Refer to the lyrics at www.bobdylan.com
Christopher Rollason wrote:
This week's 'Economist' - 6 Sept 97, p. 91 - has an interesting review of the newly-reissued 6-CD set 'The Alan Lomax Collection: Southern Journey' (Rounder Records).
The reviewer mentions that Robert Ford was the man who killed Jesse James for the reward money. I must admit I didn't know that, and this piece of info sheds new light on 'Outlaw Blues'.
When Dylan sings 'I might look like Robert Ford, but I feel just like Jesse James', is he telling his audience - at the moment of his electric 'betrayal', 'look, I'm still a real outlaw - still a Jesse James, not his murderer - whether you agree with me or not'. Indeed, is Dylan seeing himself, like Lenny Bruce, as 'more of an outlaw than you ever were'?
Christopher Rollason
Metz, France
rollason@dialup.francenet.fr
'Yet, Freedom, yet, thy banner, torn but flying,
Streams like a thunder-storm _against_ the wind'
Byron, 'Childe Harold'