In just two November shows at New York's Madison Square Garden, Bob Dylan played thirty different songs. It was the closer, though, that die-hard fans will be talking about for ages. "He was such a good buddy of mine," Dylan said before a heartbreaking rendition of George Harrison's "Something." It was one of the many covers he broke out, including the Stones' "Brown Sugar," Van Morrison's "Carrying a Torch" and Neil Young's "Old Man." On the first night, Al and Tipper Gore watched from the stage. On night number two, Dylan spoke to the crowd, trying to relate a funny story about hanging backstage with his "buddy Al Gore" and "some talk-show host" (Conan O'Brien), but, in true Dylan form, nobody could be sure what he was talking about.

This is a story from the December 12th, 2002 issue of Rolling Stone.

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Song Stories