Was Subterranean Homesick Blues Written in a Laundromat?

Photo: Gary Firstenberg.
Taken at the Bob Dylan Center.

Last night I was siting in my easy chair in the living room working on a writing project. The laundry room in our house is directly below and the washing machine was going through its rinse cycle. The rhythm identically matched the rhythmic staccato of Bob Dylan's "Subterranean Homesick Blues," so much so that I began singing it. 

Johnny’s in the basement Mixing up the medicine I’m on the pavement Thinking about the government The man in the trench coat Badge out, laid off Says he’s got a bad cough Wants to get it paid off Look out kid It’s somethin’ you did God knows when But you’re doin’ it again You better duck down the alley way Lookin’ for a new friend The man in the coon-skin cap By the big pen Wants eleven dollar bills You only got ten

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Duluth Dylan Fest is comin' on fast. Here is a link to their website so you can stay abreast of what's happening. https://duluthdylanfest.com/

Some of the Northlanders who were in Tulsa last week.

There will be lots of music, naturally, and plenty of other things throughout the week. The May 24 birthday celebration at Bob's first home is always special. This year it's at noon, not mid-afternoon. Just letting you know. The Monday night Trivia Contest will be at Earth Rider in Superior this year. I had the opportunity to create the 40 questions and I tried very hard to not have them be too hard. Come over and play. There will likely be some lovely parting gifts for a few folk.

There will be two John Bushey Memorial Lectures this year. Peter McKenzie will be sharing stories from his book Bob Dylan: On a Couch and Fifty Cents a Day on May 25. Peter's event will be via Zoom, so anyone in the world can tune in. Please pre-register HERE. Paul Metsa will be presenting from 3-4:30 on Saturday afternoon at Wussow's Concert Cafe. That would be Saturday the 28th.

Duluth Dylan Fest opens next Saturday, the 21st with a new event. In the past we've had numerous art shows. This year, there will be a sculpture event. As many of you know, Bob Dylan has been getting into welding iron gates. This year the Duluth Forging Community is planning to create an iron gate throughout the week, beginning Saturday morning from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. They are asking the public to bring interesting pieces of iron to incorporate into this community project. 

The rest of the week's schedule can be found on the Duluth Dylan Fest link above.

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As for whether "Subterranean Homesick Blues" was written in a laundromat or not, it's not out of the question. The author has a famously restless mind. It's doubtful that at time in his life Dylan's mind was ever idle. Mine never was, and it seldom is to this day. Some of us are just wired that way I suspect. 

So, when the time comes, if I ever get a chance to ask, I'll share his answer here. 

Meantime, life goes on all around you. Get into it.