Comments on: Trapped Out There On Highway 5

By: John Gibbens

John Gibbens — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:23:22 +0000

I’d go for New Orleans George Lewis, myself: I think New Orleans is the capital of Bob Dylan’s America. Of course, like William Shakespeare, it could be that George Lewis is actually another man of the same name.
We could also throw into this pot, however, which is already dripping with garlic and olive oil, the man called George Lewis, or George Louis, or Georg Ludwig, who later topped the charts under the name George I, King of Great Britain and Ireland. While George Lewis, favourite nephew of George Washington, played a leading role in defeating the troops of George Lewis’s great-grandson, George III.
George Lewis’s advice seems not unsimilar to: Your mind is your temple, keep it beautiful and free. Don’t let an egg get laid in there by something you can’t see.

By: eruke

eruke — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 04:08:58 +0000

This is the George Lewis I’d heard of, whom I associated with the song: http://www.redhotjazz.com/lewis.html Trombonist. Could certainly be wrong.

George Eliot’s lover, George Lewes (sometimes spelled Lewis) always comes to my mind also when I hear the song. I like all the associations with transgressing custom, living according to desire, convention be damned….these seem to tie into the song. The struggle between freeing oneself of the ties that bind, and having to go under the high water of the world you’ve found yourself in, because that is as valid and irresistible as autonomy. You dance with who I’ll tell you to, or you don’t dance at all. This isn’t just shackles, it’s part of life.
I definitely see JH’s point regarding the Englishman, Italian, and Jew. I wonder if this George Lewis it talking to himself. He sees these three representatives of man/God/law and he simply has to say, can’t open your mind, boys. I know I should, but you know what, I can’t. To hell with perspectivism. I like yr hearing better, and it’s more Dylan-ish: you don’t have to understand each other to be each other’s companion. That is WAY better than my hearing.
Dylan speed-jumps logic, and my verbiage is slow and bulky and awkward. I’m happy thinking and typing, and I’m always trying in my way to do justice to the speed-jumping. I’m doing all I can, doing it right here and now.

By: John Hinchey

John Hinchey — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 02:43:58 +0000

The George Lewis you’re referring to was actually a clarinetist. There is a trombonist George Lewis, who was born in Chicago in 1952 & is still alive & belongs to a different jazz tradition.

What I’ve never been able to get a feel for is why (in the song) he dispenses this particular advice to these 3 guys. Yes, they do represent 3 different religious (and cultural) traditions, but don’t we assume they’re each set in their ways & not likely to try to go all ecumenical on us. (That’s always the basis of the jokes.) Why doesn’t George, confronting the 3 of them, say “I can’t open my mind to every conceivable point of view” (and, implicitly, make fair sense of all 3 of you).

See what I mean? Any thoughts? Is he just trying to put them at ease, implying “Don’t worry about your differences (just drink up & enjoy each other’s company for what it’s worth).” Either that, or something equally oblique seems the operative logic here.

I’m a bit sympathetic with ponderosa, but I would suggest that the “fault” is not with your post but with Dylan, whose words are speed-jumping his logic throughout the song. You can feel the sense it makes instantly, but it could take years for us to parse it.

By: Lucas Stensland

Lucas Stensland — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 23:10:58 +0000

Not sure what Ponderosa’s qualm is (lazy, slow witted?). I thought this was a great piece on the song.

By: eruke

eruke — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:42:21 +0000

I suppose I write the way that I enjoy writing, and I accept any criticism, and I thank you for taking the time to read and also to post a polite comment.

By: ponderosa

ponderosa — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 01:32:05 +0000

What are you trying to say please ? Can you state your point in a sentence or two in clear English? I’m sure you’re trying to say something, because you seem passionate, I just wish you would say it without all the florid language.