Happy birthday to Bob Dylan: He hits the big # 70 today!

Yes, Bob Dylan turns 70 today.  Who would have believed that when he came on the scene singing "Blowing in the wind"? 

Dylan is 70 but his songs are just as fresh as ever.  He is indeed one of the greatest songwriters of the last 50 years.

I can't pick one Dylan song.  However, there is no doubt that Joan Baez and Peter, Paul & Mary are the best at interpreting Dylan songs.   The Byrds are good too!

Many years ago, Joan Baez released "Any Day Now", a must album for anyone who loves Dylan songs.

"Sad eyed of the lowlands" is very long but wonderful.  It's more like a long poem rather than a pop song.

"Song facts" quotes Dylan saying that this was one of his best songs.   I agree for sure about this being one of Dylan's best songs.

The second selection is "Blowing in the wind" by Peter, Paul & Mary.  

The third video is "It ain't me babe" by The Turtles, the same group that later recorded "Happy Together".  

The fourth selection is "Boots of Spanish leather" by an Irish group called Dervish:

"With your mercury mouth in the missionary times,

And your eyes like smoke and your prayers like rhymes,

And your silver cross, and your voice like chimes,

Oh, who do they think could bury you?

With your pockets well protected at last,

And your streetcar visions which you place on the grass,

And your flesh like silk, and your face like glass,

Who could they get to ever carry you?

Sad-eyed lady of the lowlands,

Where the sad-eyed prophet says that no man comes,

My warehouse eyes, my Arabian drums,

Should I put them by your gate,

Or, sad-eyed lady, should I wait?

With your sheets like metal and your belt like lace,

And your deck of cards missing the jack and the ace,

And your basement clothes and your hollow face,

Who among them can think he could outguess you?

With your silhouette when the sunlight dims

Into your eyes where the moonlight swims,

And your match-book songs and your gypsy hymns,

Who among them would try to impress you?

Sad-eyed lady of the lowlands,

Where the sad-eyed prophet says that no man comes,

My warehouse eyes, my Arabian drums,

Should I leave them by your gate,

Or, sad-eyed lady, should I wait?

The kings of Tyrus with their convict list

Are waiting in line for their geranium kiss,

And you wouldn't know it would happen like this,

But who among them really wants just to kiss you?

With your childhood flames on your midnight rug,

And your Spanish manners and your mother's drugs,

And your cowboy mouth and your curfew plugs,

Who among them do you think could resist you?

Sad-eyed lady of the lowlands,

Where the sad-eyed prophet says that no man comes,

My warehouse eyes, my Arabian drums,

Should I leave them by your gate,

Or, sad-eyed lady, should I wait?

Oh, the farmers and the businessmen, they all did decide

To show you where the dead angels were that they used to hide.

But why did they pick you to sympathize with their side?

Oh, how could they ever mistake you?

They wished you'd accepted the blame for the farm,

But with the sea at your feet and the phony false alarm,

And with the child of a hoodlum wrapped up in your arms,

How could they ever have persuade you?

Sad-eyed lady of the lowlands,

Where the sad-eyed prophet says that no man comes,

My warehouse eyes, my Arabian drums,

Should I leave them by your gate,

Or, sad-eyed lady, should I wait?

With your sheet-metal memory of Cannery Row,

And your magazine-husband who one day just had to go,

And your gentleness now, which you just can't help but show,

Who among them do you think would employ you?

Now you stand with your thief, you're on his parole

With your holy medallion in your fingers now that hold,

And your saintlike face and your ghostlike soul,

Oh, who among them ciould ever think he could destroy you?

Sad-eyed lady of the lowlands,

Where the sad-eyed prophet says that no man comes,

My warehouse eyes, my Arabian drums,

Should I leave them by your gate,

Or, sad-eyed lady, should I wait?....."

"How many roads must a man walk down
Before they call him a man?

How many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand?

How many times must the cannon balls fly
Before they're forever banned?

The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind.

How many years must a mountain exist
Before it is washed to the sea?

How many years can some people exist
Before they're allowed to be free?

How many times can a man turn his head
And pretend that he just doesn't see?

The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind.

How many times must a man look up
Before he can see the sky?

How many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry?

How many deaths will it take 'til he knows
That too many people have died?

The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind.

The answer is blowin' in the wind...."

"Go away from my window 
Leave at your own chosen speed

I'm not the one you want, babe 
I'm not the one you need

You say you're lookin' for someone 
Who's never weak but always strong

To protect you and defend you 
Whether you are right or wrong

Someone to open each and every door

But it ain't me babe A-no, no, 
no it ain't me babe

Well, it ain't me you're lookin' for babe

Go lightly from the ledge, 
babe Go lightly on the ground

I'm not the one you want, 
babe I'll only lead you down

You say you're lookin' for someone 
Who'll promise never to part

Someone to close his eyes to you 
Someone to close his heart

Someone who will die for you and more

But it ain't me babe A-no, no, 
no it ain't me babe

Well, it ain't me you're lookin' for babe

No it ain't me you're lookin' for, babe

I said a-no, no, no, 
it ain't me babe..."

"I'm sailing away, my own true love

Sailing away in the morning

Is there something I can send you from across the sea

From the place where I'll be landing?

There's nothing you can send me, my own true love

There's nothing that I wish to be owning

Just carry yourself back to me unspoiled

From across the lonesome ocean

But I just thought you might want something fine

Made of silver or of golden

Either from the mountains of Madrid

Or the coast of Barcelona

But if I had the stars from the darkest nights

Or the diamonds from the deepest ocean

I'd forsake them all for your sweet kiss

For that's all I'm wishing to be owning

That I might be gone a long time

And it's only that I'm asking

Is there something I can send you to remember me by

To make your time more easy passing?

Oh how can you, how can you ask me again

When you know it brings me sorrow?

The same thing that I will want today

I will want again tomorrow

Oh I got a letter on a lonesome day

It was from his ship a-sailing

Saying, "I don't know when I'll be coming back again

It depends on how I'm feeling"

Well, if you, my love, must think that way

I'm sure your mind is roaming

I'm sure your heart is not with me

But with the country to where you're going

So take heed, take heed of the western wind

Take heed of the stormy weather

Yes, there is something you can bring back to me

Spanish boots of Spanish leather...."

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