The Basement Types; interpreted
Amanda DeFrehn
Professor T.J. Boynton
English 201
1 April 2014 In the book, The Old Weird America, the author, Greil Marcus, interprets Bob Dylan’s album, The Basement Tapes, and its “weird” views on the old America. Marcus compares Dylan’s music to several well-known people’s music and speeches in such a way to support his argument about how past historical events affected the public eye. He believes that the mood, instrumentation, and not as noticeably, the lyrics all lead up to the fear, wonder, and curiosity for when Judgment Day will arrive. He portrays the album as an America where the puritans were against the pioneers, suggesting the Puritans settled the land where they were free to practice religion while pioneers settled the land in hopes of a better America where dreams could come true without religion and politics being the motivation.
My view of the Basement Tapes album by Bob Dylan, is that many of the songs in the album have to do with relationships- break-ups, broken promises, and commitments. The characters in many of his songs- “Bessie Smith”, “Odds and Ends”, and “Orange Juice Blues”, just to name a few, all have to do with being treated poorly in a relationship, being over a relationship, or wanting a relationship back. I feel like the songs are trying to accomplish the concept of a healthy, happy relationship.
According to Marcus, the mood of the music implies people’s feelings while waiting on the world to end. He suggests people are lingering in fear and curiosity as to when the time will come. “– a sense of visitation, the smell of fear, the appearance of the unwanted, ten nights in a barroom and the thrill of waiting around for the end of the world” (65), explaining why Marcus would involve Judgment Day to his interpretation. “…every now and then with visions hanging in the sky before them, Judgment Day or just weather they can’t tell” (64), Marcus suggests the Puritans and pioneers would envision either the weather or Judgment
Professor T.J. Boynton
English 201
1 April 2014 In the book, The Old Weird America, the author, Greil Marcus, interprets Bob Dylan’s album, The Basement Tapes, and its “weird” views on the old America. Marcus compares Dylan’s music to several well-known people’s music and speeches in such a way to support his argument about how past historical events affected the public eye. He believes that the mood, instrumentation, and not as noticeably, the lyrics all lead up to the fear, wonder, and curiosity for when Judgment Day will arrive. He portrays the album as an America where the puritans were against the pioneers, suggesting the Puritans settled the land where they were free to practice religion while pioneers settled the land in hopes of a better America where dreams could come true without religion and politics being the motivation.
My view of the Basement Tapes album by Bob Dylan, is that many of the songs in the album have to do with relationships- break-ups, broken promises, and commitments. The characters in many of his songs- “Bessie Smith”, “Odds and Ends”, and “Orange Juice Blues”, just to name a few, all have to do with being treated poorly in a relationship, being over a relationship, or wanting a relationship back. I feel like the songs are trying to accomplish the concept of a healthy, happy relationship.
According to Marcus, the mood of the music implies people’s feelings while waiting on the world to end. He suggests people are lingering in fear and curiosity as to when the time will come. “– a sense of visitation, the smell of fear, the appearance of the unwanted, ten nights in a barroom and the thrill of waiting around for the end of the world” (65), explaining why Marcus would involve Judgment Day to his interpretation. “…every now and then with visions hanging in the sky before them, Judgment Day or just weather they can’t tell” (64), Marcus suggests the Puritans and pioneers would envision either the weather or Judgment
Cited: Marcus, Greil. The Old, Weird America: The World of Bob Dylan 's Basement Tapes. New York: Picador, 2011. Print. Dylan, Bob. The Basement Tapes. Columbia, 1975. CD.