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tetedur

(1,306 posts)

27. I think the assassination of JFK marked a turning point for Dylan and "politics."

Mon Jun 2, 2025, 08:55 AM

Jun 2

"Murder Most Foul" from 2019 was a long "commentary" on that act and our culture since then.

I always thought he was more spiritually driven than politically driven.

This is in the liner notes on "Freewheelin' Bob Dylan", the second album, from a comment on "Blowin' in the Wind" :

In 1962, Dylan said of the song's background: "I still say that some of the biggest criminals are those that turn their heads away when they see wrong and know it's wrong. I'm only 21 years old and I know that there's been too many wars. . . You people over 21 should know better." All he prefers to add by way of commentary now is: "The first way to answer these questions in the song is by asking them. But lots of people have to first find the wind."

The only other times he was "involved" with "presidential politics" perhaps was when he visited Jimmy Carter who invited him to the White House (they became friends) and when he was given the Medal of Freedom by Barack Obama.

I could go on . . .

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Has Bob Dylan ever spoken out against tRUMP? [View all] wolfie001 Jun 2 OP

He got away from politics a long time ago. BluesRunTheGame Jun 2 #1

Such a beacon of integrity wolfie001 Jun 2 #3

? themaguffin Jun 2 #42

found this on clashmusic.com Blues Heron Jun 2 #2

I saw the same article wolfie001 Jun 2 #5

Interesting that he uses "reality" not expectations, more, or values karynnj Jun 2 #41

Well that's disappointing. Hope he feels differently after TSF 1.0 and 2.0. brush Jun 2 #53

Wonder when he said this... SleeplessinSoCal Jun 2 #79

2004. SleeplessinSoCal Jun 2 #90

Interesting he talked about Trump back then. Good sleuthing, thanks Blues Heron Jun 2 #92

Yeah, and what's his position of right and left Twixt bars? Has he opined on egg prices yet? marble falls Jun 2 #4

Dood was a 1960s Icon wolfie001 Jun 2 #6

Why? Is he the one vote that'll break the tie to take Taco off the island or not? He hasn't mention the price ... marble falls Jun 2 #9

His charities help feed hungry people wolfie001 Jun 2 #12

Perhaps you should picket his concerts to get the word out Fiendish Thingy Jun 2 #37

Things need to be stirred up a bit wolfie001 Jun 2 #70

re: Dylan TnDem Jun 2 #88

Janis wasn't known for her political outspokenness Fiendish Thingy Jun 2 #11

I knew it was gonna ruffle some feathers wolfie001 Jun 2 #14

No feathers ruffled Fiendish Thingy Jun 2 #15

lol nt wolfie001 Jun 2 #20

Janis's version of Me and Bobby McGee is one of my favorite songs senseandsensibility Jun 2 #86

Two completely different performers edhopper Jun 2 #63

Not really. Dave Bowman Jun 2 #7

Silent as a church mouse wolfie001 Jun 2 #8

Yes, talk about a rebel. Dave Bowman Jun 2 #40

Who gives a shit? nt LexVegas Jun 2 #10

You don't wolfie001 Jun 2 #16

Did you give him the Nobel Prize? yardwork Jun 2 #23

I did a look on what he's said about the worst pRESIDENT we've ever had in the WH and guess what? wolfie001 Jun 2 #47

... LexVegas Jun 2 #30

There there wolfie001 Jun 2 #48

Listen to some of his songs- it's all in there. Start with Seven Curses, it describes an evil judge. Blues Heron Jun 2 #59

Many iconic songs wolfie001 Jun 2 #71

Totally. His disdain for injustice shines through much of his work. Blues Heron Jun 2 #80

Yes! Just say something in the microphone. Just a word or two. wolfie001 Jun 2 #103

Dylan sang "political songs" or "protest songs" for about 2-3 years in a 65+ year career Fiendish Thingy Jun 2 #13

tRUMP is not anything America has ever seen wolfie001 Jun 2 #18

If the survival of our democracy depends on celebrities speaking out, we are already doomed. Fiendish Thingy Jun 2 #21

One of, if not the biggest 'topic' of our time and our poetic people Prairie_Seagull Jun 2 #32

We have different expectations of the rich and famous Fiendish Thingy Jun 2 #35

Funny how many of the billionaires made their allegiance public during the inauguration wolfie001 Jun 2 #69

I didn't see Dylan at the inauguration Fiendish Thingy Jun 2 #81

re: speaking out TnDem Jun 2 #89

Clapton was a supporter of Enoch Powell wolfie001 Jun 2 #105

Strawman argument wolfie001 Jun 2 #49

Not a straw man by your own hyperbole Fiendish Thingy Jun 2 #64

There almost was no Bob Dylan, when he empathized with Oswald at an awards dinner shortly after Nov 63 Blues Heron Jun 2 #24

Now that was a poor choice wolfie001 Jun 2 #50

He has denied they were protest songs NoRethugFriends Jun 2 #58

He also said he ran away and worked in a carnival in New Mexico as a boy Fiendish Thingy Jun 2 #67

I really know about him as the groundbreaking performer wolfie001 Jun 2 #75

He is a private man Fiendish Thingy Jun 2 #82

Thanks for that info NoRethugFriends Jun 2 #84

He was "political" during his time with Suze Rotolo... regnaD kciN Jun 2 #85

Yes. I vaguely remember that era wolfie001 Jun 3 #108

Hagiographic...that's interesting. LuckyCharms Jun 2 #17

Isn't that how everything goes with him? wolfie001 Jun 2 #19

Well, he's a plain man as well as a celebrity... LuckyCharms Jun 2 #22

A little "too plain" when the subject of fascism is thrust into America's face wolfie001 Jun 2 #97

You seem very invested in what Bob Dylan has to say about Trump. LuckyCharms Jun 2 #100

He could say something in the microphone. He's still touring so quit with the "he's an old guy" stuff wolfie001 Jun 2 #104

Hagiographic is a perfect descriptive for the way the 1960s/1970s are looked at here on too many occasions. nt Celerity Jun 2 #25

Maybe not though, if you lived through those decades. n/t LuckyCharms Jun 2 #26

As a openly queer black female I can safely say my quality of life in 1960s USA would have been problematic at best Celerity Jun 2 #34

"If you remember the 60s, whoameye Jun 2 #57

Republicans were plotting on their takeover starting around 1974 or so wolfie001 Jun 2 #51

Actually it started right after the 1964 Goldwater disaster (disaster for the RW). The groundwork for 2 major RW Celerity Jun 2 #65

Around the time Thurmond went republican wolfie001 Jun 2 #68

I think the assassination of JFK marked a turning point for Dylan and "politics." tetedur Jun 2 #27

Joker Man is reputed to be about Ronald Reagan randr Jun 2 #28

Other than a brief flash of Reagan's face in the video, not really Fiendish Thingy Jun 2 #36

He could've opined that rayguns was destroying the Middle Class wolfie001 Jun 2 #94

Bob is 80 and besides he put the town of Ashtabula in one of his songs so he has earned the right not .. Botany Jun 2 #29

I can think of literally hundreds of people who deserve condemnation more than Bob Dylan blogslug Jun 2 #31

I never condemned him. That's Ad hominem wolfie001 Jun 3 #107

Appears he hasn't. But can't imagine "Blowin in the Wind" Dylan cozying up to likes of trump. Silent Type Jun 2 #33

Not trying to be rude but Samael13 Jun 2 #38

I think you mean grandparents Polybius Jun 2 #46

Boomers would listen to his words. I remember him still possessing his vocal range in the 1970s wolfie001 Jun 2 #52

Odd question, if you ask me. Music Man Jun 2 #39

I think all the others are dead and were a bit older wolfie001 Jun 2 #54

Looking for an artist who speaks out? milestogo Jun 2 #43

Oh yeah! wolfie001 Jun 2 #55

If anybody should speak out, it should be current artists. Dylan is 80+ & not left that space in the mid 60s themaguffin Jun 2 #44

He is something like 84 now DFW Jun 2 #45

He was 74 when tRUMP went down the escalator wolfie001 Jun 2 #56

Ask him for yourself. I don't know. Nobody else here knows, either. MineralMan Jun 2 #60

Just a public statement wolfie001 Jun 2 #74

Why should he? That's not at all who he is and has been. MineralMan Jun 2 #76

I think the single, False Prophet, released in 2020 Torchlight Jun 2 #61

Great reply wolfie001 Jun 2 #73

He had to rearrange their faces, and give them all another name... Mike Nelson Jun 2 #62

I disagree with most of the pushback you're getting on this thread senseandsensibility Jun 2 #66

Thank you! wolfie001 Jun 2 #72

I suspect H2O Man Jun 2 #77

Me too! wolfie001 Jun 2 #78

It would annoy the felon. H2O Man Jun 2 #87

Amen H2O wolfie001 Jun 2 #95

Has Country Joe McDonald ever spoken out against Trump? DBoon Jun 2 #83

He was quite active up into 2005. Kudos to him wolfie001 Jun 2 #93

good for him DBoon Jun 2 #99

... orangecrush Jun 2 #91

Glad your hair isn't on fire like some of the "offended" artistic pooh-bahs wolfie001 Jun 2 #96

Nah orangecrush Jun 2 #98

The answer is blowing in the wind Zambero Jun 2 #101

Don't know about the 60s MorbidButterflyTat Jun 2 #102

Well wolfie001 Jun 2 #106