Gotta Serve Somebody

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This article is about the Bob Dylan song. For the tribute album, see Gotta Serve Somebody: The Gospel Songs of Bob Dylan.
“Gotta Serve Somebody”
“Gotta Serve Somebody” cover
Song by Bob Dylan
Album Slow Train Coming
Released August 20, 1979
Recorded May 1979
Genre Gospel rock
Length 5:25
Label Columbia Records
Writer Bob Dylan
Producer Jerry Wexler
Barry Beckett
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Released in 1979 on Bob Dylan's 19th studio album Slow Train Coming, "Gotta Serve Somebody" became his first hit in three years. It won Dylan the Grammy for the best rock vocal performance by a male in 1980. The album peaked at #2 on the charts in the UK and went platinum in the US, where it reached #3. The song was recorded at Muscle Shoals Sound Studios in Muscle Shoals, AL.

This song was featured in HBO's The Sopranos.

New wave band Devo covered this song in some concerts as their Christian Rock alter-egos DOVE - The Band of Love. This cover was sung by Mark Mothersbaugh's alter-ego Booji Boy.

In response to "Gotta Serve Somebody", John Lennon made the song "Serve Yourself".

[edit] Ray J. Johnson

Ray J. Johnson, Jr. is a character created by comedian Bill Saluga. His schtick is to become annoyed when addressed as "Mr. Johnson", where he exclaims in a loud voice, "You can call me Ray, or you can call me Jay." Bob Dylan quoted Ray J. Johnson's schtick in this song with the lyric "You may call me R.J., you may call me Ray"