About the song
In 1975, Bob Dylan delivered a riveting live performance of “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall,” a song that stands as one of his most powerful and enduring anthems. Originally released in 1963 on the album *The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan*, this track encapsulates the profound social consciousness and lyrical genius that have defined Dylan’s career. The 1975 live rendition captures the raw energy and emotional intensity that Dylan brings to his live performances, making it a timeless moment in music history.
“A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall” is a masterful example of Dylan’s early songwriting, blending poetic imagery with a compelling narrative structure. Written during a time of political turbulence and social upheaval, the song’s lyrics are a cascade of vivid and often surreal imagery, reflecting the anxieties and hopes of a generation. The track has become an enduring symbol of the 1960s folk revival and Dylan’s role as a voice of conscience and change.
The 1975 live performance, part of Dylan’s Rolling Thunder Revue tour, brought new life to the song with its dynamic and impassioned delivery. The Rolling Thunder Revue was a unique and eclectic tour that featured a rotating cast of musicians and artists, creating a carnival-like atmosphere and fostering a spirit of collaboration and spontaneity. This tour was a significant chapter in Dylan’s career, highlighting his ability to continuously reinvent his music and performance style.
During this performance, Dylan’s vocals are imbued with a sense of urgency and conviction, capturing the song’s apocalyptic themes and prophetic tone. His acoustic guitar work, combined with the accompaniment of a full band, adds layers of depth and intensity to the live rendition. The Rolling Thunder Revue’s distinctive blend of folk, rock, and theatricality provided a perfect backdrop for “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall,” allowing Dylan to fully explore the song’s emotional and musical range.
*The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan*, the album that introduced “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall” to the world, was a critical and commercial success. It reached number 22 on the Billboard 200 and established Dylan as a major figure in the folk music scene. The album’s success and the song’s powerful message resonated deeply with listeners, solidifying Dylan’s reputation as a poet and prophet of his time.
For an older and educated audience, Dylan’s 1975 live performance of “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall” is a reminder of the enduring power of his music. The song’s timeless themes and Dylan’s impassioned delivery continue to resonate, offering a poignant reflection on the human condition and the ongoing struggle for justice and peace.
In summary, Bob Dylan’s live performance of “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall” in 1975 is a significant moment in his illustrious career. The song’s evocative lyrics and Dylan’s dynamic performance capture the essence of his artistic vision and social consciousness. This rendition stands as a testament to Dylan’s ability to inspire and move audiences, affirming his place as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century.
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Lyrics
Oh where have you been, my blue eyed son?
Where have you been, my darling young one?
I’ve stumbled on the side of twelve misty mountains
Walked and I’ve crawled on six crooked highways
Stepped in the middle of seven sad forests
Been out in front of a dozen dead oceans
I’ve been ten thousand miles in a mouth of a graveyard
It’s a hard and it’s a hard and it’s a hard and it’s a hard
And it’s a hard rain’s a gonna fall
Oh what did you see, my blue eyed son?
What did you see, my darling young one?
I saw a newborn baby with wild wolves around it
I saw a highway of diamonds with nobody on it
I saw a black branch with blood that kept drippin’
I saw a room full of men with their hammers a bleedin’
A white ladder all covered with water
I saw ten thousand talkers whose tongues were all broken
I saw guns and sharp swords in the hands of young children
And it’s a hard and it’s a hard and it’s a hard hard
And it’s a hard rain’s a gonna fall
And what did you hear, my blue eyed son?
What did you hear, my darling young one
I heard the sound of thunder that roared out a warning
Heard the roar of a wave that could drown the whole world
Heard one hundred drummers whose hands were a blazin’
Heard ten thousand whisperin’ and nobody listenin’
Heard one person starve, many people laughin’
Heard the song of a poet who died in the gutter
Heard the sound of a clown who cried in the alley
And it’s a hard and it’s a hard and it’s a hard hard hard hard
And it’s a hard rain’s a gonna fall
Oh who you did meet, my blue eyed son?
Who did you meet, my darling young one?
I met a young child beside a dead pony
I met a white man who walked a black dog
I met a young girl whose body was burning
A young girl, she gave me a rainbow
I met one man who was wounded in love
Another man who was wounded with hatred
And it’s a hard and it’s a hard and it’s a hard
And it’s a hard rain’s a gonna fall
Oh what’ll you do now, my blue eyed son?
What’ll you do now, my darling young one?
I’m goin’ back out ‘fore the rain starts fallin’
Walk to the depths of the deepest black forest
Where people are many and their hands are all empty
Where pellets of poison are flooding the waters
Where the home in the valley meets the damp dirty prison
Where the executioner’s face is always well hidden
Where hunger is ugly, where souls are forgotten
Where black is the color, and none is the number
And I’ll tell it and think it and speak it and breathe it
And reflect it from the mountains so all souls can see it
Then I’ll stand in the ocean until I start sinking
But I’ll know my song well before I start singing
And it’s a hard it’s a hard and it’s a hard
And it’s a hard rain’s a gonna fall
And it’s a hard and it’s a hard and it’s a hard
And it’s a hard rain’s a gonna fall
And it’s a hard and it’s a hard and it’s a so hard
And it’s a hard rain’s a gonna fall