When I started this weekly post of different cover songs I knew that I would have an endless supply of material thanks to Robert Zimmerman. A friend even joked that I could do a year of Tuesdays devoted to the master of my ears desire. He was right and here’s another one that I’m particularly fond of.
I imagine that bands and artists cover Dylan due to his stripped down arrangements that allow for alteration, improvisation, and an “I wonder what that song would sound like with…” quality. That and the fact that his words are as comforting and as warming as an electric blanket or a bowl of tortilla soup. My own lifelong devotion is due to multiple lyrical TKOs. In my mind his music personifies a perfect balance of emotion. His characters can be as trained and mentally conditioned as a kung fu master with heart of gold or as stoic as Caesar with overflowing ventricles.
Here, as in many of my favorites, the listener peers in on the eternal solitary man as he searches for and laments a lost companion. He sings an honest tale of his loss only so that he can remember and then forget. Wonderful thoughts of a gal that was his love swell his brain as he moves further and further away from her. ”Girl From the North Country” was first released on The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan in 1963 and as you can see it was recorded in the very folky early Dylan-era sound. Rerecorded with Johnny Cash and sung in the less strained vocal styling that can be found all over Nashville Skyline and his other late 60’s albums this duet adds a nice contrast. Listen to hear Dylan singing in the voice of the emotional wanderer and Cash as a calloused over outlaw. It’s a very fitting recording when considering my assessment a paragraph above.
And now I have a confession to make. I had something else picked out for today but after repeated listens to the Link Wray version rattled my walls woke up my neighbors, I was forced to make a lineup change. I’ve got a feeling that if I didn’t tell you that it was recorded in 1965 you just might buy that this lo fi recording that drowns in jingle jangle was recorded in some shitty studio in Montreal or Brooklyn. If you listen to ONE song LOUD this tuesdaY, make it Link Wray’s version of “Girl From the North Country.” You won’t be sorry.
Lastly is a live version by M. Ward, Conor Oberst, Jim James, and Mike Mogis otherwise known as Monsters of Folk. This was recorded on their 2003 tour that gave them the idea to congeal their talents together and release a record. While I appreciate and enjoy all of them, JJ and Mike Mogis shine! Happy tuesdaY y’all!
MP3: Bob Dylan- Girl From the North Country (original)
MP3: Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash- Girl From the North Country
MP3: Link Wray- Girl From the North Country
MP3: (pre) Monsters of Folk- Girl From the North Country
