Blind Willie McTell. One of Dylan’s finest and least known songs. It was left off his album Infidels, much to producer Mark Knopfler’s chagrin, and yet it’s a work of genius.
Hurricane. This is such an important song, and you feel the weight of the social injustice as you perform it. It’s an absolute beauty and when Mick, our bass player, picks up the fiddle – it’s a special moment.
The Times They Are A-Changin’. I start the show just me, my guitar and harmonica and set the scene describing Dylan as a young 19-year-old, busking in cafes in Greenwich Village. Playing this song is a real honour – the lyrics are as relevant now as they were 50 years ago. This is a sad indictment of the times we live in, but more importantly, shows Dylan’s incredible insight at such a young age.
Like A Rolling Stone. The moment when the music world got turned on its head, the darling of the folk world comes onto the stage at Newport Folk Festival with a Stratocaster. He electrocuted half the audience and electrified the other half…brilliant.
Forever Young. Such poignant words from a father to a child. As a father, I can get quite choked at these lyrics. Whatever Dylan’s writing about he completely gets it. Some people can only write about love or loss – not Dylan, he takes on really diverse subjects and nails them every time.
