Karen O, vocalist of the New York art punk band Yeah Yeah Yeahs, contributed vocals to a version of Bob Dylan's Highway 61 Revisited for the I'm Not There movie soundtrack.
Highway 61 Revisited
Karen O & The Million Dollar Bashers Lyrics
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Abe said, "Man, you must be puttin' me on"
God said, "No" Abe say, "What?"
God say, "You can do what you want, Abe, but
The next time you see me comin', you better run"
Well, Abe said, "Where d'you want this killin' done?"
God said, "Out on Highway 61"
Welfare department, they wouldn't give him no clothes
He asked poor Howard, "Where can I go?"
Howard said, "There's only one place I know"
Sam said, "Tell me quick, man, I got to run"
Oh, Howard just pointed with his gun
And said, "That way, down Highway 61"
Well, Mack the Finger said to Louie the King
"I got forty red-white-and-blue shoestrings
And a thousand telephones that don't ring
Do you know where I can get rid of these things?"
And Louie the King said, "Let me think for a minute, son"
Then he said, "Yes, I think it can be easily done
Just take everything down to Highway 61"
Now, the fifth daughter on the twelfth night
Told the first father that things weren't right
"My complexion," she says, "is much too white"
He said, "Come here and step into the light"
He said, "Hmm, you're right, let me tell the second mother this has been done"
But the second mother was with the seventh son
And they were both out on Highway 61
Now, the roving gambler he was very bored
Trying to create a next world war
He found a promoter who nearly fell off the floor
He said, "I never engaged in this kind of thing before
But yes, I think it can be very easily done
We'll just put some bleachers out in the sun
And have it on Highway 61"
The song "Highway 61 Revisited" by Karen O and The Million Dollar Bashers is a cover of Bob Dylan's classic tune of the same name. The lyrics are dense with literary and cultural references, and the song is generally considered to be a commentary on American culture and society during the 1960s. The first verse refers to the biblical story of Abraham being commanded by God to sacrifice his son. In Dylan's version, the roles are reversed, with God commanding Abraham to kill him. This inversion suggests a sense of disillusionment or skepticism towards traditional religious beliefs.
The second verse tells the story of Georgia Sam, a black man who is denied welfare and forced to leave town. He asks Howard where he can go, and Howard points him in the direction of Highway 61. This verse touches on themes of inequality and racial injustice. The third verse features Mack the Finger and Louie the King, two characters discussing how to dispose of their illicit goods. The line "take everything down to Highway 61" suggests that the highway is a place where anything can happen and where anything can be bought or sold.
The fourth verse tells the story of a young girl who is unhappy with her appearance. She consults her father, who agrees that her complexion is too pale. He instructs her to go be with the seventh sun, their religious leader, but they are both out on Highway 61. This verse suggests a critique of narrow-minded religious beliefs and the idea that individuals must conform to certain standards.
The final verse features the roving gambler, who is bored and looking to start a war. He finds a promoter who agrees to stage a battle on Highway 61, suggesting that the highway is a place where anything is possible, no matter how destructive or absurd.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, God said to Abraham, "Kill me a son"
God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son
Abe said, "Man, you must be puttin' me on"
Abraham thought God was joking
God said, "No" Abe say, "What?"
God confirmed that he was serious, while Abraham was surprised
God say, "You can do what you want, Abe, but
God gave Abraham the choice to obey or not
The next time you see me comin', you better run"
God warned that there would be consequences for disobedience
Well, Abe said, "Where d'you want this killin' done?"
Abraham asked where God wanted him to sacrifice his son
God said, "Out on Highway 61"
God specified the location for the sacrifice
Well, Georgia Sam, he had a bloody nose
Georgia Sam was injured, possibly from a fight
Welfare department, they wouldn't give him no clothes
Georgia Sam was denied aid from the government
He asked poor Howard, "Where can I go?"
Georgia Sam asked Howard for help
Howard said, "There's only one place I know"
Howard knew of only one place to go for help
Sam said, "Tell me quick, man, I got to run"
Georgia Sam needed a quick answer as he was in a hurry
Oh, Howard just pointed with his gun
Howard threatened Georgia Sam with his gun
And said, "That way, down Highway 61"
Howard directed Georgia Sam to go down Highway 61
Well, Mack the Finger said to Louie the King
Mack the Finger spoke to Louie the King
"I got forty red-white-and-blue shoestrings
Mack the Finger had many shoestrings
And a thousand telephones that don't ring
Mack the Finger had many useless telephones
Do you know where I can get rid of these things?"
Mack the Finger asked Louie the King where he could sell these items
And Louie the King said, "Let me think for a minute, son"
Louie the King needed a moment to think of a solution
Then he said, "Yes, I think it can be easily done
Louie the King figured out a solution
Just take everything down to Highway 61"
Louie the King suggested that Mack the Finger sell his items on Highway 61
Now, the fifth daughter on the twelfth night
The fifth daughter on the twelfth night
Told the first father that things weren't right
The daughter complained to her father that things were wrong
"My complexion," she says, "is much too white"
The daughter was unhappy with her fair complexion
He said, "Come here and step into the light"
The father wanted to inspect his daughter's complexion
He said, "Hmm, you're right, let me tell the second mother this has been done
The father agreed with his daughter and was going to tell her stepmother
But the second mother was with the seventh son
The stepmother was busy with her son
And they were both out on Highway 61
The stepmother and her son were on Highway 61
Now, the roving gambler he was very bored
The roving gambler was extremely bored
Trying to create a next world war
The gambler wanted to start a world war for entertainment
He found a promoter who nearly fell off the floor
The gambler found a promoter who was shocked by his idea
He said, "I never engaged in this kind of thing before
The promoter had never done something like this before
But yes, I think it can be very easily done
The promoter was willing to go along with the gambler's plan
We'll just put some bleachers out in the sun
They would put seating outside in the sun
And have it on Highway 61"
The event would take place on Highway 61
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, AUDIAM, INC
Written by: BOB DYLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Bobjb999
The more I hear this version, the more I like it. It owes some of its inspiration from not just Bob's original, but to Johnny Winter's amazing, manic speed-slide-blues version too. An interesting side-puzzle is trying to figure out which guitar parts Tom Verlaine's likely playing here (he's one of at least two guitarists supposedly playing on this as part of The Million Dollar Bashers "supergroup"). And who can dislike Karen's unique & fun-to-hear voice?
@Jumbofreddy
excellent version! rythm and voice!
@asrielyra
Buena rola para ir ambientando un muy buen fin de semana!!!
@leemythic4400
Wow I never heard this song, so cool 🙏
@yardleybottles6025
Really liked this, old head Dylan fan here.
@jameshogan238
well done
@babyimkilla69
holy shit this is fuckin badass :]
@zod139
Karen O!!!!
@Bluesrainbluesrainbow
super!
@missmyvinny
Fab!