By Stephen Pate – Can you name the song Bob Dylan is singing in the video?
Bob Dylan concerts are famous for being a game of name that song. This is an old game with Dylan and his fans. He scrambles the tunes to familiar songs. As he got older, he mumbles the words.
I was browsing YouTube on my Apple TV – hey who needs cable eh? I came across a video titled mysteriously “Birmingham 2002“.
It was third weirdly titled Dylan on my home page today. The first two with inscrutable names like Tokyo 2016 were dreary but this one is a rocker.
But what’s the song?
Dylan was mumbling his words so bad all I could make out was something about “Siamese twins” and “be honest”.
The songs have inscrutable names because Dylan hates fan videos. He chases fans off YouTube. I had my YouTube account deleted over it years ago. Concert posts don’t have “Dylan” or the song name to fool Web Sheriff and the YouTube bots.
If you know the answer post it in the comments. Once you’ve given you best shot, keep reading for the answer.
The song is Honest With Me from Love and Theft.
Watch the video again with the lyrics and it’s pretty obvious what he’s saying. Right?
I didn’t get it right away. I’ll have to go back to remedial Dylan song recognition training.
Honest With Me
WRITTEN BY: BOB DYLAN
Well, I’m stranded in the city that never sleeps
Some of these women they just give me the creeps
I’m avoidin’ the Southside the best I can
These memories I got, they can strangle a man
Well I came ashore in the dead of the night
Lot of things can get in the way when you’re tryin’ to do what’s right
You don’t understand it—my feelings for you
You’d be honest with me if only you knew
I’m not sorry for nothin’ I’ve done
I’m glad I fought—I only wish we’d won
The Siamese twins are comin’ to town
People can’t wait—they’re gathered around
When I left my home the sky split open wide
I never wanted to go back there—I’d rather have died
You don’t understand it—my feelings for you
You’d be honest with me if only you knew
My woman got a face like a teddy bear
She’s tossin’ a baseball bat in the air
The meat is so tough you can’t cut it with a sword
I’m crashin’ my car, trunk first into the boards
You say my eyes are pretty and my smile is nice
Well, I’ll sell it to ya at a reduced price
You don’t understand it—my feelings for you
You’d be honest with me, if only you knew
Some things are too terrible to be true
I won’t come here no more if it bothers you
The Southern Pacific leaving me at nine forty-five
I’m having a hard time believin’ some people were ever alive
I’m stark naked, but I don’t care
I’m going off into the woods, I’m huntin’ bare
You don’t understand it—my feelings for you
Well, you’d be honest with me if only you knew
I’m here to create the new imperial empire
I’m going to do whatever circumstances require
I care so much for you—didn’t think that I could
I can’t tell my heart that you’re no good
Well, my parents they warned me not to waste my years
And I still got their advice oozing out of my ears
You don’t understand it—my feelings for you
Well, you’d be honest with me if only you knew
Copyright © 2001 by Special Rider Music
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