Eight years ago, Dylan fans were eagerly awaiting Bob Dylan’s “’Love & Theft’”. It was his first album of new material since 1997’s Grammy-winning “Time Out Of Mind”. That release restored Dylan’s public reputation as a relevant artist. Sony had a major advertising campaign for the new album, including a television ad which featured the opening track, “Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum” (see clip below).
The album was released on September 11, 2001.
The most striking thing about the album is that it felt like the songs could have been written that morning. The lyrics mirrored many chilling images from that day. Here are some examples, from “Mississippi”, found on bobdylan.com:
Time is pilin' up, we struggle and we scrape
We're all boxed in, nowhere to escape
City's just a jungle, more games to play
Trapped in the heart of it, trying to get away …
Sky full of fire, pain pourin' down …
I'm drownin' in the poison, got no future, got no past
(Copyright ©1997 Special Rider Music)
If you want to explore all the lyrics on “Love & Theft”, please go here and click on each individual song.
To get a feel for what Bob Dylan fans were thinking before, during, and after the release on the album, as well as the attacks on 9/11, go here . The threads are a bit difficult to follow, but it is an interesting window into people’s reactions to the events of the day. (Note: There is inappropriate language in some of these posts. Also, this link is always changing, so you may have to click “older” to find the correct pages.)
I had received a preview copy of “’Love & Theft’” earlier in September, and listened to it continuously for about a week before the official release date. In the days leading up to September 11, I wrote an advanced review of the album. It is the first review archived here. This version still had some typos, but it is the only version I could still find on line.
If you have any thoughts about that day, please feel free to post a comment below.
For more info: Expecting Rain "Love & Theft" page.
Comments
it's a beautiful day.
Before I got to hear the whole album I heard the track Po Boy...I was completely gobsmacked by Dylan's genius...I still don't know what the song is "about" but the song's humour and musical brilliance blew me away. Dylan's phrasing on this song is just astounding...
Two months after 9/11, NYC was an armed camp. Trucks full of WTC debris passed my apartment every day, the wreckage was still smoldering, and funerals were being held on a regular basis for firemen at the cathedrals around town. Bagpipes every time. Armed guards with machine guns stood guard at every public place. Yet Dylan came to play Madison Square Garden. Ticket holders weaved through security, for many it was their first large public gathering after the attack. Lots of performers had cancelled shows. During the show, Dylan said "Many of these songs were written right here in New York. No one has to ask how I feel about New York." He played "Yea! Heavy and a Bottle of Bread" for probably the first time live, and covered the Eagles "The End of Innocence" as well. I've never felt prouder of being a New Yorker, and never felt prouder of Dylan. Http://www.dulltooldimbulb.blogspot.com (Books and Biography)
Http://chalktalkbooks.blogspot.com (Dylan Essays")
You are getting two shows mixed up there. The "No one has to ask how I feel about New York" remark was made at the 2001 New York City show, but "Yea! Heavy and a Bottle of Bread" and "The End of Innocence" were played at the 2002 New York City show. Check the Bob Links pages for details.
There is a station out of NYC doing a little Love & Theft/Blues influence/9-11 thing. Check out this blog:
http://koryfrench.blogspot.com/
"I;m gonna baptize you in fire"
"today has been a sad and lonesome day"
I too live in NYC. I have also seen Bob's 11/2001 show at MSG.. He didn't do "Yea, Heavy Bottle of Bread" , nor "End of Innocence"(I have the boot) - he did End of Innocence the next year, but Bob did say that every song he played that night was either written or recorded in NYC & "nobody has ti tell me how I I feel about this town"
I had the tracks about a week before the release. I was supposed to be at the WTC at 9/11, but fate spared me. Listening to L&T while writing thing. I heard the WKCR show today as well. What an amazing record!
I always hear a line in Bye and Bye as "Osama breeze is blowin..." which is really rather disturbing.
And I always think of his press conference in Rome a couple of weeks before where he was saying "...anything you can think of that's shocking is already out there, especially on the news, so what's a writer to do?"
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