BBC Tonight Show 1964: With God on our Side
Duet with Joan Baez: With God on our Side
What you should know about this song: You can feel Dylan’s frustration through the lyrics of this song. It grows stronger and stronger throughout each verse and it essentially ends with him giving up on the whole thing altogether: “So now as I’m leaving’ / I’m weary as Hell / The confusion I’m feeling’ / Ain’t no tongue can tell” (verse 9).
The first time Dylan performed the song was at the New York Town Hall in April 1963, which (after listening to the lyrics) strikes me as quite gutsy. The song is also known for the duet version Dylan sang with Joan Baez, the two of which performed live together in 1963 and 1964.
“(When I heard that song) I took him seriously. I was bowled over. It was devastating. It’s a very mature song. It’s a beautiful song. It changed the way I thought of Bob.” – Joan Baez*
Source: Bob Dylan: 100 Songs and Pictures by Fine Communications
Photo Source: The Guardian
