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Bob Dylan — Positively 4th Street
Album: single
Avg rating:
7.6

Your rating:
Total ratings: 2297









Released: 1965
Length: 3:51
Plays (last 30 days): 0
You got a lotta nerve
To say you are my friend
When I was down
You just stood there grinning

You got a lotta nerve
To say you got a helping hand to lend
You just want to be on
The side that's winning

You say I let you down
You know it's not like that
If you're so hurt
Why then don't you show it?

You say you lost your faith
But that's not where it's at
You had no faith to lose
And you know it

I know the reason
That you talk behind my back
I used to be among the crowd
You're in with

Do you take me for such a fool
To think I'd make contact
With the one who tries to hide
What he don't know to begin with?

You see me on the street
You always act surprised
You say, "How are you?", "Good luck"
But you don't mean it

When you know as well as me
You'd rather see me paralyzed
Why don't you just come out once
And scream it?

No, I do not feel that good
When I see the heartbreaks you embrace
If I was a master thief
Perhaps I'd rob them

And now I know you're dissatisfied
With your position and your place
Don't you understand
It's not my problem?

I wish that for just one time
You could stand inside my shoes
And just for that one moment
I could be you

Yes, I wish that for just one time
You could stand inside my shoes
You'd know what a drag it is
To see you
Comments (308)add comment
So what's the story? Who is this song about?
 cbazinet wrote:

Doesn't age well.  Yikes.



You should let Brother Bob know. 


Doesn't age well.  Yikes.
 solrac wrote:

His music will NEVER die, long live RP


Is that a good thing or a bad thing?
Ugh, so overplayed...
Still one of the best written "F U's" of all time. 
His music will NEVER die, long live RP

"Don't you understand
It's not my problem?"

ahhhh

sing on  Brother Bob
 thewiseking wrote:

what does all this have to do with 4th Street?



Greenwich Village, where Dylan spent a lot of time earning his creds. It is speculated the song is about some of the people there on the club scene who blew him off.
what a drag it is to see you
words for an ex-wife
Why would you want to be them even for one moment?  
An absolute masterwork.  Truly life changing.
what does all this have to do with 4th Street?
 BBP wrote:

That is how break up songs have to be: completley unfair and over the top!



He discovered the cruel paradox by which we always deceive ourselves twice about the people we love -- first to their advantage, then to their disadvantage.
Albert Camus
And Bobby is touring now...in March 2022!!!

Get on the road brother. 
 mattenuttall wrote:

Yeah, Don't Think Twice is top notch and a lot more subtle than this song. But what about Idiot Wind?


This is not a break up song.  It's about phonies - generally.   
 Sweet_Virginia wrote:
I would put don't think twice it's alright against this for the break up title...
 
Yeah, Don't Think Twice is top notch and a lot more subtle than this song. But what about Idiot Wind?
speechless, awhstruck,thanx.
That is how break up songs have to be: completley unfair and over the top!
Man, listening to Dylan, I wonder what would happen if Corgan was from all yall generation...

You'd love him lol I bet
I would put don't think twice it's alright against this for the break up title...
I agree with you Bill...a great break-up song.  Might I also suggest So Long by Fischer Z?
Rating to me 9 down to   3  and I skip
Love this song.

Bob Dylan:  public enforcer of norms and social conventions.  

Terrific cathartic rant.  
 justin4kick wrote:
Not that it ain't good enough as it is but adding a chorus to the song could have made it a lot better.
 
Many of Dylan's best-known songs do not have choruses.  He deliberately avoided them often, e.g.: "Subterranean Homesick Blues", "All Along The Watchtower", “Tangled Up In Blue”, etc.  A lot of "traditional" folk songs didn't have choruses or bridges.
 justin4kick wrote:
Not that it ain't good enough as it is but adding a chorus to the song could have made it a lot better.
 
How so?
Not that it ain't good enough as it is but adding a chorus to the song could have made it a lot better.
 Emwolb wrote:

Yes, I wish that for just one time
You could stand inside my shoes
You'd know what a drag it is
To see you
 

As the Reverend Billy C. Wirtz said:

Never judge a man until you've walked a mile in his shoes.  That way if he turns out to be an asshole you're a mile away.  And you've got his shoes!
 gmsingh123 wrote:
How many people meeting Trump for the first time thought of this song?

 
Yes, I wish that for just one time
You could stand inside my shoes
You'd know what a drag it is
To see you
The late Jimmy LaFave was a huge Dylan fan and always worked several covers into his albums and shows.  He and his band recorded a great live version on his first "Trails" album.  Well worth a listen.
How many people meeting Trump for the first time thought of this song?

 hosayf wrote:

Please play this more. Not to get carried away, but I think Bob had a bit to do with the creation of the
modern "diss track."

 
You know it!  Before Bob came around with his harsh lyrics and re-tooling of the classic "love" song to include themes of despair and distaste, well it was mostly "hold my hand" or "so good together" type songs. 

And for all those who don't "get" Bob's songs; here's to you and your life without lost love!  I for one, having hurt and been hurt, unfortunately feel his songs right in my soul.  Like it was written by him, for me, and I wish I could also say "I don't get Bob's music."

Alas, here I am, more than 50 years after this came out, still feeling his pain and enjoying his parting shots.  PEACE and Long Live RP!!


Please play this more. Not to get carried away, but I think Bob had a bit to do with the creation of the
modern "diss track."
Ah...nothing's better than when Bobby is full of piss and vinegar. 
Yes Bob but the only thing worse than "friends" is being alone
I suppose nowadays someone would call this Frenemies
Another Dylan track in which the title of the song is never in the lyrics. Rainy Day Women and others. 
{#Daisy}{#Kiss}{#Daisy}
I don't recall where I heard it but seem to remember the lyrics were aimed at Richard & Mimi Fariña.
 treatment_bound wrote:

Wow!  Didn't know Johnny R. covered this.  I'm going to search for it on the interwebs right now.

Side note:

Why doesn't anybody remember Johnny Rivers these days?  He had a whole bunch of hits (some were covers), but they still sound nice on the rare occasion when I do hear one . 

 
Agreed!  Mountain of Love and Poor Side of Town come to mind.

After weeks and weeks of hanging around 
I finally got a job in New York town
In a bigger place, bigger money too 
Even joined the union and paid my dues

Now, a very great man once said
That some people rob you with a fountain pen
It don't take too long to find out 
Just what he was talking about
A lot of people don't have much food on their table
But they got a lot of forks and knives
And they gotta cut something


 Proclivities wrote:

Johnny Rivers covered it, allegedly Dylan said he preferred that version.

 
Wow!  Didn't know Johnny R. covered this.  I'm going to search for it on the interwebs right now.

Side note:

Why doesn't anybody remember Johnny Rivers these days?  He had a whole bunch of hits (some were covers), but they still sound nice on the rare occasion when I do hear one . 
 baylees wrote:
The lyrics!

Has anyone ever covered this song?   

 
Johnny Rivers covered it, allegedly Dylan said he preferred that version.
It'd be better as spoken word poetry, preferably by someone else.  One.

This is the most perfect line:

And now I know you're dissatisfied
With your position and your place
Don't you understand
It's not my problem?
I wish that for just one time
You could stand inside my shoes
And just for that one moment
I could be you
Yes, I wish that for just one time
You could stand inside my shoes
You'd know what a drag it is
To see you

That is if I ever felt the need to tell someone just exactly that.  It is a classic line. 


So if Bobby now decides to turn his back on RnR and go back to exclusively playing folk, does he write another 4th street to piss off all the RbR fans?

Ha! 
I'm pretty sure this is 4th Street.
Bob, what do you think?
Class

This song was evidently not written about the woman who 'discovered' His Bobness, but did introduce him to record producers, the public  the limelight and her stage, only to have him refuse her any of the same courtesies in return. 
After 44 years BD finally said he felt bad about the breakup (in Toronto} but notably, not to her. 

Now we need to hear Diamonds and Rust. 
 Aud wrote:


I remember that place. Electric Fetus is still around

 
Aud, remember this sign when you walked in?  It was a great way to get two albums (usually about a year old or so) for about 5 bucks. You'd play them once or twice (unless it was "Never Mind the Bollocks", which will be 40 years old in 2017, but is still considered unsafe for ears here, there and everywhere) and then they'd get filed away for years!


 WonderLizard wrote:
So, a couple of nights ago during dinner, we're playing Rhino's original Nuggets compilation among which is "No Time Like the Right Time" by Blues Project with Al Kooper on organ. I explained to my daughter's best friend, who is a college DJ, that this was the same Al Kooper who wrote "This Diamond Ring" and played keyboards, mostly organ, on Dylan's electric coming out, Bringing It  All Back Home, Highway 61 Revisited, and this seminal single. "Al who?"

 
In defense of your daughter's friend, Kooper by his own admission didn't have much business playing the organ during those recording sessions. He thought he'd be able to play guitar on them until he heard Mike Bloomfield play. Kooper says he brazened his way into playing the organ on the disorganized sessions for "Like a Rolling Stone" and only stuck because Dylan liked the strange way he played. 

https://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/3859bc-interview-with-al-kooper-part-1-of-4 
Arghhhhh! PSD!!! PSD!!!
Dylan better not say stuff like that on "social media"
The lyrics!

Has anyone ever covered this song?   
{#Crown}
 treatment_bound wrote:
Used to shop here back in the day in SE Mpls.—-it stayed open until midnight!

Pretty sure I bought "London Calling" on double-vinyl for the low-low price of $8.99 the day it came out THIRTY-FIVE YEARS AGO THIS MONTH!

Another indie record store gone to that great big cut-out bin in the sky...
 

I remember that place. Electric Fetus is still around
 Steely_D wrote:


 
{#Iamwithstupid}
Such negativity for a 60's song

 squidish wrote:
Nowadays we call this a rant. 

 
{#Roflol},......yeah, I guess you are correct.{#Laughing}
 treatment_bound wrote:
 boober wrote:

I'm a huge Al Kooper fan. Blood Sweat and Tears anybody?

 


There's a new radio station in Chicago (87.7) playing songs from the 60's & 70's which haven't been beaten to death like the same 250 or so songs you always hear on regular "oldies stations", and I punch it up occasionally driving in.  

Heard BS&W's version of Goffin & King's "Hi-De-Ho" yesterday for the first time in YEARS, and it sounded great.  But I'm pretty sure Al Kooper was gone by then, right?

 
Yeah, That be David Clayton Thomas...
Nowadays we call this a rant. 
 Proclivities wrote:

I'd often heard that this tune was about Phil Ochs but it could be about any number of people.

 
Many teenage male found this the ultimate summation of feelings toward restrictive parents. I heard doors slam and this song, particularly last verse, played very loudly. Perfect "Loose You" response vs todays more angry and violent response to limitations of youthful tugs of exploration and calls to adventure.

Do they even teach "Call of the"Wild" any more-? Did it lose out to more urban tales of some -ism-?

Great music list this morning. Dylan, "Positively 4th Street", CCR, "Bad Moon Rising", Jill Barber, "Oh My My".
Outbreak of "Happy Feet at RP-?  

Please keep it up... 

Ja genau Robert Zimmermann
 boober wrote:

I'm a huge Al Kooper fan. Blood Sweat and Tears anybody?

 


There's a new radio station in Chicago (87.7) playing songs from the 60's & 70's which haven't been beaten to death like the same 250 or so songs you always hear on regular "oldies stations", and I punch it up occasionally driving in.  

Heard BS&T's version of Goffin & King's "Hi-De-Ho" yesterday for the first time in YEARS, and it sounded great.  But I'm pretty sure Al Kooper was gone by then, right?
 WonderLizard wrote:
So, a couple of nights ago during dinner, we're playing Rhino's original Nuggets compilation among which is "No Time Like the Right Time" by Blues Project with Al Kooper on organ. I explained to my daughter's best friend, who is a college DJ, that this was the same Al Kooper who wrote "This Diamond Ring" and played keyboards, mostly organ, on Dylan's electric coming out, Bringing It  All Back Home, Highway 61 Revisited, and this seminal single. "Al who?"

 
I'm a huge Al Kooper fan. Blood Sweat and Tears anybody?

Somethin's goin on- my favorite cut from that album.


 mattenuttall wrote:
Could Dylan be singing to his fans?
 
I'd often heard that this tune was about Phil Ochs but it could be about any number of people.
Could Dylan be singing to his fans?
Used to shop here back in the day in SE Mpls.—-it stayed open until midnight!

Pretty sure I bought "London Calling" on double-vinyl for the low-low price of $8.99 the day it came out THIRTY-FIVE YEARS AGO THIS MONTH!

Another indie record store gone to that great big cut-out bin in the sky...
The ultimate FU break-up song.
 Lazarus wrote:

I live in a homeless camp now...
 

Laz, pick yourself up, dust off, and get moving again!
You just want to be on the side that's winning!!


For all you naysayers...just listen to this song...and you get a sense of what Bob thinks about your likes and dislikes.

He doesn't care! 

We should all be so true to ourselves.

Amen, brother Bob, Amen.     
 Djoy wrote:
BOBCAT!
There's just no accounting for the peculiarities of taste.  I find all the negativity about Dylan to be shocking.

 
...and I find all the adulation tiring.  Ah well, diff'rent strokes, as they say.  PSD for me.
Love this set... Avetts, Indigos, Hiatt, Dylan. Lovely. 
Damn, can't find the Play Again Button.
BOBCAT!
There's just no accounting for the peculiarities of taste.  I find all the negativity about Dylan to be shocking.
 gemtag wrote:
IMO, humble or not, Bob Dylan is one of the most overrated singer-songwriters ever. to me it's an emperor's new clothes thing. Everybody says he's great so he must be. People are cattle.

I find his voice intolerable, his tunes sophomoric and his lyrics pseudo-intellectual masturbation.

Maybe somebody will write a nice song or message ala Bob Dylan about me now. 

 
Your comment sounds like "pseudo-intellectual masturbation". Just saying, you are entitled to your opinion....
For all the ridiculous haters out there, and I know you are just a very loud minority, you apparently like rock and roll.

Ok - so please find a comprehensive set of interviews where your favorite rock and roll performers/artists discuss their musical influences.

Good - now, since this is already 2014 check out interviews of these first level influences on who influenced them.

OK - great - now tell me in percentages, how many of these influencers  A) Worship Dylan B) Hate Dylan or C) Don't mention Dylan

My expectation is that his musical sons and daughters and grandsons and granddaughters are so numerous that the numbers will come out something along the lines of: A) 80-85% B) 0 - 5% and C) 10% - 20%

Report back when you are done. 
On of the best songs ever.
I'd still never buy a Dylan release, but I've learned to appreciate him over the years and will always take a listen to one of his songs.
This post apparently contained an image that was dragged into the post editor. Sorry, but any text contained in the post after this point has been lost.
Is 11 available?
 gemtag wrote:
IMO, humble or not, Bob Dylan is one of the most overrated singer-songwriters ever. to me it's an emperor's new clothes thing. Everybody says he's great so he must be. People are cattle.

I find his voice intolerable, his tunes sophomoric and his lyrics pseudo-intellectual masturbation.

Maybe somebody will write a nice song or message ala Bob Dylan about me now. 

 
I'm on your side, buddy!


 tiggers wrote:

Change churches... soon!

I can sing better than this and I can't carry a tune in a bucket!
 
I live in a homeless camp now...  everybody in my homeless camp loves this song...  hope life is grand for you these days, tiggers...
{#Crown} {#Crown}   {#Crown} {#Crown}  {#Crown}    10+
10, next
 gemtag wrote:
IMO, humble or not, Bob Dylan is one of the most overrated singer-songwriters ever. to me it's an emperor's new clothes thing. Everybody says he's great so he must be. People are cattle.

I find his voice intolerable, his tunes sophomoric and his lyrics pseudo-intellectual masturbation.

Maybe somebody will write a nice song or message ala Bob Dylan about me now. 

 
Ahh, yes it's always about YOU, PERRYLAND, it  figures.
 georgelmathieson wrote:
I'd rather plait my nipple hairs than listen to boring Bob Dylan. We have house flys here with more creative melodies.

 
Can we get a youtube vid of that please?
I would like to personally offer my services of building your video soundtrack, sans Dylan of course,  - all I ask is that I get early preview options of above mentioned nipple hair plaiting. OOH do you think we can get the fly in? that would be very film noir!
{#Bananapiano}{#Sunny}
 ziakut wrote:
He should be put out of his misery along with the garbage. The best part of having a BD tune occur...is that it makes whatever and I mean whatever song that comes next seem like the antidote of life. Go figure...Aimee Mann..."Save Me". A remedy.

 

obliterate yourself, save us from idiots

Love it.

I was very fond of Dylan's music as an adolescent and happy to report that many, many decades later I finally get some of the lyrics.  And Dylan still sounds great.


I'd rather plait my nipple hairs than listen to boring Bob Dylan. We have house flys here with more creative melodies.
 On_The_Beach wrote:
Not every song has to be about peace and love and bunnies. Wouldn't that be boring.
 
Yes, but I thought most rock and roll songs were about sex and drugs -- at least it was before that emo stuff came out.
 Lazarus wrote:

Everybody in my church loves this song...
 

 
Change churches... soon!

I can sing better than this and I can't carry a tune in a bucket!
Bob is on the road playing baseball stadiums and tourng with Wilco, Rcihard Thompson, and Morning Jacket.


Going to see him on July 10 and July 11. Get on the road and mayber take Higheay 61 (Minneapolis to Peoria).

Yeah baby.     
 coy wrote:
what a whiney mean spirited song
bob dylan is a god but even gods can be spiteful

 

I don't think that anyone who has seen Dylan speak for more than 5 minutes has ever accused him of being anything but towards the media and the great unwashed.
So, a couple of nights ago during dinner, we're playing Rhino's original Nuggets compilation among which is "No Time Like the Right Time" by Blues Project with Al Kooper on organ. I explained to my daughter's best friend, who is a college DJ, that this was the same Al Kooper who wrote "This Diamond Ring" and played keyboards, mostly organ, on Dylan's electric coming out, Bringing It  All Back Home, Highway 61 Revisited, and this seminal single. "Al who?"
 (former member) wrote:


I remember seeing Dylan play this live long, long ago, but I can't remember exactly when, because I was stoned...  I remember that...  love this song...



 
Unfortunately I've run into too many people at concerts in similar states of physical incapacitation to go back. In two cases, concertgoers within arms length of me were so fucked up that EMTs had to rush them unconscious out of the venue. It's just not fun being surrounded by zonked-out "fans" and listening to music so loud you can't hear yourself scream.

Lazarus, I love this song too but tonight it just sounds overplayed to these ears. Dylan's written a lot of songs. RP needs to play some other ones.  
As usual with Dylan - great writing, great poetry, can't sing.
 
Izzy Young and Dave van Ronk .. if you think it's about you, you probably correct.
God almighty....nobody comes even close to writing songs like this guy.


And he's going on Summer tour of ball parks with Wilco and Richard Thompson!

Gonna see him in MN, and IL. Three shows....three nights on the road...getting on Highway 61 in Iowa!       
 Proclivities wrote:

Good point.
piteous 

 


Everybody in my church loves this song...
 
He should be put out of his misery along with the garbage. The best part of having a BD tune occur...is that it makes whatever and I mean whatever song that comes next seem like the antidote of life. Go figure...Aimee Mann..."Save Me". A remedy.
 On_The_Beach wrote:

Not every song has to be about peace and love and bunnies. Wouldn't that be boring.
 
Good point.
piteous 
:)
 
On_The_Beach wrote:

Not every song has to be about peace and love and bunnies. Wouldn't that be boring.
 


{#No}{#Stop}
 coy wrote:
what a whiney mean spirited song
bob dylan is a god but even gods can be spiteful
 
Not every song has to be about peace and love and bunnies. Wouldn't that be boring.
what a whiney mean spirited song
bob dylan is a god but even gods can be spiteful
I so love this song!!  Thanks for playing!! {#Notworthy}
See you at Hop Farm next weekend Bob
This is the absolute best of Dylan

Positively solid '4' from me
Fadeout was good but could have started earlier {#Whistle}
I am not a Dylan fan, but this is an epic tune.
Simply a timeless classic for those of us who grew up in the 60's (HS & college).
Funny: the things you do not like about him are more or less what made him into this figure you can not relate to...

His voice: sure, his voice is not great but he made up for this by signing with a purpose or a feeling that makes up for it.  There are many recording/performing artists you may like who would not be if it was not for Dylan's approach breaking the door down.

His writing: music before Dylan, pop music songs where at most 2:30 long?  Dylan changed that: you must like artists whose music clocks in at over 2:30 per song? 

Performing Artists: Dylan is that.  It is not his voice, or his writing, or his band's performance or his performance individually that stand out but all of these put together.  He truly was a performing artist before there were any.

His touring....  When he toured England in was it '66, they did not have PA systems to handle what he and The Band wanted to do: people had not played arenas like that...  he more or less started it.  You do not have to like Dylan, that is not a problem.  But I am sure most recording artists or performing artists you like will give Bob credit for what they do today or did in their prime depending on who you like.

Heck, I am not even sure what he is writing about in many of his songs: one of my favorites is Vision of Johanna... I have no idea what it is about.  It is a great song though. 

 Cheers.

gemtag wrote:
IMO, humble or not, Bob Dylan is one of the most overrated singer-songwriters ever. to me it's an emperor's new clothes thing. Everybody says he's great so he must be. People are cattle.

I find his voice intolerable, his tunes sophomoric and his lyrics pseudo-intellectual masturbation.

Maybe somebody will write a nice song or message ala Bob Dylan about me now. 
 

 MiracleDrug wrote:
two cents here...

he can't sing.

he can write.

he needs an editor.
 
When I first found RP I'd have agreed completely, I really couldn't stand Dylan, but now... 7/8.

Still can't stand those Beatles tho.