THE PHILOSOPHY OF MODERN SONG By Bob Dylan

The first thing I realized when I started reading Bob Dylan’s new book, The Philosophy of Modern Song, is that Dylan knows a lot about music. Dylan analyzes 66 songs and reveals how and why they work. In addition to dissecting the songs, Dylan provides background information on the artist, the composer, and influences–sometimes from classical music–that impacted the music.

And, Dylan being Dylan, you’ll find surprising connections like a profile of science fiction and mystery writer Leigh Brackett as part of the Chapter 56 on Santana’s “Black Magic Woman.” Dylan proves he’s well read, too.

If you’re a Bob Dylan fan, you’ll want to own this book. If you’re interested in music, you’ll want to check out The Philosophy of Modern Song to learn about how a song is constructed, how it works, and how it should be sung. Dylan also includes some music history and cunning literary references like “there is assuredly nothing dearer to a man than wisdom, and though age takes away all else, it undoubtedly brings us that”–words of Cicero (p. 268). So, yes, there are surprises on almost every page of this book.

Do you remember these 66 songs? Are any of them your favorites? GRADE: A

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

“Detroit City”
(Bobby Bare– 1963)
 
“Pump It Up”
(Elvis Costello & the Attractions — 1978)
 
“Without a Song”
(Perry Como — 1951)
 
“Take Me From This Garden of Evil”
(Jimmy Wages — 1956)
 
“There Stands the Glass”
(Webb Pierce — 1953)
 
“Willy the Wandering Gypsy and Me”
(Billy Joe Shaver — 1973)
 
“Tutti Frutti”
(Little Richard — 1955)
 
“Money Honey”
(Elvis Presley — 1956)
 
“My Generation”
(The Who — 1965)
 
“Jesse James”
(Harry McClintock — 1928)
 
“Poor Little Fool”
(Ricky Nelson — 1958)
 
“Pancho and Lefty”
(Willie Nelson & Merle Haggard — 1983)
 
“The Pretender”
(Jackson Browne — 1976)
 
“Mack the Knife”
(Bobby Darin — 1959)
 
“The Whiffenpoof Song”
(Bing Crosby — 1947)
 
“You Don’t Know Me”
(Eddy Arnold — 1956 )
 
“Ball of Confusion”
(The Temptations — 1970)
 
“Poison Love”
(Johnnie & Jack — 1950)
 
“Beyond the Sea”
(Bobby Darin — 1958)
 
“On the Road Again”
(Willie Nelson — 1980)
 
“If You Don’t Know Me by Now”
(Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes — 1972)
 
“The Little White Cloud That Cried”
(Johnnie Ray — 1951)
 
“El Paso”
(Marty Robbins — 1959)
 
“Nelly Was a Lady”
(Alvin Youngblood Hart — 2004 )
 
“Cheaper to Keep Her”
(Johnnie Taylor — 1973)
 
“I Got a Woman”
(Ray Charles — 1954)
 
“CIA Man”
(The Fugs — 1967)
 
“On The Street Where You Live”
From “My Fair Lady” (Vic Damone — 1956)
 
“Truckin’”
(The Grateful Dead — 1970)
 
“Ruby, Are You Mad?”
(The Osborne Brothers — 1956)
 
“Old Violin”
(Johnny Paycheck — 1986)
 
“Volare”
(Domenico Modugno — 1958)
 
“London Calling”
(The Clash — 1979)
 
“Your Cheatin’ Heart”
(Hank Williams — 1953)
 
“Blue Bayou”
(Roy Orbison — 1963)

“Midnight Rider”
(The Allman Brothers Band — 1970)

“Blue Suede Shoes”
(Carl Perkins — 1956)

“My Prayer”
(The Platters — 1956)

“Dirty Life and Times”
(Warren Zevon — 2003)

“Doesn’t Hurt Anymore”
(John Trudell — 2001)

“Key to the Highway”
(Little Walter — 1958)

“Everybody Cryin’ Mercy”
(Mose Allison — 1968)

“War”
(Edwin Starr — 1970)

“Big River”
(Johnny Cash — 1957)

“Feel So Good”
(Sonny Burgess — 1957 )

“Blue Moon”
(Elvis Presley — 1964)

“Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves”
(Cher — 1971)

“Keep My Skillet Good and Greasy”
(Uncle Dave Macon — 1924)

“It’s All in the Game”
(Tommy Edwards — 1958)

“A Certain Girl”
(Ernie K-Doe — 1961)

“I’ve Always Been Crazy”
(Waylon Jennings — 1978)

“Witchy Woman”
(Eagles — 1972)

“Big Boss Man”
(Jimmy Reed — 1960)

“Long Tall Sally”
(Little Richard — 1956)

“Old and Only in the Way”
(Charlie Poole — 1928)

“Black Magic Woman”
(Santana — 1970)

“By the Time I Get to Phoenix”
(Glen Campbell — 1967)

“Come On-a My House”
(Rosemary Clooney — 1951)

“Don’t Take Your Guns to Town”
(Johnny Cash — 1958)

“Come Rain or Come Shine”
(Ray Charles — 1956)

“Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood”
(Nina Simone — 1964)

“Strangers in the Night”
(Frank Sinatra — 1966)

“Viva Las Vegas”
(Elvis Presley — 1964)

“Saturday Night at the Movies”
(The Drifters. — 1964)

“Waist Deep in the Big Muddy”
(Pete Seeger — 1967)

“Where or When”
(Dion and the Belmonts — 1959)

34 thoughts on “THE PHILOSOPHY OF MODERN SONG By Bob Dylan

  1. Steve A Oerkfitz

    There are a lot of songs here that I like-Blue Bayou, London Calling, My Generation, War. I must admit my hatred for Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves. I have a reserve in for this at the library. Looks great.

    Reply
  2. Todd Mason

    Some favorites, though the closest to a Great Favorite would be “Key to the Highway”, ripped off by the Stones among others. “Big River” and “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” among the least shabby as well. I see Dylan still has some problems with women.

    Reply
  3. Deb

    A number of these songs are familiar to me—not all of them though. I’m interested in Dylan’s take on them, so onto the TBR this one goes!

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      Deb, Dylan writes about the songs and the artists and music in general. THE PHILOSOPHY OF MODERN SONG is a masterclass on song-writing. You will love it!

      Reply
  4. Dan

    Somehow I never associated bob Dylan with “The Whiffenpoof Song” but revelations like that are why I visit this page every day.

    Reply
  5. Michael Padgett

    Since I lost track while counting I’ll guess I’m familiar with at least half and like most of those. Love “Blue Bayou” and the two by Little Richard, a huge favorite of mine, as is Hank Williams. Really hate “Truckin'” and pretty much everything else by the Dead. Looks like I’m going to have to buy this. I’m tired of waiting for the library.

    Reply
  6. Jeff Meyerson

    Yes, indeed, quite the eclectic list. You know I hate Bing Crosby. I’d say I know more than 2/3 of them. Favorites? Tutti Frutti. You Don’t Know Me Your Cheatin’ Heart. Blue Bayou. Dirty Life and Times. It’s ALl in the Game. Long Tall Sally. Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood.

    Reply
  7. wolfi7777

    A really interesting selection of songs, several of my all time favourites.
    And now of course I have to tell my personal experience (maybe I’ve described it before, sorry then) re Tutti Frutti.
    In the late 80s together with around 40 IT experts from all over the world I was invited to Japan by a well known computer company to visit their production facilities all around Japan and be informed on their latest developments and plans.
    One fascinating week!
    One evening we arrived in a historic Spa city hotel (forgot the name) where we told we could/should go everywhere in the hotel with the kimonos they loaned us (had to look around for a size XXL to fit me …). After dinner our Japanese hosts asked us to come with them to a bar on the other side of the street – in our kimonos!
    When we arrived there we were told that this was a karaoke place and every group was expected to perform one song!
    First a very nice US lady performed Strangers in the Night – accompanied by our Japanese hosts who really enjoyed this.
    Then the other German guys in my group looked at me – could you do something?
    Now I really am no vocal performer but it had to be …
    I looked at the song list that was on tape and saw among other titles which were much too difficult for me – Tutti Frutti!
    So I went up to the stage in my white kimono and started:
    Wop bop a loo bop a lop bom boom, Tutti frutti, oh rootie ..
    And people enjoyed it!

    Reply
    1. Jeff Meyerson

      Great story, Wolf!

      I’ve mentioned before how I knew I would love the movie AMERICAN HOT WAX. It opens with Alan Freed (Tim McIntire) walking into the studio to do his radio show. He sees a pile of 45s on the desk with a note from the program director saying “Do NOT Play These Records!” He shuffles through them, puts one on the turntable and says, “I’m Alan Freed and this is rock & roll” and “Tutti Frutti” blasts out from the soundtrack.

      Reply
  8. Kent Morgan

    Not a Dylan fan, but I think I will try to track this down at the library. I do know most of the songs and have 45s of seven or eight on the Rockola jukebox in my basement.

    Reply

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