The song, of course, is Bob Dylan's. The Byrd's version, actually released before Dylan's in 1965, and reaching # 1 in America, is just as good in its own way.
"Dylan himself claims that the song was inspired by the image of a session musician shaking a tambourine and partly by a trip he took from Los Angeles to New York. He mailed packages of marijuana to post offices along the route so that he would not be caught with the drug."
I listened to this song once, under the influence of something a bit stronger, and concluded that it wasn't about drugs at all...it was about a spiritual journey.
Hmmm...
2 comments:
It's hard to say the Byrd's version is as good as Dylan's - to me this song is all about the lyrics, maybe the pinnacle of Dylan's 'stream of consciousness' style. Singing only one of the four verses has to detract a lot. I don't think it's compensated by the guitar hook that McGuinn adds to the otherwise bare bones musical structure.
The Byrds can be said to have done a service for Dylan by producing his songs in a form that was more playable on the radio. This earned him royalties and recognition in the mainstream that he may otherwise have missed.
Have you heard 'Chestnut Mare?' I don't think it ever got any radio air, but I think it was the Byrds best song.
You are probably right.
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