Songs of Experience: A Bob Dylan Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Bonus Episode: World of Bob Dylan 2025 Announcement! Mar 30, 2025

Show notes

My paper has been accepted to the World of Bob Dylan 2025! See you in Tulsa, OK - July 24-28, 2025!

https://dylan.utulsa.edu/register-for-the-world-of-bob-dylan-2025/

If you would like to support hosting my podcasts, please check out my Patreon where for $5 I will give you a shout out on the podcast of your choice. Thank you to, Rob Kelly, Roberta Rakove, Matt Simonson, and Christopher Vanni. For $10, in addition to the shout-out I'll send you a surprise piece of Bob Dylan merch! Thank you to Kaitie Cerovec who is already enjoying her merch! I have a merch shop! Check out all sorts of fun Bob Dylan (and more) items! Thank you to Mark Godfrey, & Linda Maultsby over on Substack.

Email us at songsofbobdylan@gmail.com

Subscribe: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Substack.

Bonus Episode: A Complete Unknown and I'm Not There Can Coexist Mar 24, 2025

Show notes

Check out the video of this over at Substack or Youtube

You ever notice how when you love something there’s always someone who loves to tell you how much they don’t like that thing. As a Swiftie, I experience this all the time. People who don’t like Taylor Swift LOVE telling Swifties they don’t like her, why they don’t like her and how much they don’t like her. As a Dylan fan, for every 4 people telling me how much they love Bob like me, there’s always one who has to point out “Oh yeah, great song writer but his voice is terrible.” The latest version of this is folks who not only didn’t like A Complete Unknown but outright refuse to se it or dismiss its existence because Todd Hayne’s 2007 film, I’m Not There, existed first. Early this week, an article dropped with a little quote from Cate Blanchett, star of I’m Not There, praising the film. Last Friday, on the holiday of Purim, I was dressed in what I think was a pretty spot-on Chalamet-esque Bob Dylan costume (specifically from the last scene of A Complete Unknown. At a Purim party, someone felt the need to tell me why they refuse to see ACU because of I’m Not There. Check out the video for the full story and rant. And for the love of Bob, can we please stop yucking other people’s yums?

Email us at songsofbobdylan@gmail.com

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12. Rambler, Gambler with Brendan McCarthy Mar 15, 2025

Show notes

Welcome to Songs of Experience: A Bob Dylan Podcast, where we explore the man and the music one song at a time.

Henry welcomes fellow Chicagoland area Dylan fan, Brendan McCarthy to SoE HQ (in person!) to talk about one of Dylan's earliest recordings, "Rambler, Gambler" officially released in 2005 on the No Direction Home soundtrack.

Listen to the song, and follow along with the lyrics:

Rambler, Gambler

I’m a rambler, I’m a gambler
I’m a long way from my home
If the people don’t like me
They can leave me alone
Come sit down beside me
Come sit down right here
Come sit down, love, I want you
Love you boldly, so dear
When you get to Wyoming
A letter you’ll see
If you get into trouble
Just you write and tell me
For I once had a lover
Her age was sixteen
She’s a flower of velvet and the rose of Celine
Her parents was against me
Now she is the same
If I writ on your book, love
Just you blot out my name
Oh there’s changes in the ocean
There’s changes in the sea
There’s changes in my true love
Ain’t no change in me

Email us at songsofbobdylan@gmail.com

Subscribe: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Substack.

Bonus Episode - Open Tuning in A Complete Unknown Mar 02, 2025

Show notes

Remember when Bob Dylan figures out Jesse's mystery tuning in A Complete Unknown? Turns out it's not such a mystery. Here we unpack what kind of open tuning was used and try to demonstrate how it was done. Follow us on Instagram @songsofbob, If you would like to support hosting my podcasts, please check out my Patreon where for $5 I will give you a shout out on the podcast of your choice. Thank you to, Rob Kelly, Roberta Rakove, Matt Simonson, and Christopher Vanni. For $10, in addition to the shout-out I'll send you a surprise piece of Bob Dylan merch! Thank you to Kaitie Cerovec who is already enjoying her merch! I have a merch shop! Check out all sorts of fun Bob Dylan (and more) items! Thank you to Mark Godfrey, & Linda Maultsby over on Substack. Email us at songsofbobdylan@gmail.com Subscribe: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Substack.

11. Man Of Peace with Matt Simonsen Feb 15, 2025

Show notes

Welcome to Songs of Experience: A Bob Dylan Podcast, where we explore the man and the music one song at a time.

Henry welcomes a fellow midwestern boy and 80's-Bob defender, Matt Simonson to talk about "Man Of Peace" from Dylan's 1983 album, Infidels.

Follow along with the lyrics:

Man of Peace

Written by: Bob Dylan

Look out your window, baby, there’s a scene you’d like to catch
The band is playing “Dixie,” a man got his hand outstretched
Could be the Führer
Could be the local priest
You know sometimes Satan comes as a man of peace
He got a sweet gift of gab, he got a harmonious tongue
He knows every song of love that ever has been sung
Good intentions can be evil
Both hands can be full of grease
You know that sometimes Satan comes as a man of peace
Well, first he’s in the background, then he’s in the front
Both eyes are looking like they’re on a rabbit hunt
Nobody can see through him
No, not even the Chief of Police
You know that sometimes Satan comes as a man of peace
Well, he catch you when you’re hoping for a glimpse of the sun
Catch you when your troubles feel like they weigh a ton
He could be standing next to you
The person that you’d notice least
I hear that sometimes Satan comes as a man of peace
Well, he can be fascinating, he can be dull
He can ride down Niagara Falls in the barrels of your skull
I can smell something cooking
I can tell there’s going to be a feast
You know that sometimes Satan comes as a man of peace
He’s a great humanitarian, he’s a great philanthropist
He knows just where to touch you, honey, and how you like to be kissed
He’ll put both his arms around you
You can feel the tender touch of the beast
You know that sometimes Satan comes as a man of peace
Well, the howling wolf will howl tonight, the king snake will crawl
Trees that’ve stood for a thousand years suddenly will fall
Wanna get married? Do it now
Tomorrow all activity will cease
You know that sometimes Satan comes as a man of peace
Somewhere Mama’s weeping for her blue-eyed boy
She’s holding them little white shoes and that little broken toy
And he’s following a star
The same one them three men followed from the East
I hear that sometimes Satan comes as a man of peace

Email us at songsofbobdylan@gmail.com

Subscribe: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Substack.

10. Don't Think Twice, It's All Right with Omar Uddin Jan 15, 2025

Show notes

Welcome to Songs of Experience: A Bob Dylan Podcast, where we explore the man and the music one song at a time.

Henry welcomes Chicagoan and Pod Dylan legend, Omar Uddin to talk about "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" from Dylan's 1963 album, The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan.

Follow along here:

Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right

Written by: Bob Dylan

It ain’t no use to sit and wonder why, babe
It don’t matter, anyhow
An’ it ain’t no use to sit and wonder why, babe
If you don’t know by now
When your rooster crows at the break of dawn
Look out your window and I’ll be gone
You’re the reason I’m trav’lin’ on
Don’t think twice, it’s all right
It ain’t no use in turnin’ on your light, babe
That light I never knowed
An’ it ain’t no use in turnin’ on your light, babe
I’m on the dark side of the road
Still I wish there was somethin’ you would do or say
To try and make me change my mind and stay
We never did too much talkin’ anyway
So don’t think twice, it’s all right
It ain’t no use in callin’ out my name, gal
Like you never did before
It ain’t no use in callin’ out my name, gal
I can’t hear you anymore
I’m a-thinkin’ and a-wond’rin’ all the way down the road
I once loved a woman, a child I’m told
I give her my heart but she wanted my soul
But don’t think twice, it’s all right
I’m walkin’ down that long, lonesome road, babe
Where I’m bound, I can’t tell
But goodbye’s too good a word, gal
So I’ll just say fare thee well
I ain’t sayin’ you treated me unkind
You could have done better but I don’t mind
You just kinda wasted my precious time
But don’t think twice, it’s all right

Email us at songsofbobdylan@gmail.com

Subscribe: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Substack.

"Song To Woody" in A Complete Unknown - Analysis Jan 07, 2025

Show notes

Timothee Chalamet while performing Song To Woody does something very subtle and interesting. Check out this brief breakdown! Follow us on Instagram @songsofbob, If you would like to support hosting my podcasts, please check out my Patreon where for $5 I will give you a shout out on the podcast of your choice. Thank you to, Rob Kelly, Roberta Rakove, Matt Simonson, and Christopher Vanni. For $10, in addition to the shout-out I'll send you a surprise piece of Bob Dylan merch! Thank you to Kaitie Cerovec who is already enjoying her merch! I have a merch shop! Check out all sorts of fun Bob Dylan (and more) items! Thank you to Mark Godfrey, & Linda Maultsby over on Substack. Email us at songsofbobdylan@gmail.com Subscribe: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Substack.

9. Early Roman Kings with Peter Hayward Dec 15, 2024

Show notes

Welcome to Songs of Experience: A Bob Dylan Podcast, where we explore the man and the music one song at a time.

Henry welcomes Twin Cities musician, Peter Hayward to talk and sing about "Early Roman Kings," from Dylan's 2012 album Tempest.

Check out Peter's amazing music and follow him here: https://linktr.ee/peterhayward

Early Roman Kings

Written by: Bob Dylan

All the early Roman Kings in their sharkskin suits
Bowties and buttons, high top boots
Driving the spikes in, blazing the rails
Nailed in their coffins in top hats and tails
Fly away little bird, fly away, flap your wings
Fly by night like the early Roman Kings
All the early Roman Kings in the early, early morn’
Coming down the mountain, distributing the corn
Speeding through the forest, racing down the track
You try to get away, they drag you back
Tomorrow is Friday, we’ll see what it brings
Everybody’s talking ‘bout the early Roman Kings
They’re peddlers and they’re meddlers, they buy and they sell
They destroyed your city, they’ll destroy you as well
They’re lecherous and treacherous, hell bent for leather
Each of them bigger than all men put together
Sluggers and muggers wearing fancy gold rings
All the women going crazy for the early Roman Kings
I'll dress up your wounds with a blood clotted rag
I ain’t afraid to make love to a bitch or a hag
If you see me coming and you’re standing there
Wave your handkerchief in the air
I ain’t dead yet, my bell still rings
I keep my fingers crossed like the early Roman Kings
I'll strip you of life, strip you of breath
Ship you down to the house of death
One day you will ask for me
There’ll be no one else that you’ll want to see
Bring down my fiddle, tune up my strings
Gonna break it wide open like the early Roman Kings
I was up on black mountain the day Detroit fell
They killed them all off and they sent them to hell
Ding Dong Daddy, you’re coming up short
Gonna put you on trial in a Sicilian court
I’ve had my fun, I’ve had my flings
Gonna shake ‘em all down like the early Roman Kings

Email us at songsofbobdylan@gmail.com

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Spoiler Alert! A Complete Unknown Press Screening Reactions (With Michael Glover Smith) Dec 10, 2024

Show notes

On Tuesday, December 3. Michael Smith and I flew down to Orlando, FL from Chicago, IL for a press and guild screening of the new James Mangold film about Bob Dylan. It was an amazing experience. Immediately after the film, Michael and I went to the AMC theatre bar and talked for almost 2 hours about the film. Unfortunately I only hit record about halfway through our conversation, so you will be joining us mid-convo. First you’ll hear the 45 second spoiler free reaction and then we’ll transition to the full conversation. Please be aware this is a FULL SPOILER REVIEW. If you haven’t seen the film yet, I highly recommend you turn this off now, and wait until after you see it. You have been warned! Enjoy!

Email us at songsofbobdylan@gmail.com

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SPOILER-FREE Instant Reactions to A Complete Unknown Press Screening (with Michael Glover Smith) Dec 04, 2024

Show notes

Acclaimed filmmaker Michael Glover Smith invited me to fly to Orlando, FL from Chicago to attend a Press and Guild Screening of James Mangold's film A Complete Unknown which is being released on December 25. Although it was a long way to travel and expensive, it was worth it. This is a 45 second SPOILER-FREE (so that means NO SPOILERS) reaction. Enjoy and go see this film!

Email us at songsofbobdylan@gmail.com

Subscribe: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Substack.