10 Immersive Songs That Would Make Killer Movies

7. Bob Dylan's 115th Dream - Bob Dylan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VS--6IugAc It's hard to pick just one Bob Dylan story song. Like Warren Zevon & Charlie Daniels, Dylan produced such a wealth of great story songs, like "Hurricane," "Tangled Up In Blue," & "The Lonesome Death Of Hattie Carroll," that choosing just one seems like a travesty. I ultimately chose "Bob Dylan's 115th Dream" for two reasons: (1) because it's my favourite Dylan song, and (2) because its story is more cinematic than any other Dylan story-song. The song's story is a fever-dream (or acid-trip, if you prefer) version of American history. Dylan's song unfolds from the point of a view of a young sailor, who, along with Captain Arab, is among the first sailors to arrive in America. Arab & his crew are arrested immediately upon coming ashore, on the charges of "carrying harpoons." Our protagonist escapes from prison and sets out trying to acquire the bail he needs to free his fellow crew members. Along the way, our young sailor marches in a picket line, causes a restaurant explosion, has his boots stolen, and is beaned by a bowling ball falling from the sky. Ultimately, the sailor decides to leave America, leaving his captain and fellow crew members to fend for themselves. On his way out to sea, he meets Columbus and wishes him luck. Like "Excitable Boy," a film adaptation of "Bob Dylan's 115th Dream" requires a director with an off-kilter view of life. Perhaps the Coen brothers would once again be appropriate. At any rate, in order for the film to be as funny as the song, the movie shouldn't wink at the audience but treat everything that it shows us as if it's the most normal stuff in the world.