When The Ship Comes In

'I'm not given a hotel room just because of my ragged appearance - I'll show them. I'll show them alright.'

In all the ways that Dylan inspires me and well a million others alike (not), his panache sets fire! Yes, the song from Dylan's '64 album - The Times They Are a-Changin', is believed to have been written in response to a hotel clerk's refusal to rent him a hotel room for his raggedy appearance. Talk about aggression with a classy tone and verve – and you’ve got a Dylan song at hand!

One of Dylan’s classic song poems, When The Ship Comes In is well pieced, and shows Dylan’s sheer defiance in stating ‘I’m just not going to take that sh*t’ - and very firmly at that. And because it’s Bob Dylan you know for sure he'll go about in a very classy way.

Full with poetic imagery coupled with serenely fitting allegory, a few suiting references and a lot more than a hint of positivity, the song easily landmarks as a Dylan-ish Dylan song (not to forget it is from before he went electric!). 


It's not hard to see why this song become a sort of an icon to empower all moments anti-authoritarian. 

…Then the sands will roll
Out a carpet of gold
For your weary toes to be a-touchin'
And the ship's wise men
Will remind you once again
That the whole wide world is watchin'.

Dylan fan or not – this piece of work is not to miss! And I meant both – the song and the man…

Jangle Pop

Few of us would have ever heard of this not-so popular name for a kind of music that has made music what it is today. Fewer still, will appreciate the kind of class artistes like R.E.M. and Tom Petty brought to the music scene of the 80s.


From the bright cheerful 'Shiny Happy People' to the cool-as-a-cucumber adult sounds that featured on albums like Wild Flower. But where did it start?

The Beatles would be a safe guess, for obvious reasons! And you had The Byrds who quickly became a sensation - made a Bob Dylan song more popular than he himself could (need I say more?)! Talking of sensations, The Beach Boys sure had their day! Snazzy sound, peppy rhythms and lyrics that made quite a lot of sense for their sound. And that essentially characterized and led to the Jangle Sound.

Dug up works of a few artistes of the kind a few months back and underrated is one word I have for the genre.

Just the idea of letting loose and going erratic without becoming screechy like the Metal bands of our day and holding it together and sounding good gives me a feel of what the Beatles were in essence with the music before their time.

Here's to the jingle-jangle sounds this morning!