Thank you for this great piece, Lucian. You’ve captured something of the uncapturability of Dylan. We are so lucky to have been able to live in the world that is so filled with him for us. And now going back sixty years to listen again to the wonder of it all.
Look for the Ed Bradley 60 Minutes interview with Dylan talking about how some of his early songs came to be. Talking about It’s Alright Ma, I’m Only Bleeding, and other early music, he says — “You just try writing something like that ….. it’s a different kind of penetrating magic.”
Lucien, I hope you will send this beautiful essay to a publication with a wide audience. So many people are hurting and hungry for connection and meaning. You have captured so poignantly the beauty of humankind at its best.
We need each other and we need to give and take each other's gifts, now more than ever. This essay is a gift. I thank you for it🙏.
Knew you would love the film! And your discussion of it, and of it’s time and place, is a perfect complement to everything the film conveys. So glad you (and Tracy) are apparently much recovered, such that you could write this column based on the film. There are not many films I can say this about, but this is one film I would see again and again.
Ah, ah. What blows me away is Subterranean Homesick Blues.
Maggie says the many say
They must bust in early May
Orders from the DA
This was apparently written by January 1965 and released in March 1965. In May 1965, the Alameda County DA raided the Vietnam Day Office in Berkeley, as I recall. I wonder, how did Dylan know? I know there's no connection, but still...
One time I was telling my husband how the Vandals invaded North Africa.
That's really funny to me, because for all these years I thought the line was "The Pope don't work cause the Vandals took the handles," which didn't make much sense, but I figured it must mean SOMETHING inscrutable, about the Church or whatever! Now I see that I was just ... stupid! heh!
But your husband is right about the Vandals, they did invade North Africa, near the end of the Roman Empire. Came via Gaul and Spain after crossing the Rhine in 407 along with other Germanic tribes. Established a kingdom based in Carthage; Gaiseric the Vandal king sacked Rome in about 455 IIRC.
I’m glad you and Tracy, I hope, are REALLY feeling better. This column is awesome, but this is more than an essay about the film. You are writing from the heart, plumbing your own experiences living back then in the Village and sharing them with us.
Timothee Chalamet’s performance as Dylan is remarkable.He and all of the major actors in this film learned to play their instruments and to sing.The movie was genius in incorporating the vibe of that time and also at meticulously creating the optics.I feel that I am a better person having watched this film.
Excellent essay, Lucian. And I hope you are feeling as strong as your writing today. As a little girl in Memphis said after she learned her favorite singer died long before she was born, “Now Elvis lives in my heart.” And for this ol’ girl from Memphis, Elvis, Bobby D, and Gram live in my heart. Now and forever.💜💙🩵
That was a treat Lucian, thank you for it. I was lucky to get to meet Bob after a concert of his, that I was the rigger who hung all of the lights and sound, I shook his hand and told him how much his music had meant to me, he was gracious. I first saw him play in Portland OR, the year he went electric, The Band, before they were called The Band, was his band. I think it was in ‘65 or early ‘66. I haven’t seen the film yet but I have been hearing that it’s very good. A dear friend told me that he was going to be doing it right after “The Killers of the Flower Moon” came out, when I was complimenting him on how good that picture looked. On both movies he was the A Camera and Steadicam operator, so if it was on the screen Scottie was the guy that framed and photographed it, I think he’s the best in the business. Thanks for sharing your take on that era, to which you were a witness, it must have been amazing to have been in NYC in those years. The whole world was changing, at least it felt like it was, the reverberations are still echoing today.
From the looks of it you must be feeling better and that’s a good thing. 🙏
The way you write about music and musicians is good for the soul. Thank you
Beautiful. And welcome back to the land of the living!
Thank you for this great piece, Lucian. You’ve captured something of the uncapturability of Dylan. We are so lucky to have been able to live in the world that is so filled with him for us. And now going back sixty years to listen again to the wonder of it all.
Look for the Ed Bradley 60 Minutes interview with Dylan talking about how some of his early songs came to be. Talking about It’s Alright Ma, I’m Only Bleeding, and other early music, he says — “You just try writing something like that ….. it’s a different kind of penetrating magic.”
I really liked that interview.
Yes, we are the luckiest people who were ever born.
I saw the movie, and am seeing it again this weekend, Dylan fan all around!
Lucien, I hope you will send this beautiful essay to a publication with a wide audience. So many people are hurting and hungry for connection and meaning. You have captured so poignantly the beauty of humankind at its best.
We need each other and we need to give and take each other's gifts, now more than ever. This essay is a gift. I thank you for it🙏.
I'm happy with my audience right here. If people want to read my stuff, they will find it.
Tell your friends to come here and to bring their friends.
Knew you would love the film! And your discussion of it, and of it’s time and place, is a perfect complement to everything the film conveys. So glad you (and Tracy) are apparently much recovered, such that you could write this column based on the film. There are not many films I can say this about, but this is one film I would see again and again.
I guess this means that Lucian is back with us! Whew. Now, please explain it all. I mean, like, EVERYTHING. Thank you.
I must bring this up in memory of my dear departed father--he told me when I was young "Life isn't fair, kid. Learn it know."
He was right, lo these many decades later. Miss you Dad 🥰🤗❤️
Me, 8, mesmerized by JFK. Dad: Life isn’t fair. Me: shocked stare Dad: You know who says that? President Kennedy! Me: gulp
My dad told me that as well!
Ah, ah. What blows me away is Subterranean Homesick Blues.
Maggie says the many say
They must bust in early May
Orders from the DA
This was apparently written by January 1965 and released in March 1965. In May 1965, the Alameda County DA raided the Vietnam Day Office in Berkeley, as I recall. I wonder, how did Dylan know? I know there's no connection, but still...
One time I was telling my husband how the Vandals invaded North Africa.
He said:
The pump don't work
'Cause the vandals took the handles.
That's what he knew about the vandals.
That's really funny to me, because for all these years I thought the line was "The Pope don't work cause the Vandals took the handles," which didn't make much sense, but I figured it must mean SOMETHING inscrutable, about the Church or whatever! Now I see that I was just ... stupid! heh!
But your husband is right about the Vandals, they did invade North Africa, near the end of the Roman Empire. Came via Gaul and Spain after crossing the Rhine in 407 along with other Germanic tribes. Established a kingdom based in Carthage; Gaiseric the Vandal king sacked Rome in about 455 IIRC.
Beautifully seen and beautifully written.
I’m glad you and Tracy, I hope, are REALLY feeling better. This column is awesome, but this is more than an essay about the film. You are writing from the heart, plumbing your own experiences living back then in the Village and sharing them with us.
Thank you!
This is exactly why I subscribe to Lucian here! He paints a picture with words! ❤️
Timothee Chalamet’s performance as Dylan is remarkable.He and all of the major actors in this film learned to play their instruments and to sing.The movie was genius in incorporating the vibe of that time and also at meticulously creating the optics.I feel that I am a better person having watched this film.
I liked his poetry.
You must be better! Congrats.
It’s amazing how the movie is a good approximation of the times and of Dylan. Most enjoyable.
Excellent essay, Lucian. And I hope you are feeling as strong as your writing today. As a little girl in Memphis said after she learned her favorite singer died long before she was born, “Now Elvis lives in my heart.” And for this ol’ girl from Memphis, Elvis, Bobby D, and Gram live in my heart. Now and forever.💜💙🩵
That was a treat Lucian, thank you for it. I was lucky to get to meet Bob after a concert of his, that I was the rigger who hung all of the lights and sound, I shook his hand and told him how much his music had meant to me, he was gracious. I first saw him play in Portland OR, the year he went electric, The Band, before they were called The Band, was his band. I think it was in ‘65 or early ‘66. I haven’t seen the film yet but I have been hearing that it’s very good. A dear friend told me that he was going to be doing it right after “The Killers of the Flower Moon” came out, when I was complimenting him on how good that picture looked. On both movies he was the A Camera and Steadicam operator, so if it was on the screen Scottie was the guy that framed and photographed it, I think he’s the best in the business. Thanks for sharing your take on that era, to which you were a witness, it must have been amazing to have been in NYC in those years. The whole world was changing, at least it felt like it was, the reverberations are still echoing today.
From the looks of it you must be feeling better and that’s a good thing. 🙏