Percy's Song
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Percy's Song is a song written and recorded by Bob Dylan. It was recorded for The Times They Are A-Changing album but was not included. It was released on Biograph (album) in 1985.
The song centres around a car crash and the manslaughter sentence that is handed down to the driver (who is the narrators friend). The narrator claims that his friends sentence of "ninety-nine years" in Joliet Prison is too harsh for an accident.
It has been pointed out that Dylan uses the exact opposite argument in his song "The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll," when the narrator says that the sentence handed down to "William Zanzinger" is far too lenient.
Joan Baez can be seen performing "Percy's Song" on the film Dont Look Back.
[edit] Cover Versions
Fairport Convention - Unhalfbricking (1969)
Arlo Guthrie - Washington County (album) (1970)
Michael Moore - Jewels & Binoculars: The Songs of Bob Dylan
[edit] References
Trager, Oliver. Keys to the Rain: The Ultimate Bob Dylan Encyclopedia ISBN 0-8230-7974-0
