Abandoned Love
The first known
recording of Abandoned Love is an apparent
impromptu performance at the Other End in the Village (July 3, 1975).
This performance is a favorite of many (a rmd'er was the taper)
and
most consider it superior to the Biograph version (an outtake from Desire).
Compiled: October 13, 1996
Subject: Abandoned Song
From: Patricia Jungwirth (tricia.j@AARDVARK.APANA.ORG.AU)
Date: 1995/07/15
Sadie
Jane asked for details on Abandoned Love (Biograph). The first known recording
of this song is from the Other End club, New York, 3 July 1975. Dylan performed
back-up for Jack Elliott on two songs (Pretty Boy Floyd/How long) then
performed Abandoned Love, solo, a song which Clinton Heylin says (in Stolen
Moments) he probably wrote that week.
Here are the
original lyrics from that recording (somewhat different from those on the
Biograph take, which was cut in the studio later in July).
I can hear the
turning of the key
I've been deceived by the clown inside of me
I thought that he was righteous but he's vain
Something's telling me, I wear the ball and chain.
My patron
saint is fighting with a ghost
He's always off somewhere when I need him most.
The Spanish moon is rising on the hill
But my heart is telling me, I love you still.
I come back to
the town from the flaming moon,
I see you in the street, I begin to swoon.
I love to see you dress before the mirror
Won't you let me in your room one time, before I disappear.
Everybody's
wearing a disguise
To hide what they've got left behind their eyes
But me I can't cover what I am
Wherever the children go, I'll follow them.
I can't play
the game no more, I can't abide
By their stupid rules which get me sick inside.
They've been made by men who've given up the search,
Whose gods are dead and whose queens are in the church.
I march in the
parade of liberty
But as long as I love you I'm not free.
How long must I suffer such abuse?
Won't you let me see you smile, before I cut you loose.
Send out for
St John the Evangelist,
All my friends are drunk, they can be dismissed.
My head says that it's time to make a change,
But my heart is telling me, I love you but you're strange.
So step
lightly darling near the wall.
Put on your heavy make-up, wear your shawl.
Won't you descend from the throne from where you sit
Let me feel your love one more time, before I abandon it.
CD:
Songs for Patty Valentine. Wanted Man Music. WMM 038.
MON WM 38
This CD also has 3 songs from Renaldo & Clara (People get ready/Never let
me go/It ain't me babe)
Plus
3 songs from John Hammond TV show (Oh sister/Twist of fate/Hurricane)
Plus
the original Hurricane studio take July 28 1975 Rita Mae 30 July 1975
Plus
the Jack Elliott songs from the Other End (Pretty Boy Floyd/How long)
A *GREAT* CD!!!!
BTW Brian, I don't get how you see this as being from a WOMAN's POV???
Tricia J
Subject:
abandoned song
From:edu@edlis.org (Eduardo Ricardo)
Date: 1995/07/26
Peter W. Callas (pcallas@moose.uvm.edu) wrote:
: Dylan also played this song live once (3 July 1975). It is available on : "Songs for Patty Valentine" and probably other boots.
Dignity / Bob Dylan [26 October 1962 - 1 November 1992]
Moonlight Records, ML 9502, 1995
Czech Republic
OSA
TSP [presumably not The Swingin' Pig?]
Bar code: 5 419950 095021
Matrix: ML 9502
: Also, do I recall that George Harrison did this song on an album or in
: concert or something like that?
Artifacts III - The Definitive Collection Of Beatles Rarities
1969-1994 / The Beatles...4 CDs
BigBx 009, [1995]
Disk 4
track 5 - Abandoned Love (Harrison (sic)) - George's version
Lot's of Dylan among these 102 tracks. Dylan on some songs, parody
of Dylan, Dylan songs, Dylan photographs.
Does anyone have this album?
From:
Ray Schweighardt (rainman@CYBERNEX.NET)
Subject: Abandoned Love
Date: Fri, 31 May 1996 00:32:21 -0400
"warrenb@linet.com" (warrenb@LI.NET) wrote:
>Also, I just got a recording of Dylan doing 'Abandoned Love' at a
>place called 'The Other End' (not 'The Bitter End') on July 3, 1976.
>Supposedly, the story is that there was a snowstorm that night, and Dylan
>just kinda came in and played. It is one of the best performances (one>song) that I have ever heard. Incredible. If anyone knows anything
>about this, I would appreciate any more information. i.e. does this>recording appear on any boots or is it pretty much uncirculated?
You
have come across what I consider the single (as in single song) greatest live
performance Dylan ever gave.
It's July 3,
Nineteen Seventy-FIVE, by the way. Since it generally doesn't snow in New York
in July, I find your story highly suspect. It was actually a Jack Elliot
concert that Dylan happened to show up at, and after backing Jack on two songs,
Dylan took the spotlight for this single performance.
This
performance has appeared on bootleg, most notably on the compilation "Dignity".
It's been circulating for years (Paul Cable gushed over it in his book in
1978).
rainman
-------
"All my friends are drunk,
They can be dismissed."
From: Joe Kivak (JoeKivak@AOL.COM)
Subject: Abandoned Love
Date: Fri, 31 May 1996 20:19:57 -0400
>Rainman Wrote: you have come across what i consider the single
>(as in song) greatest live performance Dylan ever gave.
I
agree with this as i was at that show an i was the one who taped it. I was
sitting right under Dylan. At my table was Paul Siebel, Larry Estridge &
Mayer Vishner. I can never forget the power that came out of every line in that
song. Every line was better that the last one...It was an amazing moment that
will stay with everyone who was in that room the rest of our lives.
When Dylan
came up he was very nervous an for the first 2 songs he had the capo on the
guitar crooked an it was buzzing the strings but he never noticed. He nervous
an shy. Then after the second song (which Dylan never sang on,near the end of
the song Jack looked at Dylan to sing a verse an Dylan shook his head no an
then the song ended) For the first 2 songs they where both sitting down. Then
Dylan asked Jack if he could use his guitar ("Can I Use Yours?"). An
they switched guitars..An Dylan stood up for the next song an Jack diddent know
what was coming an was gonna play with Dylan..But once Dylan started the song
Jack moved to the back and just listened, Amazed like everyone else..And after
Dylan sat down Jack started to do his next song an then realized he had the
other guitar..That's how much in awe he was at what he just heard. Dylan had
just out of nowhere blew everyone away with this song an then walks off an sits
back down. An now its up to Jack who like ever one else couldent believe what
he just heard.
After the show
was over we took the tape up to WBAI where Mayer Vishner was doing a show an
played at about 4 in the morning.. Then the sun came up an it was now the 4th
of July... A night i'll never forget.
Joe Kivak
My Head Says
That Its Time To Make A Change....
Subject:
Abandoned Love
From: Ray Schweighardt (rainman@CYBERNEX.NET)
Date: 1996/06/01
>Date: Fri, 31 May 1996 20:19:57 -0400>From: Joe Kivak (JoeKivak@AOL.COM)>Subject: Abandoned Love
>
>>Rainman Wrote: you have come across what i consider the single
>>(as in song)greatest live performance Dylan ever gave.
>
>I agree with this as i was at that show an i was the one who taped it.
Joe --
Let me say, with all sincerity, THANK YOU for preserving this moment on
tape. If I ever have to explain in a mere 5 minutes why I have a room full of live Bob Dylan tapes, I would simply play that tape.
rainman
-------
"I thought that he was righteous,
but he's vain."
