Rode the information highway as if it were a train
Woody Guthrie in my pocket, Jesus on a chain.
I followed you to Woodstock, took a break to surf some porn.
Shouted hallelujah as another star was born.
And it was hey, hey, get out of my way.
Altruism captivates me but I ain't gonna pay.
Hey, Hey you, out from under my foot.
Gimme what you owe me that I ain't already took.
Stopped to listen to the preacher, forgot to read the book.
Now I'm left with my accountant to fix the pills I took.
I surf polluted oceans and never catch a wave.
I can simply click a button, a Katrina victim's saved.
But hey, hey, get out of my way.
I'm bound for my own glory and you will have to pay.
Hey, hey you, you're blocking my view.
Televisions got me shopping under the pew.
Would that I could write a poem that tells the world your name.
Would you even care to hear it or even want the fame.
I got your picture on my wall, your vinyl in a stack.
My ole guitar is calling me, computer screens gone black.
And its, hey, hey, what do ya say
When you wake up full of donuts and you don't wanna pay.
Hey, hey you, could we call in the troupes
Not enough explosions in our tight little groups.
I love to sing your praises, not at all upon your mind
But I think I'm too important when I cannot tell the time.
Had every opportunity to practice what you preach
But self pity overtook me so I went back to sleep.
Singing hey, hey, get out of my way.
Ignore the brokenhearted and parrot what you say
Hey, hey you, get your hands off your gold
Cause I done decided I am something to behold.
I hear it on the corner, homeless man who sings your songs.
Can't stop to strum a bar with him, not where I belong.
Hipocritic oath I took forbids that I should act.
Only mimic your intentions and look good after fact.
Screaming hey, hey, get out of my way.
Altruism captivates me but I ain't gonna pay.
Hey, hey you, out from under my foot.
Gimme what you owe me that I ain't already took.
Author notes
Bob Dylan is one of my favorite poet because of his bluntness and ability to see through human facade and express it, even his own. It is easy for me to sing his words and read his poems and be disgruntled by the sad state of the world. The question becomes --am I willing to put my money where my mouth is-- so to speak. Hopefully this piece is a contemporary --Dillonish-- statement of how we humans fall short while claiming altruistic ideals. We are only human, after all.
The change in rhythym in alternating verses is intended.
Written October 19th, 2005
In a list
- Random Words and Other Social Statements • next in list
- Gold on The Mantle • next in list
- Silver Seconds • next in list
- Desparately Seeking Music • next in list
A contest entry
- Music ( Going For Gold ) by Rasmus.
300 points, ended July 11, 2007, 5 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
1 - 21 of 21
-
HOODWINKED !
Growing up with Dylan in my early intellectual formative years I have an abiding respect for his words and message. I think you have sucessfully achieved a Dylanesque tone in this write. It challenges one to think about accepting things at face value and blindly agreeing with the status quo. The alturstic faces we put on to impress folks fools few when our true selfish nature is so prevelant. Thanks for sharing this poem and message.
You have been Hoodwinked today by the Poetic Bandits
because WE CARE! 
Dennis
-
thankx for for entering wonderful to read
-
outstanding
In awe of your talent! I love Bob Dylan and I almost sang this poem. Instant recognition. You are a most talented writer. I liked very much the alternation - it gave the poem a lilting
affect. I am so glad to have found your poetry and you are
going on my faves list. Great stuff. -
Lol, the grammar mistakes were definately intended. I originally wrote this for a contest on Bob Dylan. I am not sure that any song about Dylan or his music or lyrics would be complete without an ain't or other slang that is common to much of his writing.
You are right. If they were not lyrics they would be subject to a much different evaluation even from my perspective. In fact, I am sure that they ring quite differently to people who are not familiar with Dylan or who did not quite appreciate his poetry or music. He was quite an individualist and often the subject of contempt of the more proper poets. But he was never really much for pleasing anyone. He just had things to say and said them boldly. He also has a large body of Christian lyrics that are done purely in his own blunt style.
Glad you stopped by
. It is always a treat when I get to return the favor and read something of yours.
-
Hmm. I think this is a good song. Not sure what I'd say if these weren't lyrics but they are. I like it because it's not the usual I love you/hate you/am hurt songs generally talk about. Also, I like your use of language and, if you meant to have grammar mistakes for more than a good rhyme, that was good too.
-
Gorgeous. Something of the snow in the sidewalk, hard like ice and opaque. Like a reflection of eyes in plexiglass. It's hard to find rhymes this good.
trick -
Lol, Meli, I really tried to justify entering another of my silvers just because you had already read and commented, but in reality, my other silvers just don't hold a candle to this one .
-
I could actually hear Dylan sining this song in that craggy-sounding voice of his! really good writing, and I enjoyed the read very much!
Jo -
I remember this write, as I was in the same contest. I felt this should of won gold, myself. Beautifully worded, with a great knowledge and respect to one of my favorite songwriters/poets.
Much respect to you for this write. This poem made me a fan of yours, if you couldn't tell from the previous two comments I left you on this poem. A most worthy contender for the gold, and thank you for submitting this to my contest. This submittal just made my job as judge tremendously harder 
. Thank you.
Bestest wishes to you
~Meli~ -
Great work but I am not sure that I can add anything other than my appreciation at the honesty and pictures that this work brings to mind. LOL Great job.
-
Sounds good to me.. very nice.
-
Thanks for the kind words, Gypsy. Dylan has been a vivid influence in my own writing. He is quite varied in topics he covered, and the man could certainly spin a tale in song better than most. He just had a different than the norm way of looking at things which is something I much appreciate about him.
Thanks again
-
Thanks so much for the comments. One of the things I always loved about Dylan is that he never tried to color himself any way but human. He could write a song directed at the wrongs of the world, but I always got the feeling that he included himself in the mix as if he were discovering his own shortcomings as he went along.
Thanks again for the comments. And for holding a contest that grabbed my attention. Glad we met and I intend to stop by from time to time to view your work as well. -
Whoa! I think you did a fantastic job on this. I love the overall tone of the piece. It feels very "Dylan" and captures alot of what he was/is all about. Well done and a great flow to this, I might add Gypsy
-
Dylan never seemed to go out with a bang, but with a feel of reality. You did a great job at capturing a contemporary theme that fits the reality of this time. And as I read it, I can hear him sing it, speak it. This is edgy and can easily be objective as well as subjective. No punches pulled at all just like his work. You got it down. I do understand what she was saying about the end but that is how he would have ended it too I feel. No revelations of any great deeds and nothing uplifting, just let it end as it began with no illusions. Thank you for writing this entry. Daoine
-
I think it will be much more effective once set to music. I like to think in my own egotistical mind that if he happened to surf past it on the internet, it would make him smile He was never much of a glory seeker. I don't think he set out to change the world, but rather to live in it at peace with himself. He mostly just did what he did because he did it. I am very glad that he allowed us to tag along for the ride
-
Well i have to listen to Dylan whenever my fellah has had one over the eight, not that i mind, you have captured the feel of him so well, i shouldn't worry about the last line, sometimes things are better going out quietly, a bang here just wouldn't be 'Dylanish'
good luck
Barb -
I really did initially consider twisting the last chorus a bit in keeping with the previous choruses, but sometimes my ideas don't fit that of my pen . The attempts I made at it were quite cheesy and sounded forced. Lol, that in itself is usually an indication that the words have said all they care to Thanks for the elaboration
Living and learning is a very good thing. You are right about the booking being a bit jumpy. I sort of like that though because it is much like simply sitting and listening to him tell a story. -
Elaborating...
While reading this, I was struck with the awe of how you actually channelled Dylan. When I was younger, being forced to listen to him for years by my father, I didn't actually see the genius of his songs, but now I appreciate them for what my father had been telling me for years. I saw that in your write. I guess I had expectations of some kind of enlightened thought at the end, but felt disappointment when finally getting to it. The fact that you did change the chorus a bit throughout the write, and then brought it down to repeating the first one also disappointed me. But when I say "disappointed" I do not in any way mean it was bad...it sounds (yes, I read it outloud. Thankfully, only my bunny was here to witness it
) perfect, I guess it was just my personal expectations. I would not ever expect you to change this due to what I personally expected. It's quite perfect the way it is.
As for ideals...I think we all carry some around that we can't/don't live up to...I know I do. I have tried to teach my children (I don't know yet if it has sunk in, my oldest is only 8) that the biggest hypocrites are the ones that claim that they aren't, at all. Everyone tends to be hypocritical at times. We live, and learn! 
BTW, if you haven't, I suggest reading Bob Dylan's autobiography. I am, at this moment, and it is quite enlightening. Though
, he tends to jump a bit. But, all in all, it's quite good.
Bestest wishes ~Meli~ -
Thank you so much for the comments. I of course, do not expect to live up to someone as talented and seasoned as Mr. Dylan. The last line is simply a repeat of the first chorus in keeping with the verse--chorus pattern. I would be interested to hear your take and ideas on it. I probably won't change this piece, but I would like to hear more because it will probably give me something to take with me into future pieces. Was it a let down for you because it was a repeat? Lol, draw me a picture 'cause the coffee ain't kicked in
The first lines came to me as a result of knowing that throughout my life I looked at Bob Dylan much in the same manner he viewed Woody. Only difference was, I viewed Dillon through a television and a radio--we didnt have the internet in the olden days . But we did have a tendency to stand against anything we viewed as --adult--. I had high ideals in those days. but didnt do much about it other than run my mouth and get in trouble. Toward my late twenties I woke up to the fact that I had basically only parroted what I heard and that my behavior did not reflect my words. While I still have high ideals, I am aware of my own tendency toward hipocracy and am able to behave a bit more in line with my own beliefs
Again, thanks so much for the feedback and I do hope you will elaborate a bit
-
Outstanding!
Very "Dylanish" (as in Bob, of course). I quite enjoyed this...could even hear this sang in the same genre as Bob (folk, of course). I love how you incorporated Woody Guthrie, especially in light of Dylan's somewhat "worship" of the man, and Jesus, as he began to turn towards christianity later on in his life.
The only disappointment (sorry) that I found in this write was the ending line...which I thought was a bit of a let-down after reading the rest of the write. Beyond that, I say you've done a good job channeling (sp?) Dylan. As a long time listener (and a well of forced knowledge of the man) this is quite well done, especially in keeping with the "Dylanish" theme.
Good luck in the contest.
Bestest of wishes to you and all that other mushy, gushy stuff ~Meli~
Adding your comment:
1 - 21 of 21
