On the record
By Casey Gillis on Jan. 24, 2008
By Bradford Brady and John Maron
Q: I heard Bob Dylan’s “Positively 4th Street” earlier today and was struck yet again by the vitriol that he pours out into the song. Was he “speaking” to
anyone in particular?
A: As with most of Dylan’s work, “Positively 4th Street” has been analyzed and dissected since its release in 1965. Much speculation has been made over who might have caused Dylan to write one of the most scathing pop songs in rock history. As most readers know, the lyrics go much beyond the usual “You done me wrong”-type lyrics. Dylan seems to go out of his way to humiliate the person to the point of making him or her seem completely worthless as a person. To our knowledge, Dylan has never identified any specific person or persons as being the object of his ire; however, many critics believe that Dylan was speaking to all the folk purists who had been his earliest champions, but who had begun to criticize him for embracing rock. There was some feeling, justifiable or not, among some major voices in the folk movement that Dylan had forsaken those who had helped raise him to prominence. Many of these people felt Dylan had betrayed them and their trust, and that he had simply used them to gain notoriety. It could be argued, then, that Dylan felt he was being constrained as an artist. This song could then be viewed as a necessary step in his being able to break out of the mold he had been put in. It is likely that he did not have one specific person in mind as he wrote the song, but rather an amalgam of several people or a group of people.
Q: Can you tell me the name of the song in the television commercial with the two guys riding around in a 2008 Ford Focus?
A: The song is “Red Morning Light” by Kings of Leon. Brothers Caleb Followill, Nathan Followill and Jared Followill along with their cousin, Matthew Followill, formed the band in 2000. The brothers lived in many places throughout the U.S. due to their father’s work as an evangelist. In 1977, they settled in Nashville, where they formed the band a few years later. Their debut album, “Youth & Young Manhood,” was released in 2003 and contained the minor hit “Molly’s Chambers” along with “Red Morning Light.” Their second release, “Aha Shake Heartbreak,” was released in 2004, and while it expanded their American audience, it made them stars overseas. Their third and latest release, 2007’s “Because of the Times,” reached No. 1 in the U.K. and Ireland.
Q: Looking over the list of Grammy nominations, I saw that U2 was nominated for a remake of John Lennon’s “Instant Karma.” Where can I get this song?
A: U2’s version of “Instant Karma” can be found on “Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur,” an album of new versions of Lennon classics with proceeds benefiting Amnesty International’s human rights initiatives around the world. Other artists on the album include R.E.M., Jackson Browne, Big & Rich, and Snow Patrol. Originally released in February 1970, “Instant Karma” reached No. 3 on the U.S. charts. U2’s version is up for “Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals” at the upcoming Grammy Awards show.
What’s the name of that song? Where are they now? What does that lyric mean? Send your questions about songs, albums and musicians to or visit http://www.musicontherecord.com. Brady and Maron are freelance music writers based in Raleigh, N.C.
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