I had the idea for this song for a long time. I wrote the title in my notebook years ago but never got around to turning it into an actual song. Obviously, it's centered on the musical and personal relationship between Bob Dylan and Joan Baez. They sang beautifully together at the Newport Folk Festival in 1963 and they had a romantic relationship that's been written about in biographies. And they wrote songs to and about each other, particularly Joan's "Diamonds And Rust." That one’s all about Bob Dylan.
So one day I found this idea for a title scribbled on a piece of paper, that was all I had, just the title. And so that day I decided to give it a shot, and the song just seemed to write itself. I wrote a verse, which I realized was actually the chorus, and I put it at the top so the song starts off with the chorus, which is the hook, and that's a good thing, it’s not all that common but very effective when done right. Then I wrote a first verse then a second verse, and I realized that the second verse was so strong that it had to be the first verse. The references to the classic albums – Bob’s Blood On The Tracks, and Joan's Diamonds And Rust - is really powerful. Writing this one was a interesting and fun process.
There's some nice alliteration in a couple lines in the second verse and the bit about the 12 string Rickenbacker and The Byrds should make a lot of people smile. We actually used a 12-string Rickenbacker on this. And then Jay Miggins came up with the idea to add harmonica to the song, like Dylan would do, and when he did that I started to think the song sounded like it could actually be a hit. The harmonica jumps out right from the start and then Kellyann put harmony on a few lines and it became even more powerful. This might be the standout track on this album.
lyrics
I'll Be Your Dylan
(Bill Naughton, Jr.)
c 2015 Biliolga Music (ASCAP)
-chorus-
Now tell me this ain't just some time we're killin',
I'd like to know you think we're doing more than simply chillin',
'Cause if you want to play with me, you've always known I'm willin', You can be my Baez, I'll be your Dylan...
You bring your Diamonds and Rust,
I'll find my Blood On The Tracks,
I'm sure we'll get some inspiration
Listening to that,
You and I can harmonize,
Like angels that came down from heaven,
It won't take long to make up a song,
In the spirit of Baez and Dylan
-repeat chorus-
At first it'll feel like a folk song,
Three basic chords and some words,
Then my Rickenbacker 12-string
Will make it sound just like The Byrds,
It could be our masterpiece,
It might even make us a million,
Just you and me singing harmony,
As a tribute to Baez and Dylan...
-repeat chorus-
credits
from Songwriter, Volume 2 (15 songs),
released February 19, 2016
Bill Naughton, Jr.: acoustic guitar, ukulele, lead and background vocals
Kellyann Chester-Ouellette: harmony vocals
Michael Arafeh: 6 string and 12 string Rickenbacker electric guitars
Jay Miggins: harmonica
Michael Arafeh: programming from Band-In-A-Box
Michael Arafeh: recording engineer and producer
Songwriter Bill Naughton, Jr. is a former Nashville radio disc jockey - WSIX and WSM-FM - with two15 track albums of studio
demos released to showcase his original material for recording artists, producers and label A&R reps in an effort to get his songs cut by other singers. All 30 tracks, produced by Michael Arafeh at the Coffeehouse in Middletown CT, can be downloaded FREE here on Bandcamp.com. ...more
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