Bob Dylan Loves Obama: "Redefining The Nature Of Politics"

In an exclusive interview with The Times, published in T2 today, Dylan gives a ringing endorsement to Mr Obama, the first ever black presidential candidate, claiming he is "redefining the nature of politics from the ground up".

Dylan, 67, made the comments when being interviewed in Denmark, where he stopped over in a hotel during a tour of Scandinavia.

Asked about his views on American politics, he said: "Well, you know right now America is in a state of upheaval. Poverty is demoralising. You can't expect people to have the virtue of purity when they are poor.

"But we've got this guy out there now who is redefining the nature of politics from the ground up...Barack Obama.

"He's redefining what a politician is, so we'll have to see how things play out. Am I hopeful? Yes, I'm hopeful that things might change. Some things are going to have to."

He added: "You should always take the best from the past, leave the worst back there and go forward into the future."

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[auramac]

If you read the article, it covered a lot of territory and Dylan just gave an opinion when asked about November. He's not running around wearing "Vote for Obama" buttons. He's not playing benefits. What is striking is that not only has he never endorsed anyone, to my knowledge, but he avoids politics in general- has not written a political song in decades. Politics is meaningless since the world is going to come to an end anyway. But apparently- Obama struck a chord with Dylan, too- though, as he said, it remains to be seen how well he'll deliver if given the chance. The interview itself is fascinating, and reveals how clear-headed and witty Dylan still is. And yes, you young (or old) , uneducated fools- he is a poet.

[westwind]

From an alternate take of Union Sundown by Bob Dylan, that was not released:

Need a man in the White House
With no name or important ties
As long as he understands
The shape of things to come
He can stay there till he dies

[leburg]

You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows...

Thanks, Mr. Dylan.

[duckcrackers]

I heard he just met his new girlfriend on zeebazoobawoahmumblemumble.com

[ObamaLover]

of course he is backing him.... probably donating to the campaign... in return he wants obama to legalize the reefer!

[Binea]

well then he'd be backing Ron Paul... sheesh ,the one problem I have with Ron Paul is his legalizing illegal drugs opinion.

[PlantGod72]

WOW, first JOAN BAEZ endorsed Obama earlier this year (something she had NEVER done for any politician!), and now BOB DYLAN gives an eloquent and powerful endorsement as well!!!

Truly.....the times, they are a-changing....

Thank you to BOTH these icons of the movements for civil rights and against war and poverty.

[Binea]

"One of these days and it won't be long
Going down in the valley and sing my song
I will sing it loud and sing it strong
Let the echo decide if I was right or wrong

Silvio
Silver and gold
Won't buy back the beat of a heart grown cold
-Bob Dylan and Robert Hunter

"Put your hand on my head, baby, do I have a temperature?
I see people who are supposed to know better standin' around like furniture.
There's a wall between you and what you want and you got to leap it,
Tonight you got the power to take it, tomorrow you won't have the power to
keep it.

West of the Jordan, east of the Rock of Gibraltar,
I see the burning of the stage, Curtain risin' on a new age,
See the groom still waitin' at the altar.

and lets not forget "Every grain of sand"

[nerakami]

Bob Dylan has always seen the bigger picture, the more Universal view of our human condition which is why he writes such insightful lyrics which many may not even understand cos they're so deep.

To the writer -'Before my time, and has no talent"

When you grow up in an era of the Britney Spears..."oops I did it again",
it will be difficult for you to understand Bob Dylan's poetry. It will take many years of introspection to grasp the subtleties of meanings...

[myjo]

Written 1963 - Could have been today

MASTERS OF WAR

Come you masters of war
You that build all the guns
You that build the death planes
You that build the big bombs
You that hide behind walls
You that hide behind desks
I just want you to know
I can see through your masks

You that never done nothin'
But build to destroy
You play with my world
Like it's your little toy
You put a gun in my hand
And you hide from my eyes
And you turn and run farther
When the fast bullets fly.

How much do I know
To talk out of turn
You might say that I'm young
You might say I'm unlearned
But there's one thing I know
Though I'm younger than you
Even Jesus would never
Forgive what you do

Let me ask you one question
Is your money that good
Will it buy you forgiveness
Do you think that it could
I think you will find
When your death takes its toll
All the money you made
Will never buy back your soul

And I hope that you die
And your death'll come soon
I will follow your casket
In the pale afternoon
And I'll watch while you're lowered
Down to your deathbed
And I'll stand o'er your grave
'Til I'm sure that you're dead

[longnow]

Bout time you woke up!
No Chilin like Bobby Dylan
get out AND VOTE!

[Peddler]

Congratulations to Bob Dylan.............does Bob Dylan still remember that he is Bob Dylan?

[plainsman]

...or Robert Zimmerman, for that matter.

[OddManOut]

I really don't care what Bob Dylan thinks and never have understood why he is influencial in any way. Before my time, and has no talent.

[bitabingbitabangbitaboom]

When choosing a bridge to sleep under; it`s warmer under the East/West bridge than the North/South one.



.

[OddManOut]

Right.

[waiguoren]

Good for you. You just don't understand....do you....oddmanout?

[OddManOut]

No, I guess I don't understand what the fuss is all about. I mean, he doesn't sing - he speaks through his songs and they don't speak to me.

[helonias]

And so was Jesus right?

[OddManOut]

Are apples red? Are oranges orange? Are you nuts?

[MPCarr]

Wow that's a surprise. Bob Dylan endorses Obama. Do you think he ever endorsed a Republican if his life???

When will Obama get the coveted Wilson/Plame endorsement?? What about Barbra Streisand?? Ryan Seacrest??

[bitabingbitabangbitaboom]

Dear landlord,
Please don't dismiss my case.
I'm not about to argue,
I'm not about to move to no other place.
Now, each of us has his own special gift
And you know this was meant to be true,
And if you don't underestimate me,
I won't underestimate you.



.

[neuron]

Our next Poet Laureate???

[suntzu]

I believe the selection of Poet Laureate is the job of the Librarian of Congress, but I could be wrong. He would really deserve it.

[plainsman]

He's not a poet. He's a lyricist. He'd be the first to admit it. His lyrics are very poetic, drawn from the influence of Rambo and other French surrealists, but they are not poetry. Let's leave the laureate to the Simics, Pinskys, Collins' of the country. They've worked hard at poetry all of their life and deserve a little attention. Lord knows, Dylan doesn't need any more of it.

[ObamaLover]

or the next drug czar....
takes one to know one right!

[munkii]

Come gather 'round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You'll be drenched to the bone.
If your time to you
Is worth savin'
Then you better start swimmin'
Or you'll sink like a stone
For the times they are a'changin'.

Come writers and critics
Who prophesize with your pen
And keep your eyes wide
The chance won't come again
And don't speak too soon
For the wheel's still in spin
And there's no tellin' who
That it's namin'
For the loser now
Will be later to win
For the times they are a'changin'.

Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don't stand in the doorway
Don't block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
There's a battle outside
And it is ragin'.
It'll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a'changin'.

Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don't criticize
What you can't understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is
Rapidly agin'.
Please get out of the new one
If you can't lend your hand
For the times they are a'changin'

The line it is drawn
The curse it is cast
The slow one now
Will later be fast
As the present now
Will later be past
The order is
Rapidly fadin'.
And the first one now
Will later be last
For the times they are a'changin'

[new logic]

thaks...I needed that