It’s been a a few day since the last post. Well, almost two weeks. Sorry about that. I went on holiday to Berlin for a few days and spent the last week just getting myself together. Also, I knew that this song was coming up next and it’s quite a big one. I wasn’t sure how to approach writing about it. Still not too sure now so I’m stalling for time through this paragraph. Though as you can tell from the video above, the track is ‘Idiot Wind’ by Bob Dylan. For a very long time his songs weren’t available on YouTube so I’m very lucky that I can do this now.

Blood on the Tracks is the album on which ‘Idiot Wind’ can be found. Recorded in September and December of 1974 and released in January 1975, it is said to have been influenced by the personal turmoil Dylan was going through at the time – particularly the dissolution of marriage from his then-wife Sara Dylan. Dylan maintained that none of the songs were confessional in any way. Still, it is widely recognised as one of his best efforts and the archetypal “break-up” album.

‘Idiot Wind’ is the arguable emotional centerpiece of the whole album. (I’ve always thought that the album name was taken from lyrics in this song, that’s neither here nor there.) Within it is one of Dylan’s wildest vocal performances – shouting, wailing, groans, they’re all there. So vivid, I can picture him spitting all over the microphone with the way he delivers some words. He’ll drag out a syllable to make it rhyme with one that’s come before, he’ll stuff a whole line of words into a few seconds in time to the rhythm before leaping to a soaring yell. It’s very dynamic, and definitely the most engaging vocal take out of all the Dylan songs I’ve come to like. Every line is evocative and visually descriptive in their own ways though compared to his surreal and cryptic lyricism of the 60s, his words here (and throughout the album) are honest and sincere which makes this track all the more brutal to take.

Dylan’s voice really carries the song’s momentum, but it is also aided by this loud Hammond organ (also played by Bob) that pops in and out of the track at various points. You can hear it in your left ear. There’s something about that organ that makes everything seem so much more poignant when listening to the lyrics and music. Without that organ, it would be another acoustic-based performance on the album. That instrument takes it to another level.

The track is one of frustration, anger, and regret spread out for almost eight minutes in eight striking verses and its cathartic, biting chorus. It all seems to capture Bob at this sort of breaking point which makes for a real enthralling listen. It’s not so much a song as it is a journey. A bit melodramatic, that statement, but that’s just how I feel.

Below is another version of the song that was made during the album sessions. Whereas the official version emphasises the song’s anger, this version emphasises its sadness.