Today’s Celtic letter “Z” is dedicated to Zimmy, aka Robert Allen Zimmerman, aka Bob Dylan.

Last night I listened to a real treat of a 2-disc set of The Bootleg Series Vol. 5: Bob Dylan Live 1975, The Rolling Thunder Revue.   One thing I noticed right away is how enthusiastic the audiences are. They are crazy for Bob, especially when he plays his harmonica and goes acoustic. By the same token, Bob plays with a lot of passion and seems appreciative of the audiences appreciation. He isn’t backed by The Band here, and even though the guitar work is good, it isn’t Robbie Robertson. He sings at least 3 or 4 songs with Joan Baez. Joan has a beautiful voice, and the harmonies she and Bob sing couldn’t be better between his and her voices, but after the second song they sang together, her voice started to grate on me as it was blocking Bob’s voice. Three of the first 5 songs on disc 1 are set to different rhythms and melodies but are recognized by the lyrics. On disc 2, I missed Emmylou Harris’ voice on Oh, Sister. If any song on these 2 discs needed a female voice, that was the one. A man backed Bob up on it, and it just wasn’t the same.

From wikipedia:
The album was released by Columbia Records in 2002. The third installment in the ongoing Bob Dylan Bootleg Series on Legacy Records, it documents the Rolling Thunder Revue led by Dylan prior to the release of the album Desire. Until the release of this album, the only official live documentation of the Rolling Thunder Revue was Hard Rain, recorded during the (less critically well received) second leg of the tour. [If you go to wikipedia, you’ll see exactly where every song was recorded and the date it was recorded.  You’ll also see the stellar line-up of musicians; it’s impressive!]

This is another situation where it is very difficult to choose just one song. Because anyone who hasn’t heard this song needs to hear it at least once.

The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll is a topical song, recorded on October 23, 1963, and released on Dylan’s 1964 album, The Times They Are a-Changin’. When Carroll was killed in 1963, Charles County was still strictly segregated by race in public facilities such as restaurants, churches, theaters, doctor’s offices, buses and the county fair. The schools of Charles County were not integrated until 1967.

I’m putting a youtube of a “cleaner” version of the song first, as it is important that it isn’t jazzed up.  I’ll include the Rolling Thunder version after the lyrics.

William Zanzinger killed poor Hattie Carroll
With a cane that he twirled around his diamond ring finger
At a Baltimore hotel society gathering
And the cops were called in and his weapon took from him
As they rode him in custody down to the station
And booked William Zanzinger for first-degree murder
But you who philosophize disgrace and criticize all fears
Take the rag away from your face
Now ain’t the time for your tears
William Zanzinger, who at twenty-four years
Owns a tobacco farm of six hundred acres
With rich wealthy parents who provide and protect him
And high office relations in the politics of Maryland
Reacted to his deed with a shrug of his shoulders
And swear words and sneering, and his tongue it was snarling
In a matter of minutes, on bail was out walking
But you who philosophize disgrace and criticize fears
Take the rag away from your face
Now ain’t the time for your tears
Hattie Carroll was a maid in the kitchen
She was fifty-one years old and gave birth to ten children
Who carried the dishes and took out the garbage
And never sat once at the head of the table
And didn’t even talk to the people at the table
Who just cleaned up all the food from the table
And emptied the ashtrays on a whole other level
Got killed by a blow, lay slain by a cane
That sailed through the air and came down through the room
Doomed and determined to destroy all the gentle
And she never done nothing to William Zanzinger
And you who philosophize disgrace and criticize all fears
Take the rag away from your face
Now ain’t the time for your tears
In the courtroom of honor, the judge pounded his gavel
To show that all’s equal and that the courts are on the level
And that the strings in the books ain’t pulled and persuaded
And that even the nobles get properly handled
Once that the cops have chased after and caught ’em
And that the ladder of law has no top and no bottom
Stared at the person who killed for no reason
Who just happened to be feelin’ that way without warnin’
And he spoke through his cloak, most deep and distinguished
And handed out strongly, for penalty and repentance
William Zanzinger with a six-month sentence
Oh, but you who philosophize disgrace and criticize all fears
Bury the rag deep in your face
For now’s the time for your tears
Songwriters: Bob Dylan