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"?

* * * *
Answer Key: Here.

* * * *
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.

* * * *

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

Dylan's Forever Young Is Forever Comforting

Dylan recorded the song Forever Young in 1973 with The Band. For some reason two versions of the song were inserted on his 1974 album Planet Waves, Dylan's first album to capture # on the Billboard charts. The explanation came out that he felt the slow version of the song was too sentimental or something like that. He purportedly wanted to drop it from the album altogether, but everyone who heard it found it deeply moving and pressed him to leave it in. Good move.

This very fine song has served Dylan well over the years. He's performed it nearly 500 times in concert, including the first Dylan show I attended here in Duluth in October 1998 where it was delivered acoustic at the end of his encore set. It almost feels as if it could have been deliberately written to be a concert closer, conveying the feel of a benediction at the end of a  church service after all the sermons have been sung.

The song has been recorded by a number of others including Joan Baez, Johnny Cash, Diana Ross and many others. The Pretenders covered the song on their album Last of the Independents in 1994, with a live rendition here below the lyrics, grabbed from YouTube.

Speaking of YouTube, what a great resource for sharing live performances that you could never have dreamed of finding when we were growing up. Nearly everything you missed growing up or over the years, it seems like you can find it here. YouTube is just one more way to stay forever young.

What a great song. Here are the lyrics... followed by two live versions. May they bless you as much as they do I.

Forever Young

May God bless and keep you always
May your wishes all come true
May you always do for others
And let others do for you
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young

May you grow up to be righteous
May you grow up to be true
May you always know the truth
And see the lights surrounding you
May you always be courageous
Stand upright and be strong
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young

May your hands always be busy
May your feet always be swift
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift
May your heart always be joyful
May your song always be sung
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young

Copyright © 1973 by Ram's Horn Music; renewed 2001 by Ram’s Horn Music

* * * *
Here's a reminder to mark your calendars for the 25th Anniversary celebration of John Bushey's KUMD radio show Highway 61 Revisited. October 15. Don't wait to the last minute to get your tickets. (Follow the link below the poster.)

Purchase tickets here. Special thanks to KUMD, the Duluth Dylan Fest Committee, the Rex Bar and everyone else who is helping to make this event happen.

If you were introducing new fans to books, films or albums, what would you add to Fitz's Fave Fives if it were your presentation? Share it here in the comments.

Meantime life goes on....  May God bless and keep you always, may your wishes all come true...

Bootlegged: Unofficial Duluth Dylan Festival Schedule Turns Up In My Inbox

With snow melting off roofs this morning, one can't help but get the feeling that spring is not far behind. In Duluth that means two major weeks related to music: Duluth Homegrown Music Festival (May 1-8) and Duluth Dylan Fest (May 22-29). The word is out that this year's Dylan Fest will be bigger than ever, with at least six new events to fill out the week, several of them noteworthy.

What follows is the email I received, with the qualifying disclaimer that venues and times may undergo minor revisions.

Duluth Dylan Fest 2016 Schedule

Final venues and minor adjustments in times will be officially out soon. Also, specifics on what bands play at which events will soon be finalized. Watch for the final schedule on facebook at duluthdylanfest. Or, go to Bobdylanway.com.

Many events are free, but several will be ticketed events. Tickets will be available shortly after the schedule is finalized. If you want to sign up for the singer/songwriter contest, please email your name, address, phone number, and email address to duluthdylanfest@gmail.com. Or, you may call 218-391-6299 (John). Thanks, and we look forward to seeing you all to help celebrate the 75th birthday of Minnesota’s native son Bob Dylan. Here is our tentative schedule:

Sunday, May 22
NEW Launch of 48 hour film fest, Carmody’s 7pm
Bob Dylan Trivia @ Carmody’s 9pm

Monday, May 23
Dylan Art Opening & concert; Red Mug 6:30pm
Singer-songwriter Fred Gillen Jr. (NY) 7 pm
Highway 61 Revisited radio show; KUMD 5pm

Tuesday, May 24
NEW Dylan Marker installed in front of birth home (Mid-afternoon)
Dylan 48 hour film festival; Zinema 2, 6:30 pm
Duluth Does Dylan CD release party; Clyde Iron,     8pm

Wednesday, May 25 
NEW Poets of the North Country @ the Underground 6:30pm
NEW Cowboy Angel Blue at Karpele’s Manuscript Museum.
Karpele’s will also house an exhibit of rare Dylan photos and documents throughout May. NEW

Thursday, May 26  
Blood on the Tracks Express Train,  5:30pm  (Recommendation: Buy tickets early. This event sells out.) Bands play on train, and Dylan cover band at destination

Friday, May 27
Singer Songwriter Contest @ Clyde Iron 7pm

Saturday, May 28
Possible bus tour to Hibbing and back
NEW Postage Stamp Cancellation 11 am – 2 pm AAMC Annex with music across the street at Valentini's.
Concert; Sacred Heart Music Center 7 pm

Sunday, May 29
Farewell Brunch & Music at Zeitgeist Café
This was a wonderful windup and send off last year.

Here's a really great song that Bob has sung nearly 500 times in concert that originally appeared on the album Planet Waves, an album in which he makes reference to the hills of Duluth. 

Play Ball: All Star Game Memories

Cleveland hosted the 1954 All Star Game.

I've mentioned before how when I was born my parents named my four Teddy bears after the Cleveland Indians starting rotation. It was 1952 and these were indeed Stars -- Bob Lemon, fireballer Bob Feller, Mike Garcia and Early Wynn. Feller, who was an All-Star eight times and a Hall of Fame shoe-in, had a bad year in '52. He rebounded, however, and would ultimately be ranked #11 of all time amongst Hall of Fame pitchers. In 1954 the Tribe would be the first, and last, Major League team to have four 20-game winners on the squad.

Early Wynn, elected to the Hall of Fame in 1972, would later become a 300 game winner. I remember going to Cleveland Metropolitan Stadium to see him try to win his 300th game at age 43. His first and last game in the Major Leagues were both on September 13.

Add caption

Bob Lemon, a seven-time All-Star, was also later elected to the Hall of Fame. In short I was surrounded by a great set of teddy Bears. I can't remember whether Feller or Lemon was my favorite. Both were black and white, though I believe Lemon was skinny with a white torso and long black limbs and must have lasted the longest of this set of bears.

In 1954 the Tribe not only had four 20-game winners for a starting rotation, Cleveland also hosted the All Star game. What a contrast between the 1954 game of stars and the 1963 Cleveland-hosted game that I attend in 1963. In '54 the Indians had several stars, including my mom's favorite player Bobby Avila. In the '63 team, there were no real stars on the Cleveland team, but our home town team did get one representative, Jim "Mudcat" Grant.

All these memories were triggered by an interview I heard on the radio with Grant, who was later traded to the Twins where he helped lead Killebrew and Crew to the World Series. Meanwhile, the Indians were shamefully bad. The best way to understand the demise of the Indians would be to read Cleveland sports journalist Terry Pluto's The Curse of Rocky Colavito.

1965 was another year in which the team that hosted the All Star Game also went to the World Series. Both teams took it on the chin in the post-season.

Miscellaneous Observations 
A lot has changed since those early All Star Games, especially the salaries. Bob Lemon made $40,000 in a typical year once he was a star in 1950s. The average player today makes four million.

I still have this card.

Last night's Major League Baseball All Star Game was a night game. There's big revenue from television, hence these big games are played under the lights. You seldom hear baseball players complain about being overpaid.

The first All Star Game in Minnesota (1965) was played in the afternoon. The game I went to in Cleveland (1963) was also an afternoon game. The sun was bright and the weather pristine. I remember the American League had Nellie Fox and Luis Aparicio at second base and shortstop. I thought they were so cool.

There were many Stars in that 1963 game, including Mickey Mantle. The starting right fielder for the American League was Rocky Colavito, who was back with Cleveland after being traded away at the end of a 1959 season in which he led the league in Home Runs. After retirement, the slugger went to Pennsylvania and had mushroom farms.

There were five Cuban-born players in this year's All Star Game.

Derek Jeter, now 40, is one of the baseball's all-time icons. In last night's game, his 14th as an American League All Star, he received an extremely warm, extended standing ovation from the Minnesota crowd. TV watchers heard a snippet from Bob Dylan's "Forever Young" as Jeter graciously acknowledged the crowd and hugged every player in the clubhouse. The song was selected because of the songwriter's connection to Minnesota.

The two baseball bats at the top of the page have the names of Ed Matthews and Pete Rose on them. Mathews was power hitter and all star with the Milwaukee Braves. In the old days they had a television show called Home Run Derby and guys like Eddie Mathews would go head-to-head (or swing-to-swing) against one another.

The current version of Home Run Derby, which started in the 1980's, is a once a year event held the day before the All Star Game. Like everything else it has a corporate sponsor, so it is called the Gillette Home Run Derby.

Pete Rose was one of the great hitters of all time, ultimately surpassing the Ty Cobb's unbelievable record. Sadly, he had a gambling addiction and was ultimately banned from baseball.

Two weeks ago I finished reading a really good book about baseball called Catching Lightning without the Bottle. It's a great baseball story, and also involves a superstar with an addiction problem. Great plot twists and insights into human nature as well as the game we grew up in love with.

Meantime... life goes on. Live it!

Almost Wordless Wednesday

Happy 72nd Birthday, Bob Dylan.

May you stay Forever Young.