Tuesday, June 6, 2017

Tangled Up In The Bible: A Bob Dylan Quiz

During the course of Duluth Dylan Fest this year I received a number of interesting emails, including this one, a trivia quiz whose central thread happens to be spiritual references in the works of Bob Dylan. At the end of the questions you'll find a link to a Facebook page where the answers can be found.

TANGLED UP IN THE BIBLE: A BOB DYLAN QUIZ 
By David Buckna

In the history of popular music, few figures loom as large. This quiz explores Dylan's biblical connections.

"There's mystery, magic, truth and the Bible in great folk music. I can't hope to touch that. But I'm going to try.” – Bob Dylan, in a 1963 interview

QUESTIONS

1. As early as 1962 Dylan made an allusion to Jesus in song: "To preach of peace and brotherhood/ Oh, what might be the cost! / A man he did it long ago/ And they hung him on a cross." Name the song.

2. According to author Ronnie Keohane, what one line from Masters Of War (1963) has Dylan consistently omitted from his concerts since 1979?

3. In 1968 Jimi Hendrix recorded what is considered to be the most notable cover of a Dylan song. Name it.

4. What movie soundtrack album did Dylan release in 1973?

5. What are the titles of Dylan's three gospel albums?

6. On what 1980 Keith Green song does Dylan have a harmonica solo?

7. What’s the first line of Jokerman (1983)?

8. The line "One says to the other no man sees my face and lives" is from what Dylan song?

9. For what 1997 album did Dylan win three Grammy awards?

10. What Dylan album includes Tryin' To Get To Heaven?

11. What "rock" hymn did Dylan perform Feb. 2, 1999 at a concert in Pensacola, Florida?

12. After years of speculation, it was confirmed in 2001 that Dylan was the model for this bronze statue on top of the north-western tower of Nidaros Cathedral (Trondheim, Norway). Who does the statue depict?

13. When 60 Minutes correspondent Ed Bradley asked Dylan in 2004, "Why do you still do it?" (perform), Dylan replied: "Well, it goes back to that destiny thing. I mean, I made a bargain with it, you know, long time ago. And I'm holdin' up my end...to get where I am now." When Bradley asked, "Should I ask who you made the bargain with?" what was Dylan's reply?

14. What Dylan rarity from Under The Red Sky (1990) did he perform July 10, 2005 in Schaumburg, Illinois?

15. What are the first two lines of Spirit On the Water (2006)?

16. The Bible was Dylan's theme for the Sept. 6, 2006 edition of his Theme Time Radio Hour, on Sirius XM Radio. Whose 1930 version of John The Revelator did Dylan play?

17. In a 2009 interview to promote Dylan's Christmas In The Heart album, Bill Flanagan – referring to O Little Town of Bethlehem – told Dylan he "delivered the song like a true believer." What was Dylan's reply?

18. He said on May 29, 2012: "Today everybody from Bruce Springsteen to U2 owes Bob a debt of gratitude. There is not a bigger giant in the history of American music. All these years later, he's still chasing that sound, still searching for a little bit of truth, and I have to say that I am a really big fan." Who said it?

19. What song on Dylan's 35th studio album is 14 minutes long?

20. According to Christian minister/author Steve Stockman, what song on Tempest "is dripping with the images of the Jewish Passover or the Christian idea of atonement"?

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Answer Key: Here.

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In 2015 I interviewed Scott Marshall, author of a book about Dylan's spiritual side called Restless Pilgrim. One of the comments I received in response to that interview was an inquiry from someone wanting to know if his more in depth manuscript on this theme had been published. This past week I learned that, in fact, it's being released this month. You can check it out here on Amazon, Bob Dylan: A Spiritual Life.

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"May your wishes all come true... and may you stay forever young."

3 comments:

French Family Blog said...

Wonderful.

Anonymous said...

"Bob Dylan: A Spiritual Life" by Scott Marshall (June 20, 2017)
http://wndbooks.wnd.com/bob-dylan/

http://www.scottmmarshall.net/works.htm

Anonymous said...

Check out this 23 minute radio interview with author Scott Marshall (June 24, 2017):

Scott Marshall
https://soundcloud.com/drewmarshall/scott-marshall?in=drewmarshall/sets/saturday-june-24-2017

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