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Fans Examine Meaning of Title, Cover of Bob Dylan’s “Together Through Life”

3/17/09, 4:07 pm EST


Bob Dylan fans are busy dissecting every morsel of info released from his forthcoming album Together Through Life. Some think the title is drawn from a line in the Walt Whitman poem “When I Peruse The Conquer’d Fame.” New Mexico disc jockey Scott Warmuth makes a pretty convincing case that the line “I’m pretty sure she’ll make me kill someone” is appropriated from David Wright’s translation of The Canterbury Tales. Dylan’s 2006 album borrowed at least 16 lines from the first century Roman poet Ovid and many others from the Confederate poet Henry Timrod. Dylan’s process of threading together disparate sources into a unique song is, of course, as old as songwriting itself.

What’s drawing the most attention is the cover photo, which was taken by legendary photographer Bruce Davidson. The shot was also used in the 2005 Dylan documentary No Direction Home and, as Baltimore Magazine points out, it was on the cover of Larry Brown’s
book Big Bad Love. Dylan is apparently a big fan of Brown and has claimed to have “read every word the man’s ever written.” Check out more of Davidson’s photos here. The Dylan album cover is drawn from the Brooklyn Gang series.

A tip of the hat to Expecting Rain.

Related Stories:

Bob Dylan’s New Album Together Through Life Due April 28th
Bob Dylan Records Surprise Modern Times Follow-Up


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Comments

CR1ZZ | 3/17/2009, 11:19 pm EST

It looks a bit modern for Dylan.
Just a bit.

little timmy | 3/17/2009, 11:22 pm EST

here we go again, another fine release of fine songs from a fine artist being interpreted every which way to sunday by people with nothing better to do than live vicariously through someone else, in this case, dylan.
i bet if he [dylan] ever deigned to share exactly what each of his songs are all about it would make many many people look like idiots.
why dont you all for a change just enjoy the songs for what they are…good songs form a great artist still capable of being creative, original, entertaining, and equal to or better than the rest of the current bunch of wannabes as a whole.
ps: together through life really means that dylan still has it together at this stage of his life with himself and his fans (couldnt resist it).

Chris | 3/18/2009, 12:04 am EST

expectingrain.com is amazing

auramac | 3/18/2009, 12:08 am EST

If that’s a tattoo I’ll trash the album cover when I buy the CD. Tattoos hurt my eyes. Love Dylan, but so does his mustache.

squeaky mcfromme | 3/18/2009, 3:03 am EST

the walrus was paul. and paul is dead. has been since 1966. and charlie says there’s a war comin. helter…skelter. think about it.

Graeme McKay | 3/18/2009, 6:14 am EST

RE little timmy: It is called Literary Criticism. And I, like many others, get paid to do it

Regal | 3/18/2009, 6:19 am EST

Little timmy, you really oughta chill out. I don’t see any mention of anyone criticizing the music, which is what you’re acting as if is going on. None of what you’re saying has any bearing on an article that’s referring to a discussion about a cover photo and record title.

Oh, and to the guy a few posts down who says he’ll wreck the cover if there’s a tatto showing on it….just, wow. You may want to seek help for that OCD.

jjj | 3/18/2009, 10:59 am EST

Worst Dylan cover EVER!

Jan sevastakis | 3/18/2009, 12:17 pm EST

i don’t know about ya’ll but i was taught a long time ago never to judge a book it’s cover.why does anyone really care?

Ari | 3/18/2009, 1:11 pm EST

It looks like a Guess jeans ad.Nice.

shastadaisy | 3/18/2009, 5:07 pm EST

Oh like dissecting poetry is something new! I hear tell Dylan is a democratic writer–allowing people to take what they want. And his stuff is so off limits that universities offer course studies. And one guy wrote a book (as he writes books about Tennyson, Milton, etc.) showing us just how others have influenced him. So many misguided people who aren’t listening to the real sages among us.

Kundalini | 3/18/2009, 6:11 pm EST

little timmy, how do you know they are “good songs?” Have you heard them yet?

News Flash | 3/18/2009, 6:50 pm EST

Rolling Stone gives album 5 stars before even hearing a song.

It’s called the “Dylan-Boss-U2 rule”

little timmy | 3/19/2009, 12:49 am EST

okay, you got me guys, i am the walrus…oops…dylan in disguise.

retort 1: mckay….
if you get paid for what you do and your posting is even a slight reflection of the same, then you should wear a mask when accepting the money…bandit!

retort 2:
regal…get a life, and while at it, read my post and this time get the message which you obviously did not as per your wanker posting you wanker (i sure do love that word wanker…its a catch all for such incompetence as you and banditry as och aye Mckay).

retort 3:
kundalini (where do people get their names from…sheesh! yes, i have and indeed, i am listening to them else i never would have commented as i did. tell me you wanker, why arent you listening to them yet?

okay…i’m off to bed now. i am tired sparring words with people that have yet to master such a complex process as communication.

Simplicity and clarity. | 3/19/2009, 10:31 am EST

NEWS FLASH UPDATE – U2 – Pale and FUCKING INSIPID. Mr Dylan – Moving,wild,complex,inexhausti ble,unpredictable,strong,no laws,no rules – nothing can attack such a FINE fortress -nothing can be added to something which is just SO FUCKING RIGHT. SCATTER THE ENEMY!

Lafawnda | 3/19/2009, 4:31 pm EST

Old,original,authentic,round, smooth and with the most beautiful finish.Love that fine man so much. xxx

Lafawnda | 3/19/2009, 4:36 pm EST

To my taste – the perfect vintage.Love you baby.xxx

Lafawnda | 3/19/2009, 4:46 pm EST

Not like many others – Cheap.Bottom of the barrel motherfuckers.

Lafawnda | 3/19/2009, 4:52 pm EST

He’s sweet,legendary,and held very,very dear to wine lovers like me.xxx

Lafawnda | 3/19/2009, 5:42 pm EST

Guess it’s a taste thing. Bob tastes SO good to me.

Lafawnda | 3/19/2009, 5:58 pm EST

Dissect and weep.

Lafawnda | 3/19/2009, 6:03 pm EST

MOTHERFUCKERS!

Anonymous | 3/19/2009, 6:15 pm EST

Hamsa protects the brave.

Hamsa | 3/19/2009, 9:59 pm EST

One thing for sure, I ‘aint protecting a coward, loser, wanker, like Anonymous who is certainly NOT brave enough to put his / her name on the posting.
ps:
love that dylan fella…and yes, i protect him.

the doctor | 3/21/2009, 12:15 pm EST

lets examine the strategy dylan is employing these days with his music, output, tour, choice of involvement, etc.

one word comes to mind, ‘legacy’. he is engaging with a consolidation of events to create / establish a legacy in the image he wants, and then will exit from public view (except maybe…maybe…an occassional and carefully selected release).
he has little choice relative to his voice for example…it oozes the meaning of the word ‘croaked’, especially when he performs live.
so…there you have it, an examination from the doctor.

cherokee | 3/21/2009, 4:13 pm EST

bob!!!!!

B. Johnson | 3/21/2009, 6:06 pm EST

“Here’s to the crazy ones.The misfits.The rebels.The trouble makers.The round pegs in the square holes.The ones who see things differently.They’re not fond of rules.And they have no respect for the status quo.You can quote them,disagree with them,glorify them or vilify them.About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them.Because they change things.They push the human race forward.And while some may see them as the crazy ones,we see genius.Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world,are the ones who do.” I love you Bob.Crazy.Always.xxx

B. Johnson | 3/21/2009, 6:13 pm EST

I love you Bob.

Son of a gun! | 3/23/2009, 10:28 am EST

“Love is the ultimate outlaw. It just won’t adhere to any rules.” x

Percy Bysshe Shelly | 3/23/2009, 7:13 pm EST

‘Soul meets soul’

Super noodles | 3/24/2009, 6:52 pm EST

Proud! Proud! Proud!xxx

Midnight | 3/27/2009, 1:41 pm EST

Benvenuto alla luce babymine.xxx

lafawnda | 3/27/2009, 7:01 pm EST

A million hearts would be too few to carry all my love to you.

Midnight | 3/30/2009, 7:07 am EST

PROUD! PROUD! PROUD! PROUD! PROUD!……………xxx

Lafawnda | 3/30/2009, 12:02 pm EST

In to the hilt.

42yaM | 3/31/2009, 12:06 am EST

You coulda had cream
But chose half & half
As you slobber at the table
Of the Golden Calf

It’s the Spinner’s Ball
You can’t get off it
Get dizzy with Robert
For he is a great Profit

Dphmabsm | 7/14/2009, 5:24 am EST

Wpepid

SAM IN SIAM | 10/7/2009, 8:39 am EST

THE BACK
IS MORE INTERESTING
THAN THE FRONT
THATS AMERICA…….

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