Last Thoughts on Woody Guthrie

"Last Thoughts on Woody Guthrie"
Poem by Bob Dylan from the album The Bootleg Series Volumes 1-3 (Rare & Unreleased) 1961-1991
Released March 26, 1991
Recorded April 12, 1963
Genre Spoken Word, Poetry
Length 7:08
Label Columbia
Writer Bob Dylan
The Bootleg Series Volumes 1-3 (Rare & Unreleased) 1961-1991 track listing

"The Times They Are a-Changin'"
(21)		 "Last Thoughts on Woody Guthrie"
(22)

"Last Thoughts on Woody Guthrie" is a poem written by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, and recited live during his April 12, 1963 performance at New York City's Town Hall.[1] It was released in 1991 on The Bootleg Series Volumes 1-3 (Rare & Unreleased) 1961-1991 after circulating on bootleg releases for years, even appearing on the ten-LP box set Ten of Swords in 1985.

History

Dylan's performance at the Town Hall on April 12 was used to debut several new compositions, such as "Tomorrow Is a Long Time", "Dusty Old Fairgrounds", "Ramblin' Down Thru the World", and "Bob Dylan's New Orleans Rag".[2] However, at the end of the concert, Dylan returned to the stage to recite one of his poems in public, "Last Thoughts on Woody Guthrie", which he has never done since.[1] In his introduction, Dylan explained that he had written the piece after being asked to "write something about Woody...what does Woody Guthrie mean to you in twenty-five words" in the impending release of a book about Guthrie.[2] He then explains that he "couldn't do it, I wrote out five pages, and, I have it here, have it here by accident, actually." Apparently, the poem described his "feelings towards Woody Guthrie",[2] but, Guthrie's name is not mentioned until the last stanza.[3]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Bauldie, John, (1991) Linear notes to The Bootleg Series Volumes 1-3
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Bjorner (May 21, 2010) New York City, New York, April 12, 1963 Bjorner's Still on the Road. Retrieved August 16, 2010
  3. ↑ Last Thoughts on Woody Guthrie (Bob Dylan). woodyguthrie.de. Retrieved August 18, 2010

External links