Another year went by, so fast, the tempo of those years is really accelerating, Christmas and New Year always the time for afterthought and hindsight – some possibilities used, other went by too fast, unused. And then there is this new year in a world still consisting too much darkness. Looking back in my blog I’m reminded of some of the things that torch up our night.

It was always about something that can’t be described in words, my relationship to the music that moves me, something beyond words. Not only Dylan, but maybe most of all him. My first post in 2023 was my attempt to focus on this, in my essay: “The Sound of Bob Dylan – Poetry For Your Ear.”

The Sound of Bob Dylan – Poetry for your Ear.

Not long after this, Dylan’s ability to overwhelm us all with another release of Bootleg Series. I had been so lucky to spend the last month of 2022 listening to the fabulous collection of what might be one of my favorites of all the archival releases. I loved “Time Out of Mind” from the day I first heard it in 1997, but after all what was written about the sessions, my expectations was as high as possible. “Tell Tale Signs” had already overwhelmed me and us, shedding some light to what we could expect from a full blown box set.

“Songs From Behind The Curtain” – Fragments: Time Out of Mind Sessions (1996 – 1997), Bootleg Series Vol 17, Bob Dylan, 2023

When I saw the fabulous Dylan shows in fall 2022, Oslo, Gothenburg, Paris & London, I was thinking that this was as good as it possibly can get. Then he delivers a fabulous leg of the RRW tour in Japan, and in summer another leg full of surprises, new arrangements and an even tighter band than the previous legs, now fully encircling the piano player, the center of attention, leading the band. It’s hard not to be impressed by this working man’s blues & staying power. The beautiful cover version of “Only A River” in Japan was stunning, then we got the suprising choice of Van Morrison’s “Into The Mystic” in Alicante, “Stella Blue” in Barcelona, Merle Haggard’s “Bad Actor” and another beautiful “Only A River” in Rome. To mention a few of many highlights.

“Only A River Can Make Things Right” – Bob Dylan in Japan 2023.

“In the end there’s still that song, comes crying like the wind” – Bob Dylan in Barcelona, 23rd of June 2023

“Forever Young – and daily growin’” – Bob Dylan in Barcelona, 24th of June 2023

In May we got the release of another studio album, the soundtrack from “Shadow Kingdom”, masked as a live album. Some really fine renditions of old songs, some of them made brand new.

What You See Is Not What You Get. About “Shadow Kingdom”, Bob Dylan, 2023.

May was also the month of the restless Dylan’s 82nd Birthday – I made a post that day, too, but then a revue of his 82nd year, what makes it repeat some of the posts above. “Happy 82nd Birthday, Mister Dylan. 24th of May, 2023”.

The European leg is mentioned above – here are some of the mentioned surprises.

While waiting for the next leg of the tour, Dylan again succeeded in surprising us all with his appearance at Farm Aid, 24th of September, stepping out of the dark, with guitar, playing surprising choices from his great song book – Maggie’s Farm (last played at the Grammy’s in 2011, live in 2009), Positively 4th Street (last played live 2p13) and Ballad of a Thin Man (last played live in 2019), backed by Mike Campbell & The Dirty Knobs and Benmont Tench. Old friends having a good time! As an overwhelmed audience had a jolly good time, too.

Sadly I wasn’t able to get to the US this fall, but followed the setlists and shows from my home, from night to night, with this long string of touching tributes to the audience and the artists from some of the cities. A wonderful leg of the tour, Dylan still making up his mind to give it all to us – as good as he could, with magical performances of both covers and songs from his RRW standard repertoire, new arrangements, new disguises, new experiences, for him and for us. As many of the songs were an hommage to the cities where they were born or recorded, some of them rang true with an extra touching effect, notably John Mellencamp’s “Longest Nights” and Merle Haggard’s “Footlights”.

Here comes some of the highligts.

Longest Days – Bob Dylan covering John Mellencamp.

“Seems like once upon a time ago
I was where I was supposed to be
My vision was true and my heart was too
There was no end to what I could dream

I walked like a hero into the setting sun
Everyone called out my name
Death to me was just a mystery
I was too busy raising up Cain

But nothing lasts forever
Your best efforts don’t always pay
Sometimes you get sick and you don’t get better
That’s when life is short, even in its longest days”

Footlights – Bob Dylan covering Merle Haggard

“I live the kind of life that most men only dream of
I made my livin’ writin’ songs and singin’ them
But I’m forty-one years old and I ain’t got no place to go
When it’s over
So I hide my age and make the stage and
Try to kick the footlights out again”

Dance Me To The End of Love – Bob Dylan covering Leonard Cohen

“Dance me to your beauty with a burning violin
Dance me through the panic ’til I’m gathered safely in
Lift me like an olive branch and be my homeward dove
Dance me to the end of love”

And then, November 17th, one more release, as if there is short of time, this time remembering Dylan’s first time in Japan, with the release of “Complete Budokan”.

“Big in Japan!” – Bob Dylan, “The Complete Budokan 1978”, Sony Music, 2023 – A review

Oh, and yes, then it was the “Bob Dylan 1973 50th Anniversary Collection”, released the 15th of December 2023, consisting the rehearsals, instrumentals, outtakes and alternates from the Pat Garrett and Billy The Kid Sessions. Some really beautiful vocals included, especially on different takes of Billy. Another exclusive release to prevent the tracks legally entering the public domain. From what I understand it was released in about 100 copies. Mostly takes widely bootlegged before, with this list of tracks:

1		Billy (Rehearsal 1)
2		Billy (Rehearsal 2)
3		Billy (Rehearsal 3)
4		Billy (Alternate 1)
5		Turkey (Rehearsal 1)
6		Turkey (Rehearsal 2)
7		Turkey (Instrumental)
8		Billy Surrenders (Rehearsal 1)
9		Billy Surrenders (Rehearsal 2)
10		And He Killed Me Too
11		And He Killed Me Too (Rehearsal)
12		Billy (Alternate 2)
13		Pecos Blues (Rehearsal)
14		Pecos Blues
15		Goodbye Holly
16		Turkey II (Tom Turkey)
17		Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door
18		Sweet Amarillo (Rehearsal)Written-By – Donna Terry Weiss
19		Billy (April Rehearsal 1)
20		Billy (April Rehearsal 2)
21		Untitled 1973 Instrumental No. 1
22		Untitled 1973 Instrumental No. 2
23		Final Theme (Rehearsal)
24		Final Theme (Ride Billy Ride)
25		Final Theme (Alternate)
26		Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door (Instrumental)
27		Rock Me Mama
28		Billy (Fragment)

There is no such thing as a never-ending tour.

I guess there never will be a never-ending tour, but that fact still has to be proved. Bob Dylan’s live project might still be the most underrated part of his work and art, with endless possibilities for studies and further documentation, both when it comes to the music, the lyrics, the hundreds of cover versions and maybe even more when it comes to the performing artist’s eternal search for one more way to deliver a song, to keep it fresh and to be shedding of one more layer of a song’s skin.

2023 became one more year of proof of that still restless, hungry need to not look back. For this listener, it still fills me with gratitude and anticipation – what comes next? I’m pretty sure there will never be an official Farewell Tour, but the Rough And Rowdy Ways will go on, at least for 2024, while the voice of Bob Dylan will live on forever.

Crossing The Rubicon – Bob Dylan

I crossed the Rubicon on the 14th day of the most dangerous month of the year
At the worst time at the worst place – that’s all I seem to hear
I got up early so I could greet the Goddess of the Dawn
I painted my wagon – I abandoned all hope and I crossed the Rubicon

The Rubicon is the Red River, going gently as she flows
Redder then your ruby lips and the blood that flows from the rose
Three miles north of purgatory – one step from the great beyond
I prayed to the cross and I kissed the girls and I crossed the Rubicon

What are these dark days I see in this world so badly bent
How can I redeem the time – the time so idly spent
How much longer can it last – how long can this go on
I embraced my love put down my head and I crossed the Rubicon

I feel the bones beneath my skin and they’re tremblin’ with rage
I’ll make your wife a widow – you’ll never see old age
Show me one good man in sight that the sun shines down upon
I pawned my watch and I paid my debts and I crossed the Rubicon

Put my heart upon the hill where some happiness I’ll find
If I survive then let me love – let the hour be mine
Take the high road – take the low, take the one you’re on
I poured the cup and I passed it along and I crossed the Rubicon

Right or wrong, what can I say? What really needs to be said?
I spill your brains out on the ground, you’d be better off over there with the dead
Seem like ten, maybe twenty years and I’d be gone
I stood between heaven and earth and I crossed the Rubicon

I feel the Holy Spirit inside and see the light that freedom gives
I believe it’s within the reach of every man who lives
Keep as far away as possible – it’s darkest ‘fore the dawn
I turned the key and I broke it off and I crossed the Rubicon

Mona Baby, are you still in my mind – I truly believe that you are
Couldn’t be anybody else but you who’s come with me this far
The killing frost is on the ground and the autumn leaves are gone
I lit the torch and I looked to the east and I crossed the Rubicon”

Many thanks to Bennyboy, GCBlom, Oldhenrylee, neverendingbobfan and all the rest who is making it possible to follow this beautiful journey from abroad!

Johnny Borgan