Writer and scholar Timothy Hampton presents a unique examination of both the poetics and the politics of Bob Dylan's compositions. This program was recorded by CAN TV.
I can't believe there are only 25 comments (as I write the 26th) on this video/post! I've been a life-long Dylan fan and hearing Tim Hampton disentangle the poetics, the poetry, the music, the blues, the politics, the literary references and the mechanics of popular/classical music in this lecture is, to me, astounding. I have a Masters degree in 20th Century Composition and, for someone like me, who has listened to, and analysed, everything from ancient music to stuff written today (by which I mean TODAY), written and performed loads and have grown up swirling around in the whirlpools of Dylan's lyrics, this lecture is both enlightening and affirming: Enlightening because it brings a whole new dimension due to the info that I didn't know already and affirming because Tim has the same understanding that I enjoy (albeit that Tim is WAY more knowledgeable etc etc) - an understanding from a musician's point of view (eg the analysis of "Rolling Stone" - the band harmonies vs the melodic monotony (meant in the best possible sense!). But this feels like it is someone who is able to articulate exactly what I try to get across to my friends about the enigmatic genius of Bob Dylan. I can't get enough of Dylan and this lecture is pure brilliance. I only wonder what Tim makes of Dylan's "Rough and Rowdy Ways" which is, to me, a glittering pinnacle of his life and work, and which seems to recapitulate everything Tim reveals here! Thanks Tim - MORE!!!!
I've been listening to Dylan since I was 5 years old. I've studied his song structures & rhyme schemes & used what I've learned from him in the creation of my own songs in my stage persona as "Tony Z." This single lecture by Timothy Hampton gave me more insights into Dylan's unique song genius methods than anything I've read in the myriad books on him & his art! It is utterly mind-blowing. Hampton's responses to the questions at the end of the lecture are equally revelatory. I'm checking the Internet right now to purchase his book :-)
The magic that emanates from Bob Dylan cannot be explained even with this excellent source research. I enjoyed reading it, it is also a declaration of love from the author. Bob Dylan isn't just a writer, he's a musician and a singer too-he's a performer of his own work, and he's constantly changing it - until today.
Bob Dylan is certainly a poet and musician of the ages. One perspective that is missing -- and this is an appalling blindspot -- that has to do with the Jewishness of Dylan and the fact that the literary/musical tradition goes back so much further than the Romans and Greeks, back to King David who was a renaissance man of sorts. The point is that the Davidic psalms are an amazing blend of poetry and music, and although the music has been mostly lost, the rhythms are so manifest in the Hebrew. I speak from the perspective of one who studied music, anthropology and Hebrew in relation to the poetry and rhythms and dynamics of the book of Psalms, and this in an ongoing workshop headed by a professor from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. So, I am sorry, but to say that Bob Dylan is in a tradition that goes back to the Greco-Roman classics is actually shallow, he goes back to the Davidic tradition if not further... Bob Dylan is truly a man of the ages, whatever his personal failings might be.
@@SaharanKnight Thank you, absolutely true. The tradition goes back longer, For me the tradition goes back to the mystical beginnings of all elements, the beginning of noice, sound, rhythmic etc.Bob Dylan got the gift to awake lost things to life and give them a voice, his own voice is the greatest Instrument of all.But there is a focus on the Greek and Roman history and that's why Bob Dylan did this himself in many interviews and song material. But you can feel the impact of the jewish history, mystic philosophy and origin by many songs it"s not to overlook
Yes, Dylan was such a greatly gifted writer of poetry/lyrics and then a truly great poet for all time in the messages which he conveyed, bringing past, present and future together. Unfortunately, I may be one of the few individuals who -- and I am also a complex poet -- deeply appreciates the inspiration of Slow Train Coming. My spiritual awakening was in the same decade as Dylan, equally shaped -- besides the Bible -- by the same book, The Late Great Planet Earth, but with the added perspective of both 1) having lived in closer proximity to the Middle East and traveling with a stop in Libya just before the war broke out in 1973 and then 2) subsequently living in the States when oil prices shot up during the '73 Yom Kippur war. And that book had just come out. And to this day, there truly is a relentlessness of the unfolding vision, events that I have witnessed firsthand that thicken and darken the plot, so to speak -- the inevitableness of the feeling that there's a slow train coming! So I understand Dylan as a poet and visionary in a deeper way than most -- his work has not lost its power in the least, to the contrary... And that is just one example, of course, among many songs.
My earliest response to Bob Dylan's songs was visceral, emotional. I increased the volume and yelled out the lyrics. Then I began to appreciate his protests and views on current issues such as the Vietnam War. I subsequently tried to penetrate his symbolism and references. This lecture moves me to a deeper understanding of his poetics. Thanks for posting.
Thanks for the input. I was wondering whether it was gonna be worth it. So many books written about Dylan that I`ve read lost my interest after the first few chapters. But after reading your comment, I`ll give it a shot. I enjoyed A Freewheelin Time, written by Suze Rotolo. I know it`s a much different book than Bob Dylan`s Poetics, But It`s probably my favorite book written on the subject of Dylan. Thanks again.
Some of my favorite versions are outtakes and alternate versions. Especially Born in Time & others from Oh Mercy. That's why I love The Bootleg Series and Basement Tapes....
It would be logic if Bob Dylan om his album "Selfportrait" has songs about other people as he himself uses so many peoples inspiration and quotes them so often. So he actually gave us a selfportrait. We only just saw it now.
what is can tv? where was this and what was the occasion? can't hear the questions. not unusual in that. otherwise, very insightful. oh, you don't know how much longer bob will be around, "unfortunately, he won't be around much longer," said you.
Thank you for that enjoyable lecture; it was most interesting. One small complaint ... why must you have that red banner at the bottom of the screen, flashing on; flashing off; flashing on; flashing off. It is very distracting.
Lmho--.."In 1969 or '70 wen Dylan wrote t album 'Self Portriot..& he "drove everyone CRAZY' Bcuz All t songs were by somebody else" (!) (Gotta come out SOMEWER!) SaWEET! LOLOL
After Blonde on Blonde, IMHO Dylan lost that amazing connection to wherever that place is that "genius" comes from... after B&B yes, he wrote some nice songs... but they were SONGS.... Up to that point he was writing amazing "poems" that originated in a steam of consciousness that no one else came close to......
Think he uses historical References t SOMEHOW t Spark PP'L's AWARENESS of Literary Poets, Authors, Historical Events For THOSE Who MIGHT Be CURIOUS & Check Those events, Artists, Famous works that they DONT KNOW ABOUT.
He could have refused the nobel prize, given to Obama for being black. But he has two faces as your lecture demonstrates. Rich pop star.....protest poet. Even his voice and name are fabrications...actually a perfect American, whose nearest thing to native culture is the wild west. All the rest is adopted from other cultures. Nothing wrong with evolving. For all that I loved much of his music and genius.
@Pauline Kirkham, he isn't 'tearing Bob down' , just explaining part of his writing inspiration. Calling Bob's songs beautiful, interesting, complicated, amazing, etc etc, certainly isn't tearing him down Peace & Blessings✨🕯️✨ Ps: He also shows what an amazingly wellread man Bob is and his ability to see from the perspectives of others. Bob's ability to make those bits and pieces make sense in HIS work shows his uniqueness, cleverness...in my very humble opinion :)
