Oxford Town
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“Oxford Town” | ||
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Song by Bob Dylan | ||
Album | The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan | |
Released | May 27, 1963 | |
Recorded | December 6, 1962 | |
Genre | Folk | |
Length | 1:50 | |
Label | Columbia Records | |
Writer | Bob Dylan | |
The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan track listing | ||
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"Oxford Town" is a song written by Bob Dylan in 1962. It was first recorded in Columbia Records' Studio A on 6 December 1962 for his second album The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan.
[edit] Analysis
On September 20, 1962, an African American student named James Meredith became the first minority student enrolled in the University of Mississippi. His enrollment, ensured by the protection of the U.S. Marshalls under direct order from then-President John F. Kennedy, sparked rioting on the campus of the university. During the ensuing violence, countless students were injured and two were killed. The song Oxford Town is concerned with the events surrounding the campus riots and the enrollment of James Meredith. In a larger scope, the song deals with the American Civil Rights Movement.
The University of Mississippi's main campus is located in the small town of Oxford, Mississippi, hence the name.