5. Its Alright Ma (Im Only Bleeding) - Bringing It All Back Home (1965)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqJJ9siYNn0 The guitar of Dylans biggest hero, Woody Guthrie, was famously emblazoned with a sticker exclaiming that this machine kills fascists, a succinct comment on the power that music and language can have over prevailing and repulsive ideologies. And Dylan, still in thrall to Guthries boundless political influence, adopted this mantra for his own music. Its Alright Ma, Im Only Bleeding sees Dylan using just his voice, his words and his guitar as a shotgun to American senses as he meditates on consumerism, homogeneity and the loss of identity in an increasingly dangerous, corrupt nation. His wordplay and density of language on this track is so great that it defies comparison to any of his other songs. The words are ironic but not finger-pointing, caustic but not preachy; a perfect blend of social critique and an unparalleled, rapid-fire delivery. Featuring some of his finest, sharpest observations such as money doesnt talk, it swears, sometimes even the President of the United States must have to stand naked and advertising signs they con you into thinking youre the one, Its Alright Ma... marks the creative peak of an artist whose nuanced and complex insights were tumbling out of so fast that he could barely keep up with himself. No wonder everyone else fell so far behind.
Dan Owens
Contributor
A 22 year old English Literature graduate from Birmingham. I am passionate about music, literature and football, in particular, my beloved Aston Villa. Lover of words and consumer of art, music is the very air that I breathe.
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