They must be good friends because in the last couple of years, not a year goes bye without them doing something together. I think it must have started somewhere in 2004, when Jack White suddenly appeared at a concert in Detroit. Bob showed that much respect for Jack that they covered a White Stripes song, called "Ball and Bisquit" (hear it here).
Then, in 2006, The Raconteurs - Jack White's so called side project - was allowed to tour along with Bob Dylan and they warmed up the audience every night.
In September 2007 Dylan did a couple of shows in Nashville, the city where Jack White lives. For two nights in a row, Jack came on stage to perform some very special songs. Meet me in the morning from the 1975 album Blood on the tracks got it's live debute the first night. The second night, Outlaw Blues was performed for the very first time (and this is a song from 1965!!) and One More Cup of Coffee got it's first live performance since 1993.
Besides that, The White Stripes are known to include Bob Dylan covers in their repertoire. Songs like Outlaw Blues, Love Sick and One More Cup Of Coffee have become regular songs for the stripes.
All of those are already links between Jack White and Bob Dylan but on the album Get Behind me Satan" from 2005 there is a more subtle reference. Near the end of the album there's a song called "As Ugly As I Seem". Lyrically, there is no link to Dylan whatsoever but anybody who's somewhat familiar with Bob Dylan's repertoire immediately recognizes I Believe in You, one of the highlights of the 1979 Slow Train Coming album.Although it is not a cover and not a literal reference, i believe this is a very clear melodic nod in the direction of Bob Dylan.
Hear it for yourself in the clips below.
Sounds like Jack is Doing a bit of Peggy o as Meg comes a runing
ReplyDeleteCome a-running down your stairs
Come a-running down your stairs
Come a-running down your stairs, pretty peggy-o (or meg)
Come a-running down your stairs
Comb back your hair
You're the prettiest darned girl i ever seen-io.
You nailed it....I think that's one of thoses things that maybe I always knew but just couldn't put my finger on.....nice work.
ReplyDeleteGreat post: know both songs well but never put that one together. I do a music site w/lots of Dylan stuff too called Rock Turtleneck. Check it out at rockturtleneck.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteJack, Bob, Chimma, i love them all !
ReplyDeleteGood point, but upsetting. Makes Jack seem like plagiarist, rather than influenced. So he wrote different words? Good for for thinking to do that.
ReplyDelete@Anonymous2
ReplyDeletei wouldn't go as far as calling Jack a plagiarist. It happens all the time that artists take melodies from other songs. Bob Dylan himself has done it numerous times. Half of Modern Times are pure rewrites of old songs. Even classic songs like Girl of the north country have borrowed melodies from older songs.
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ReplyDelete