The members of The Band first worked together as The Hawks, the backing band of rockabilly singer Ronnie Hawkins from 1959 until 1963. Shortly afterwards, Bob Dylan came to Toronto and recruited the quintet for his history-making 1965/1966 world tour. The Band also worked with Dylan on the initial Blonde on Blonde sessions which, bar two tracks, were ultimately abandoned in favour of versions recorded with Nashville session musicians.
After a motorcycle accident in mid-1966, Dylan retreated from the public eye to his country house near Woodstock, New York. He was joined by the Band for some informal jam sessions starting in the autumn of 1967, nearly all of which were recorded. After being heavily bootleged, Columbia Records finally released The Basement Tapes in 1975, a selection of the better tracks recorded during the sessions along with new recordings by The Band.
Bob Dylan and The Band were reunited in 1974, recording Planet Waves for Asylum Records, Dylan's first album recorded for a record label other than Columbia. Although the album was released under Dylan's name alone, The Band joined Dylan for his first tour in eight years in support of Planet Waves, with some of the material recorded and released on the 1975 concert record Before the Flood.
Columbia Records finally released The Bootleg Series Vol. 11: The Basement Tapes Complete in November 2014, featuring every surving recording from the original sessions in Woodstock.
Quinn The Eskimo
Bob Dylan and The Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The big ships and the boats
Some are building monuments
Others are jotting down notes
Everybody's in despair
Every girl and boy
But when Quinn the Eskimo gets here
Come all without, come all within
You'll not see nothing like the mighty Quinn
Now I like to dude, just like the rest
I left my sugar sweet
But darning fumes and making haste
It ain't my cup of meat
Everybody's just standin' around 'neath the trees
Feeding pigeons on a limb
But when Quinn the Eskimo gets here
Then pigeons will go to him
Come all without, come all within
You'll not see nothing like the mighty Quinn
[Incomprehensible]
I can recite 'em all
Just tell me where it hurts
And I'll tell you who to call
Nobody can get in his sleep
There's someone on everybody's toes
But when Quinn the Eskimo gets here
Everybody's gonna doze
Come all without, come all within
You'll not see nothing like the mighty Quinn
Come all without, come all within
You'll not see nothing like the mighty Quinn
The song "Quinn The Eskimo" by Bob Dylan and The Band is a joyful and optimistic tune that contrasts with the despair of the world around them. The lyrics describe how everybody is either building big ships and monuments or jotting down notes, but despite all the activity there is a general feeling of despair. However, when Quinn the Eskimo arrives, everybody jumps for joy. The chorus invites everyone to come and see the mighty Quinn, who is presented as a larger-than-life character that everyone wants to be around.
The singer appears to be somewhat of a rebel or outsider, as he describes himself as a dude who left his sugar sweet and prefers to avoid the rush of modern life. He observes everyone standing around feeding pigeons, waiting for something to happen. But when Quinn arrives, even the pigeons will flock to him. The song suggests that Quinn is a unifying force, someone who can bring people together and make them forget their troubles.
Line by Line Meaning
Everybody's building
Everyone is busy constructing things
The big ships and the boats
Some are building large water vessels
Some are building monuments
Others are creating structures to commemorate someone or something
Others are jotting down notes
Others are writing things down as a reminder or for future reference
Everybody's in despair
Everyone is feeling hopeless and unhappy
Every girl and boy
This feeling affects everyone regardless of age or gender
But when Quinn the Eskimo gets here
However, when Quinn arrives on the scene
Everybody jump for joy
Everyone will be happy and excited
Come all without, come all within
Everyone from everywhere is welcome
You'll not see nothing like the mighty Quinn
You won't find anyone like Quinn
Now I like to dude, just like the rest
I enjoy hanging out and relaxing like everyone else
I left my sugar sweet
I left my loved one behind
But darning fumes and making haste
But I'm not interested in rushing around and inhaling harmful substances
It ain't my cup of meat
It's not my preferred way of doing things
Everybody's just standin' around 'neath the trees
Everyone is idly passing time under the shade of trees
Feeding pigeons on a limb
Some are casually feeding birds
Then pigeons will go to him
But when Quinn arrives, even the birds will be drawn to him
Nobody can get in his sleep
No one can disturb him when he's sleeping
There's someone on everybody's toes
Someone is bothering everyone
But when Quinn the Eskimo gets here
However, when Quinn appears
Everybody's gonna doze
Everyone will be able to relax and take a nap
Come all without, come all within
Everyone is welcome from everywhere
You'll not see nothing like the mighty Quinn
There is no one like Quinn
Lyrics © BOB DYLAN MUSIC CO, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BOB DYLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
iwys
I was there. It was my 17th birthday and that's one birthday I'll never forget. The Band did a set first, which included songs from Music from Big Pink. Then Bob joined them on stage. I was so pleased that he opened with my favourite song, She Belongs to Me. His first live performance of Lay Lady Lay was another highlight.
This was the setlist:
With The Band:
She Belongs to Me
(Recorded for the album Self Portrait)
I Threw It All Away
Maggie's Farm
Solo:
Wild Mountain Thyme
It Ain't Me, Babe
To Ramona
Mr. Tambourine Man
With The Band:
I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine
(Live debut)
Lay Lady Lay
(Live debut)
Highway 61 Revisited
One Too Many Mornings
I Pity the Poor Immigrant
(Live debut)
Like a Rolling Stone
(Recorded for the album Self Portrait)
I'll Be Your Baby Tonight
(Live debut)
Quinn the Eskimo (The Mighty Quinn)
(Live debut, recorded for the album Self Portrait)
Encore:
Minstrel Boy
(Live debut, recorded for the album Self Portrait)
Rainy Day Women #12 & 35
malbuff
My favorite Robertson guitar solo. I love this loud, sloppy performance. I just wish I could hear Garth more.
Bertis Guitar
Me too - and Minstrel Boy has a similarly off-kilter Robbie gem
RacBeat girl76
One of my fav dylan songs. Need this whole concert on dvd.great colaboration
steelyman08
Thank you so much for this one! Not only is it one of the missing pieces in our YT Dylan puzzle, but I grew up on the Isle Of Wight as well. That's where I first heard a Bob Dylan song. An older neighbour became like a father to me over the years. Yes, it was Blowin' In The Wind (of course). I was nine at the time. So thank you for the song and the memories (-:
iwys
I was there. It was my 17th birthday and that's one birthday I'll never forget. The Band did a set first, which included songs from Music from Big Pink. Then Bob joined them on stage. I was so pleased that he opened with my favourite song, She Belongs to Me. His first live performance of Lay Lady Lay was another highlight.
This was the setlist:
With The Band:
She Belongs to Me
(Recorded for the album Self Portrait)
I Threw It All Away
Maggie's Farm
Solo:
Wild Mountain Thyme
It Ain't Me, Babe
To Ramona
Mr. Tambourine Man
With The Band:
I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine
(Live debut)
Lay Lady Lay
(Live debut)
Highway 61 Revisited
One Too Many Mornings
I Pity the Poor Immigrant
(Live debut)
Like a Rolling Stone
(Recorded for the album Self Portrait)
I'll Be Your Baby Tonight
(Live debut)
Quinn the Eskimo (The Mighty Quinn)
(Live debut, recorded for the album Self Portrait)
Encore:
Minstrel Boy
(Live debut, recorded for the album Self Portrait)
Rainy Day Women #12 & 35
Jonathan Boswell
What a show.
Nick Whitestar
I was their, 12 years old, ran away, got in a lot of shit, when I got back, ha, haaaa
bobcat
Happy 69th 🎂
ingbrisc2001
I was there as a 15 year old, and it's very true what you say. It was a very magical moment for us both. Do you remember they never stopped playing Lay Lady Lay between acts. Dylan magic.
Olive Eisner
Thanks Swingin~ you always get the good stuff. 😎
This is my absolute favorite version of Mighty Quinn. live with The Band it's so off the hook. The first time I heard it I thought it was a studio outtake and that they were rollicking drunkenly just having a good old time.
So much energy!