The American Spectator : Bob Dylan Rocks

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Bob Dylan Rocks

By Max Schulz on 12.2.09 @ 6:09AM

What a drag it is to see the UN exploiting him for Copenhagen conference purposes.

Interviewing Bob Dylan several years ago, Rolling Stone founder Jann Wenner kept badgering the legendary artist to admit that the world is going to seed and things look grim. Dylan demurred, asking Wenner just what he was getting at. "We seem to be hell-bent on destruction," said Wenner, who then quizzed Dylan if he worried about global warming.

Bob Dylan, a clever enough fellow that he once attained the amorous affections of Raquel Welch despite looking like a homeless person, refused to take his interlocutor's bait. "Where's the global warming?" he asked Wenner. "It's freezing here."

That exchange came immediately to mind when the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) announced Monday that Dylan's A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall will serve as the theme song for the historic global climate change conference that gets underway next week in Copenhagen.

The UN is putting out a short film called Hard Rain that sets the Dylan classic to a montage of striking photographs meant to highlight the perils of fossil fuel use and global warming: Bangladeshi refugees, barren Haitian forests, the melting Greenland ice sheet, an oil-soaked bird on a Brazilian beach, etc. Accompanying the film is a specially commissioned essay entitled "The Urgency of Now" written by green activist Lloyd Timberlake. UNEP is also distributing a book of the photographs. This is all part of something called the Hard Rain Project, which aims to "reinvent the world so it's compatible with nature and human nature."

The project largely is the, er, brainchild of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. The UNEP press release quotes him saying, rather loftily, "If Hard Rain is a photographic elegy, it is also an impassioned cry for change. Forceful, dramatic and disturbing, it is driven by what Martin Luther King called 'the fierce urgency of now' -- and I believe the call for a truly global response to climate change is an idea whose time has finally come."

At first listen A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall would seem to be right up the alley of those invested in warning about the impending eco-apocalypse. The lyrics make reference to dead oceans, sad forests, a child beside a dead pony, a newborn surrounded by wolves, and a woman on fire. One line has the singer describing the depths of a black forest, "where the pellets of poison are flooding their waters."

It is an unsettling song and, frankly, an inscrutable one. But that hasn't stopped the masters of environmental hyperbole at UNEP from deciding that Dylan is speaking the gospel of planetary doom.

"The dark and evocative lyrics of A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall echo the kind of impacts the world faces if climate change continues unchecked," said Achim Steiner, UNEP's Executive Director.

The only problem is that there's no reason to think this interpretation of Dylan's classic is correct. A constant complaint in Dylan's interviews over the years is that people often misinterpret his songs. Originally people thought A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall was about the Cuban Missile Crisis. Nope, he wrote and performed it a month before that 1962 saga. That didn't stop a generation of folks believing the hard rain referred to nuclear fallout.

Dylan tried to put that notion to rest in a famous interview conducted by Studs Terkel: "No, it's not atomic rain, it's just a hard rain. It isn't the fallout rain. I mean some sort of end that's just gotta happen." Whatever that means.

But clearly all that lingo about the despoiled environment is about, well, environmental destruction, right? Maybe not. As Dylan himself explained, "In the last verse, when I say, 'the pellets of poison are flooding their waters', that means all the lies that people get told on their radios and in their newspapers."

Oh.

A curious thing about Dylan is that he is regarded by many as the embodiment of the spirit of protest and raised consciousness of the 1960s. Yet he has always seemed uncomfortable with that role. In his own eyes he's just a musician. He writes and performs songs. That's what he does.

So the notion of enlisting Dylan to be the voice of a new green generation is a little silly. The guy did a commercial for Cadillac's gargantuan Escalade SUV two years ago, after all. That, like the Rolling Stone interview, is just another clue that Dylan might not be marching in lockstep with fashionable society when it comes to global warming groupthink.

The earnest alarmists at the United Nations are undeterred by the silliness of this campaign. Dylan and his music are iconic, and should be put to use in the furtherance of a noble cause. Or as Mr. Steiner put it, "Bob Dylan had another song. One that reflects a strong and positive Copenhagen outcome that puts the world on a low-carbon path -- The Times They Are A-Changin."

Groan-inducing to be sure. But while we're at it, perhaps Steiner, Gordon Brown, and the rest of the Hard Rain brigade might consider mining the Dylan songbook a bit further. They need to come up with something to describe the virtually nonexistent prospects of getting a landmark international agreement at Copenhagen, despite the labors of PM Brown, President Obama, and other world leaders. May I suggest Blowin' in the Wind?

topics:
Global Warming, Climate Change, Copenhagen, Hard Rain

About the Author

Max Schulz is a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (58) | Leave a comment

Carpenter| 12.2.09 @ 8:46AM

A key to Bob Dylan's well-merited success in the popular music world is his ability to connect with so many people precisely because his nicely-turned lyrics are so obscure of meaning that the listeners can ascribe to them any meaning they want. Like a blank canvas, the words become a mirror for the yearnings of every listener's soul.
Too bad. Obama could have confined himself to pop music rather than pop politics and we would have known better than to take him seriously.

Alan Brooks| 12.2.09 @ 9:47AM

The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind.

Alan Brooks| 12.2.09 @ 4:25PM

He is supposed to look like a homesless person, as Michael Jackson was supposed to look like Peter Pan.

Skep41| 12.2.09 @ 10:51AM

You would think that Dylan, with his Woody Guthrie roots, would welcome the global depression that will emerge from the climate-friendly policies of the left. With a cloud of scientists, politicians, business leaders and academics swarming like flies around the odiferous pile of alarmist climate fraud its nice to think that there might be an artist of Dylan's stature with a scrap of common sense. Because the author of this climate codswallop is named Phil Jones maybe the operative quote should come from 'Ballad Of A Thin Man':
...and you know something is happening here and you dont know what it is, do you Mr. Jones?

L. Ross| 12.2.09 @ 11:14AM

Never have understood how Dylan sold a single album. His voice makes Neil Young sound terrific.

Margie| 12.2.09 @ 11:21AM

When approached by the Global Warming Nazis and asked for permission to use his song, Dylan should have responded, "It ain't me, Babe." Instead, I guess he said "Don't think twice, it's alright."

the permanent newbie| 12.2.09 @ 11:43AM

I wonder if the UN will change its mind if anyone brings to their attention Dylan's late classic "Neighborhood Bully" (from the album Infidels, IIRC), simply the most eloquent defense of Israel ever set to a tune. Hmm.

kingsmill| 12.2.09 @ 12:17PM

Dylan announced during the height of the anti-war movement that his favorite politician was Barry Goldwater.

He loathed the protest movements and never trusted the media.

He snubbed any attempts of the folk music clique to suborn him into their Old and New Left politics.

Bob was never a Leftist.

Margie| 12.2.09 @ 1:09PM

Never a Leftist? Maybe not, but what about now? After all, he's lending his song to this leftist cause.
Bob Dylan used to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. (Or at least believed it.) Now what is he preaching?
I believe he's a sell-out.

wicked messenger| 12.3.09 @ 12:30PM

He's a sellout because he is lending his song to an effort to promote care for the environment? Yeah, I'm sure Jesus would be appalled!

When did pollution become a Christian value?

Margie| 12.3.09 @ 1:20PM

Your name suits you.
Bob Dylan Knows what he is doing.
Global Warming is an utter hoax. I guess you haven't heard about the Scientists and the e mails? Figures.
If something is a lie, and you promote it, no Jesus wouldn't approve. He sends liars to Hell. Better watch out.

Ellul| 12.2.09 @ 1:57PM

Dylan is correctly cynical about the Mass Media. He is completely opportunistic about manipulating media.

He has expressed opposition to the organized Left from very early on. If anything, he's probably a sort of anarcho-capitalist.

Who knows whether he has a Christian commitment or not. Someone like a Mike Huckabee, a declared Christian, but I'd peg him just as much a manipulator as Dylan. I'd prefer Bob.

Tony in Central PA| 12.2.09 @ 3:23PM

Anybody else notice how much Bob has looked like the late Vincent Price for the past 15 or so years ?

Carpenter| 12.2.09 @ 3:45PM

Bob Dylan became a Christian in the late 70's, made three albums of strong Christian themes: "Slow Train Coming", "Shot of Love" and "Saved" and occasionally inserts a Christian traditional hymn into his consert sets. I understand, from a session musician friend, that Dylan starts many concerts with an offstage prayer, inviting any to join who will. His preoccupation with faith is expressed in his lyrics. He does not seem to like labels, or being associated with causes.

Margie| 12.2.09 @ 4:31PM

This is good news. I used to be crazy about him as a teen. When I gave my life to Christ in the mid 70's I used to pray for him often. When I heard he got saved I was thrilled. In recent years, even by seeing some of his interviews, he certainly seemed to have turned his back. God doesn't give up on us, but we give up on Him. Just goes to show though. Once you know Him, you can never forget Him.

hellbilly13| 12.2.09 @ 5:23PM

I'd suggest "Idiot Wind", a favorite of Ben Stein.

JimE| 12.2.09 @ 6:21PM

He is typical fellow travler and wants to make a buck off global warming just like his hero algore.

sean| 12.3.09 @ 8:51PM

Why do you say that Gore is Dylan's hero?

Shoey| 12.2.09 @ 8:19PM

what did ppl ever see in Dylan?

i guess everyone was a commie in the 60's, some grew up, some didn't

Margie| 12.2.09 @ 8:30PM

It's funny. isn't it? I was into folksy stuff. Used to think Dylan was my soul mate. Was into the Stones, Zeplin, Pink Floyd.
The only reason I changed was because I had the same kind of life changing experience Bob Dylan had, also in the 70's. God, through Jesus Christ rescued my life from the pit. (Ps. 40:2).
Otherwise, I'd probably be dead. So I cannot say I did it myself.
Praise God.

51st State| 12.2.09 @ 9:55PM

Bob Dylan?! Hahaha!!! Are you Republicans so out of touch and old that you think the non-hippy left has ever thought Dylan was anything BUT a man out for himself. Are you that old that you missed The Clash, New Model Army, Easterhouse, SLF, Steve Earle, Midnight Oil, Warumpi Band, etc. etc. ETC.? Bob Dylan, Pffff! Out of respect I won't even bother with mentioning the new bands. Bob Dylan, oh my guts are hurting.

Matthew| 12.3.09 @ 3:21AM

Funny, I first heard "Hard Rain" when I was 14, in the early 70s. I thought then it was an environmentalist song, and was somewhat surprised when I heard it was "about" nuclear war. I'm sure with Dylan's haunting voice it'll be quite powerful.

To the Mr. Jones who doesn't get why Dylan has been popular for half a century (maybe it's all the Kool-Aid we liberals drink...we like Kool-Aid!), perhaps it should be pointed out that Dylan was just nominated for this THIRD Grammy...for vocal work.

Remember, that's voted on my other musicians.

Guess they like Kool-Aid, too, ay? (Except Ted Nugent...he only likes Pabst Blue Ribbon.)

Frank Threekings| 12.3.09 @ 10:15AM

Me? I just live my life on the square.

Michael Santomauro| 12.3.09 @ 10:35AM

Lies, damned lies, and statistics

The falsification of data and the conspiracy to commit same etc, constitutes serious criminal activity. Further, the granting of public funds for research warrants a federal investigation. I’m hoping the perpetrators, including possibly Professor Michael Mann, director of Pennsylvania State University’s Earth System Science Centre and a regular contributor to the popular climate science blog Real Climate, and their facilitators will be tracked down and prosecuted to the fullest extent the law allows. — Michael Santomauro

Kellie| 12.3.09 @ 11:06AM

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

Bobby| 12.3.09 @ 1:54PM

God richly bless you, Margie,
For proclaiming His Son Jesus' Name.
"You Gotta Serve Somebody".
You serve either the One And Only Son of YHVH, Or you serve His adversary.
God richly bless you, Margie.

Buck| 12.3.09 @ 3:39PM

It's hilarious that the lunatic fringe on the right is clinging to the words of Bob Dylan for clues about global warming. Spoiler alert: It's real.

JC| 12.3.09 @ 8:43PM

May I suggest a drooling dimwit like Max Schulz has about as much credibility writing about the art of Bob Dylan as do lockstep conservative pundits musings about the findings of science they so routinely discredit.

Ex-Leftist| 12.3.09 @ 8:47PM

Ooo, the libtards are hot tonight!

JC| 12.4.09 @ 12:04AM

My, my, my, "Ex-Leftist"...did you dream up "libtard" all by yourself, or did Michelle Malkin loan it to you?

Exit-Stage-Right| 12.4.09 @ 1:22AM

I really don't wanna work on Maggie's farm no more!

JC's Husband| 12.4.09 @ 9:24AM

If "libtard" means "retarded liberal" then i don't think that's one bit funny. My, my, my.

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Actually it's Lib-U-Tard. It's that stretchy suit that goes on before the straight jacket.

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