poet of the wronged and oppressed .
Theres a movie and rubin also wrote a book "the 16th round - Got me into reading actually !!! "
A true story teller, the message is always loud and clear in Bob's lyrics. Every song is a masterpiece and I always feel like I'm there while the scene unfolds. . . Poetry in motion.
I just subscribed a few days ago and I'm just catching up I love Bob, The Beatles, The Stones, and I LOVE your channel thanks from an old guy!!
Such a pleasure to see you get to this track. I watched every movement of your face as critical moments came up. This song is worth a lifetime of listens. Cheers mate.
Good one..lol
That's a story in a song about injustice in it's biggest form .Always my favourite Dylan song.
Great reaction....watch the movie... Hurricane...with Denzel Washington...great movie...tells the story of the song!
You're on a roll my Friend..... "Ballad Of Frankie Lee And Judas Priest" will make you say...Oh My, what a story.
Another great one!!!
THE FILM, The Hurricane, is excellent. Denzil Washington plays Rubin Carter.
LAY LADY LAY BY BOB DYLAN... MY FAV. OF HIS.➡️🎸
My favorite Dylan song is "Like A Woman"
he is top 5 artist ever, all in in all types of art
I went to the Night Of The Hurricane concert to raise money for Ruben "Hurricane" Carter at the Houston Astrodome. Isaac Hayes, Stevie Wonder, Carlos Santana, Stephen Stills, The Byrds, and Bob Dylan's Rolling Thunder Revue. 1975. Ruben Carter finally released in 1988
Love the fact you’re going down the Dylan rabbithole. You should do ”Murder most foul” and ”Brownsville girl”, both epic⭐️⭐️
Not bragging but.... I know nearly every word to most every Dylan tune, This one is fun to sing along with.
Too bad, it would've been a great brag. It's only old facts, anymore, who even know why the pump don't work
I thought I knew every word to all Dylan. Then I sang Subterranean Homesick Blues to a friend.today. I couldn't get past, "Man with a coonskin cap and a Bic Pen wants 11$ bills and you only got ten." I couldn't go any farther, so good on you, Mark. Worth a brag. : o ). Is it Bic pen or Pig Pen ?
@@cubfanmike Ok! Genius, that comment, Mike! I heard that the vandals took the handles. : o )
@@ardentynekent2099 ✌🤙
Yessir
Listen again..
And again!
I love the violin..lol
Rubin "Hurricane" Carter was later found not guilty partly by the spotlight of this song in the press.
Great reaction to a sad story. I loved the electric violin and cymbals. People who criticized Dylan for going electric were wrong! I really love this song since I first heard it.
Another great bob song
Wow! Never "saw" anyone to react to this gem of Bob D. ... Bob Dylan had a lot of great lyrics. Really, really great lyrics ... that's why Bob Dylan got the "Nobel Prize in Literature" in 2016.
I might be wrong, but as far as I know, Bob Dylan is the first songwriter/musician ever to receive the Nobel Prize for his lyrics! :-) But well, ... he sure deserved it, man! :)
P.S.: This is a true story he's singing about! :)
Oh, regarding to this ... I mean the "story telling". Have you ever heard "A Boy Named Sue" by Johnny Cash!? o_O *epic
I own many books of his poetry. Maybe they contributed to the Prize in Literature?
One of the most powerful songs I've ever heard...ranks up there with "Strange Fruit."
Yes!
"If you're black, you might as well not show
up on the street unless you wanna draw the heat!"
Funny how things don't change.
Ok.
Couple of things:
Firstly, I have loved Bob Dylan since 1963 when my big sister (Inga) who was an art student introduced me to him.
First saw him at the Isle of Wight in 1969 when I was 17 and Bob was 28.
I last saw Bob in my home town of Hull a couple of years ago in 2022 when I was 71 and he was 82.
(Look at those numbers).
Seen Bob 8 or 9 times now and he was good sometimes.
I'm a Bobfan.
But Bob did something special here with this Hurricane song:
He sang someone else's song.
The lyrics of Hurricane were written by a guy called Jacques Levy
(As were most songs on 'Desire'.)
So - imagine Bob Receiving those lyrics from Jacques and saying
"I'll write a tune to fit your words and I'll sing it to fit your words".
Only a true genius could do that.
Hey man - You must be puttin' me on.
As we all know, His Bobness is a genius.
Other songs that were co-written were: 'Wheels on Fire' and 'I shall be released'.
Thank you for your time.
entertaining, but a work of fiction. even Dylan realized it eventually and distanced himself from Ruben.
Every song on the Desire album were masterpieces on their own, especially one more cup of coffee, and Sara.❤
Story of Rubin Hurricane Carter: 1966
Pistol shots ring out in the barroom night
Enter Patty Valentine from the upper hall
She sees a bartender in a pool of blood
Cries out, "my God, they killed them all"
Here comes the story of the Hurricane
The man the authorities came to blame
For somethin' that he never done
Put in a prison cell, but one time he coulda been
The champion of the world
Three bodies lyin' there, does Patty see
And another man named Bello, movin' around mysteriously
"I didn't do it" he says, and he throws up his hands
"I was only robbin' the register, I hope you understand"
"I saw them leavin'" he says, and he stops
"One of us had better call up the cops"
And so Patty calls the cops
And they arrive on the scene
With their red lights flashin' in a hot New Jersey night
Meanwhile, far away in another part of town
Rubin Carter and a couple of friends are drivin' around
Number one contender for the middleweight crown
Had no idea what kinda shit was about to go down
When a cop pulled him over to the side of the road
Just like the time before and the time before that
In Paterson that's just the way things go
If you're black you might as well not show up on the street
'Less you want to draw the heat
Alfred Bello had a partner and he had a rap for the cops
Him and Arthur Dexter Bradley were just out prowlin' around
He said "I saw two men runnin' out, they looked like middleweights
Jumped into a white car with out-of-state plates"
And Miss Patty Valentine just nodded her head
Cop said "Wait a minute, boys, this one's not dead"
So they took him to the infirmary
And though this man could hardly see
They told him he could identify the guilty men
Four in the mornin' and they haul Rubin in
They took him to the hospital and they brought him upstairs
The wounded man looks up through his one dyin' eye
Say "Why'd you bring him in here for? He ain't the guy"
Here's the story of the Hurricane
The man the authorities came to blame
For somethin' that he never done
Put in a prison cell, but one time he coulda been
The champion of the world
Four months later, the ghettos are in flame
Rubin's in South America, fightin' for his name
While Arthur Dexter Bradley's still in the robbery game
And the cops are puttin' the screws to him, lookin' for somebody to blame
"Remember that murder that happened in a bar?"
"Remember you said you saw the getaway car?"
"You think you'd like to play ball with the law?"
"Think it mighta been that fighter that you saw runnin' that night?"
"Don't forget that you are white"
Arthur Dexter Bradley said "I'm really not sure"
The cops said "A poor boy like you, could use this break
We got you for the motel job and we're talkin' to your friend Bello
You don't want to have to go back to jail, be a nice fellow
You'll be doin' society a favor
That son of a bitch is brave and gettin' braver
We want to put his ass in stir
We want to pin this triple murder on him
He ain't no Gentleman Jim"
Rubin could take a man out with just one punch
But he never did like to talk about it all that much
"It's my work" he'd say, "and I do it for pay
And when it's over I'd just as soon go on my way"
Up to some paradise
Where the trout streams flow and the air is nice
And ride a horse along a trail
But then they took him to the jailhouse
Where they try to turn a man into a mouse
All of Rubin's cards were marked in advance
The trial was a pig-circus, he never had a chance
The judge made Rubin's witnesses drunkards from the slums
To the white folks who watched, he was a revolutionary bum
And for the black folks he was just a crazy nigger
No one doubted that he pulled the trigger
And though they could not produce the gun
The D.A. said he was the one who did the deed
And the all-white jury agreed
Rubin Carter was falsely tried
The crime was murder one, guess who testified?
Bello and Bradley and they both baldly lied
And the newspapers, they all went along for the ride
How can the life of such a man
Be in the palm of some fool's hand?
To see him obviously framed
Couldn't help but make me feel ashamed to live in a land
Where justice is a game
Now all the criminals in their coats and their ties
Are free to drink martinis and watch the sun rise
While Rubin sits like Buddha in a ten-foot cell
An innocent man in a living hell
Yes, that's the story of the Hurricane
But it won't be over 'til they clear his name
And give him back the time he's done
Put in a prison cell, but one time he coulda been
The champion of the world
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Bob Dylan / Jacques Levy
Not sure if anyone mentioned but Denzel Washington played boxer Rubin "Hurricane" Carter in "The Hurricane", which was based on his real-life story...
Bob Dylan wrote that for the famous fighter Hurricane, who was a black fighter falsely imprisoned for years and years. It’s heartbreaking to watch the Denzel movie. But some good people fought like hell to get him out.
The greatest creator of song ever his work and the man himself will be argued about for next 1000 years, one of the things about Dylan he gets people talking
Wow .my fav. song by BOB..
Thanx...
Such a powerful song
Look up the story of Hurricane Carter. He truly could have been the middle weight champion of the world. Dylan & several other notables of the time went to bat for him & didn't let up until he was freed.
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CRANK IT UP!!.... 4:17pm and my valley is rockin to "HURRICANE"
Ruben Carter WAS the number 1 contender for the boxing middleweight championship. They reckon he would have been the champion too. He received the world championship belt by the WBC when he was finally released from prison. Denied Washington played him in the film The Hurricane. I recommend that you watch it & you will get the song straight away. God bless. M.F.McCorriston U.K. 🍀🏴🇮🇪🙏🇮🇪🏴🍀
I'm 66. I grew up being a Huge boxing fan( still am) I remember watching Ruben fight on TV a couple of times. He got his nickname Hurricane legitimately because that's how he fought. Imagine a 160 pound Mike Tyson! I'm not convinced he would ever had become World Champion because in the 60s the middle weight division had a lot of Great fighters. But he was good and very entertaining. 🥴🤔🥴
There’s a movie about it called Hurricane, yes sadly a true story. Bob Dylan was friends w/ him & visited him regularly. There r pics of the visits bc bob didn’t want ppl to forget Rubin.
The line "Rubin sits like Buddha in a ten foot cell" isn't random. Rubin Carter's writing's on and about Buddhism are profound and wonderful. It was/is more than racism. It was/is white fear of black excellence. Rubin Carter is a renaissance man in the true sense of the word. A world class athlete, a poet, intellectual, spiritual teacher.
If you liked this song you might like another Dylan song he wrote/sang .... The Death of Hattie Carol.
Many musicians got together at this time to try and get freedom and justice for Rubin -Hurricane- Carter. 'The Boxer' by Simon & Garfunkel.
I remember when the album Desire came out. I bought the album and the song Hurricane was my favorite. As time passed I read that many blacks and Ruben himself accused Bob of making money off this song. I stopped following Rubens's plight and stopped listening to the song. The song cried out the truth and nothing else and I'm glad I listened to it again.
Great song ... gonna download this for my radio show tonight.
Incredible song. I dont think he should have included a certain word. But other than that, absolutely amazing song. I like your reactions. Bob is the best
The master story teller,draws you in before you know what the heck is going on.
Get a listen to Senor(Tales of Yankee power) that is a perfect example of how the master works.
One of Dylan's best songs especially musically speaking! ♥
I suggest the following Dylan songs: Visions of Johanna, Things Have Changed, Shelter From The Storm, & It's All Over Now Baby Blue
Gotte see the live version - the violin is much more pronounced! Hurricane
"He painted a vivid picture" -- Yes, it's Bob Dylan!
Hey my man, i truly dig your Dylan reactions. Keep going coz im here for them all
Rubin "Hurricane" Carter's life, though marked by immense hardship and injustice, also saw perseverance, triumph, and dedication to fighting for a better world. Here's a summary of his journey after the events depicted in Bob Dylan's ballad:
**Years in Prison (1967-1988):** While Carter fought his wrongful conviction from behind bars, he spent nearly 20 years enduring the harsh realities of prison life. However, he remained active in writing, publishing his powerful autobiography "The Sixteenth Round," which helped galvanize public support for his case.
**Exoneration and Release (1988):** Finally, in 1988, a federal judge overturned Carter's conviction due to prosecutorial misconduct and insufficient evidence. Carter walked free a man exonerated, reunited with his family and supporters after two decades of injustice.
**Life After Prison (1988-2014):** Despite the ordeal, Carter never lost his fighting spirit. He became a powerful advocate against wrongful convictions, working tirelessly to expose flaws in the justice system and help others wrongly imprisoned. He founded the Innocence Project, an organization dedicated to exonerating the innocent, and actively spoke out against racism and prejudice.
**Legacy and Passing (2014):** Carter passed away in 2014 at the age of 76, leaving behind a legacy of courage, resilience, and unwavering commitment to justice. His story continues to inspire generations, reminding us of the importance of fighting for what's right even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.
The best part of this reaction is when you start to realize what the song is about. It starts off as a great tune, enjoyable. But then the truth hits and magnifies the song's reason to be.
he was in direct contact with RC while he was in prison, and exchanged letters with him. it helped him to paint what ceratainly is a vivid picture. great choice!! a sick, tragic, and true story (as others have already noted to you). keep up the good work.
One of the most powerful songs you will ever hear
Lily, Rosemary, and the Jack of Hearts is another great long Dylan Story.
Black Diamond Bay is another one. From this same album.
You really have to do a reaction to Bob Dylan's Masters of War. It's hauntingly chilling both in it's lyrics and how horribly relevant it still remains today.
Great reaction. Bob Dylan was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature in 2016.
I’m sure others have pointed out there’s a very good movie starting Denzel Washington as Rubin Carter called Hurricane.. well worth the watch 👍 love your channel! Cheers
Rubin "The Hurricane" Carter was an American boxer in the middleweight division. Carter was innocently convicted of triple murder, but was released after 19 years in prison on the grounds that the sentence was based on "an appeal to racism rather than reason, and secrecy rather than openness.
This true story was adapted as a movie starring Denzel Washington
True story, the true story gets better!
He does get released!!
2025 is 50 years after release of the song. Thanks for reviewing.
Undeniable brilliance.
Just remember he is not just doing a song he is telling a True story of a boxer and the he does not hold back he tells it like it is. One of the best songwriters ever.
Music we grew up with….. music that opened minds….
I love your reaction 🥰 Love from Norway :)
The movie is amazing. Denzel, baby.
still get chills at some of these lines.
So much injustice nowadays but no body is singing about it.
" Desire" is my favorite Dylan record. " Mozambique," " Isis"...
I can picture someone singing this today.