Lay Lady Lay? Are you kidding me? Bob Dylan is one of those people who was very fortunate to have been born in America. (psst…I am, too. But for much different reasons) Because with that voice, and some of those songs, he might have been imprisoned for crimes against the state in other countries.
Mr. Dylan recorded Lay Lady Lay on this date back in 1969.
And I read that it was supposed to be a song for the movie, “Midnight Cowboy.” There’s the first red flag. Because that movie was despicable. Thankfully I never saw it. But I’ve read about it. Yuck.
Anyway, Bob’s song wasn’t submitted in time to be included in the movie. But somehow it was still released to the public. And I say it that way because it’s such an inane song. I mean, check out the lyrics to the “first verse.”
Lay, lady, lay
Lay across my big brass bed
Yeah, Lay, lady, lay
Lay across my big brass bed
Whatever colors you have in your mind
I’ll show them to you and you’ll see them shine
Yeah, the first nine words are so profound, that Mr. Dylan felt the need to repeat ’em.
And the next 17 words sound like somebody who’s smokin’ or snortin’ somethin’.
Side note:
The main song, “Everybody’s Talkin” from the movie, sung by Harry Nillson, is one of my all-time favorites. And when it was a popular song on the radio, I had no clue it was included in such a creepy movie. Check out the lyrics to the chorus…
I’m going where the sun keeps shinin’
Through the pouring rain
Going where the weather suits my clothes
Banking off of the northeast winds
Sailing on a summer breeze
And skipping over the ocean like a stone
(The songwriter, Fred Neil, does a really nice job on that song, too)
Anyway…
I only brought all this up because I saw the February 13th connection.
There’s no hidden, deeper meaning or reason for me taking Bob Dylan’s song to task. I’ve never been a Dylan fan. His voice is like fingernails on a chalkboard to me. And the fact that a song called “Lay Lady Lay” could have ever been a hit is yet another negative commentary on the state of music in the world.
Other than that, I will leave you with this…
Don’t let good music fall down the abyss.
Listen for words that can lift up your eyes,
Messages made that can help you be wise.
Stay tuned,
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Grab yourself an un-cool T-shirt
Or how about some music for kids