Songs of Experience: A Bob Dylan Podcast

Available Episodes

5 of 24

13. Señor (Tales of Yankee Power) with Jessica Elisheva Emerson (Author of Olive Days))
Henry welcomes award winning, critically acclaimed author of "Olive Days" and dear friend, Jessica Elisheva Emerson to talk about a beloved, signature track off of the fan favorite album Street Legal -1978’s “Señor (Tales of Yankee Power)!"Listen to the song, and follow along with the lyrics:Señor (Tales of Yankee Power)Written by: Bob DylanSeñor, señor, do you know where we’re headin’?Lincoln County Road or Armageddon?Seems like I been down this way beforeIs there any truth in that, señor?Señor, señor, do you know where she is hidin’?How long are we gonna be ridin’?How long must I keep my eyes glued to the door?Will there be any comfort there, señor?There’s a wicked wind still blowin’ on that upper deckThere’s an iron cross still hangin' down from around her neckThere’s a marchin’ band still playin’ in that vacant lotWhere she held me in her arms one time and said, “Forget me not”Señor, señor, I can see that painted wagonI can smell the tail of the dragonCan’t stand the suspense anymoreCan you tell me who to contact here, señor?Well, the last thing I remember before I stripped and kneeledWas that trainload of fools bogged down in a magnetic fieldA gypsy with a broken flag and a flashing ringSaid, “Son, this ain’t a dream no more, it’s the real thing”Señor, señor, you know their hearts is as hard as leatherWell, give me a minute, let me get it togetherI just gotta pick myself up off the floorI’m ready when you are, señorSeñor, señor, let’s disconnect these cablesOverturn these tablesThis place don’t make sense to me no moreCan you tell me what we’re waiting for, señor?Copyright © 1978 by Special Rider MusicVisit https://www.elishevaemerson.com/ for more information on where to buy Olive Days. Follow @songsofbob, @henrybernstein.bsky.socialIf you would like to support hosting my podcasts, please check out my Patreon where for $5 I will give you a shout out on the podcast of your choice. Thank you to, Rob Kelly, Roberta Rakove, Matt Simonson, Josh Taff, and Christopher Vanni. For $10, in addition to the shout-out I'll send you a surprise piece of vintage Bob Dylan merch! Thank you to Kaitie Cerovec who is already enjoying her merch! Thank you to Mark Godfrey and Peter White over on Substack.Email us at [email protected]: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Substack.
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Bonus Episode: World of Bob Dylan 2025 Announcement!
My paper has been accepted to the World of Bob Dylan 2025! See you in Tulsa, OK - July 24-28, 2025!https://dylan.utulsa.edu/register-for-the-world-of-bob-dylan-2025/ Follow @songsofbob, @henrybernstein.bsky.socialIf you would like to support hosting my podcasts, please check out my Patreon where for $5 I will give you a shout out on the podcast of your choice. Thank you to, Rob Kelly, Roberta Rakove, Matt Simonson, Josh Taff, and Christopher Vanni. For $10, in addition to the shout-out I'll send you a surprise piece of vintage Bob Dylan merch! Thank you to Kaitie Cerovec who is already enjoying her merch! Thank you to Mark Godfrey and Peter White over on Substack.Email us at [email protected]: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Substack.
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0:40
Bonus Episode: A Complete Unknown and I'm Not There Can Coexist
Check out the video of this over at Substack or YoutubeYou ever notice how when you love something there’s always someone who loves to tell you how much they don’t like that thing. As a Swiftie, I experience this all the time. People who don’t like Taylor Swift LOVE telling Swifties they don’t like her, why they don’t like her and how much they don’t like her. As a Dylan fan, for every 4 people telling me how much they love Bob like me, there’s always one who has to point out “Oh yeah, great song writer but his voice is terrible.” The latest version of this is folks who not only didn’t like A Complete Unknown but outright refuse to se it or dismiss its existence because Todd Hayne’s 2007 film, I’m Not There, existed first. Early this week, an article dropped with a little quote from Cate Blanchett, star of I’m Not There, praising the film. Last Friday, on the holiday of Purim, I was dressed in what I think was a pretty spot-on Chalamet-esque Bob Dylan costume (specifically from the last scene of A Complete Unknown. At a Purim party, someone felt the need to tell me why they refuse to see ACU because of I’m Not There. Check out the video for the full story and rant. And for the love of Bob, can we please stop yucking other people’s yums? Follow @songsofbob, @henrybernstein.bsky.socialIf you would like to support hosting my podcasts, please check out my Patreon where for $5 I will give you a shout out on the podcast of your choice. Thank you to, Rob Kelly, Roberta Rakove, Matt Simonson, Josh Taff, and Christopher Vanni. For $10, in addition to the shout-out I'll send you a surprise piece of vintage Bob Dylan merch! Thank you to Kaitie Cerovec who is already enjoying her merch! Thank you to Mark Godfrey and Peter White over on Substack.Email us at [email protected]: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Substack.
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6:24
12. Rambler, Gambler with Brendan McCarthy
Welcome to Songs of Experience: A Bob Dylan Podcast, where we explore the man and the music one song at a time.Henry welcomes fellow Chicagoland area Dylan fan, Brendan McCarthy to SoE HQ (in person!) to talk about one of Dylan's earliest recordings, "Rambler, Gambler" officially released in 2005 on the No Direction Home soundtrack.Listen to the song, and follow along with the lyrics:Rambler, GamblerI’m a rambler, I’m a gamblerI’m a long way from my homeIf the people don’t like meThey can leave me aloneCome sit down beside meCome sit down right hereCome sit down, love, I want youLove you boldly, so dearWhen you get to WyomingA letter you’ll seeIf you get into troubleJust you write and tell meFor I once had a loverHer age was sixteenShe’s a flower of velvet and the rose of CelineHer parents was against meNow she is the sameIf I writ on your book, loveJust you blot out my nameOh there’s changes in the oceanThere’s changes in the seaThere’s changes in my true loveAin’t no change in me Follow @songsofbob, @henrybernstein.bsky.socialIf you would like to support hosting my podcasts, please check out my Patreon where for $5 I will give you a shout out on the podcast of your choice. Thank you to, Rob Kelly, Roberta Rakove, Matt Simonson, Josh Taff, and Christopher Vanni. For $10, in addition to the shout-out I'll send you a surprise piece of vintage Bob Dylan merch! Thank you to Kaitie Cerovec who is already enjoying her merch! Thank you to Mark Godfrey and Peter White over on Substack.Email us at [email protected]: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Substack.
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45:24
Bonus Episode - Open Tuning in A Complete Unknown
Remember when Bob Dylan figures out Jesse's mystery tuning in A Complete Unknown? Turns out it's not such a mystery. Here we unpack what kind of open tuning was used and try to demonstrate how it was done.Follow @songsofbob, @henrybernstein.bsky.social If you would like to support hosting my podcasts, please check out my Patreon where for $5 I will give you a shout out on the podcast of your choice. Thank you to, Rob Kelly, Roberta Rakove, Matt Simonson, Josh Taff, and Christopher Vanni. For $10, in addition to the shout-out I'll send you a surprise piece of vintage Bob Dylan merch! Thank you to Kaitie Cerovec who is already enjoying her merch! Thank you to Mark Godfrey and Peter White over on Substack. Email us at [email protected] Subscribe: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Substack.
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