Mike Johnson
The four songs on Side B of the 1965 Album, Bringing It All Back Home represent the pinnacle of Dylan’s acoustic achievement.’Mr Tambourine Man,’ ’Gates of Eden,’ ’It’s Alright Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)’ and ’It’s All Over Now Baby Blue’ are vintage, quintessential Dylan, a climax to four years of musical and lyrical development. They encapsulate the early, acoustic Dylan, and surpass that development, extending his emotional and lyrical range.Mike Johnson delves into these songs and traces their history from their first performances to their last, and provides the reader with links to sound files. You can listen as you read.Johnson argues that the popular view that Dylan gave up protest to write more personal and surreal songs is simplistic, and that the spirit of protest is very alive in these songs, with ’It’s Alright Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)’ being the most ferocious, and best, of all his protest songs. 6
