The Band - Blind Willie MctTell

Begin jaren tachtig nam Bob Dylan het lied 'Blind Willie McTell' op. Dylan op piano, Mark Knopfler op gitaar. Het lied werd afgekeurd voor de plaat Infidels, en verdween zodoende in de kluizen van platenmaatschappij Columbia/CBS.

In 1991 verscheen 'Blind Willie McTell' op de Bootleg Series, vol. 3. The Band, Dylans voormalige begeleidingsband, maakte de "demo" van het lied af. Hun versie verscheen op hun comeback-album Jericho. Deze versie vormt de basis voor Dylans live-uitvoeringen van 'Blind Willie'.

Seen the arrow on the doorpost
Saying, “This land is condemned
All the way from New Orleans
To Jerusalem”
I traveled through East Texas
Where many martyrs fell
And I know no one can sing the blues
Like Blind Willie McTell

Well, I heard that hoot owl singing
As they were taking down the tents
The stars above the barren trees
Were his only audience
Them charcoal gypsy maidens
Can strut their feathers well
But nobody can sing the blues
Like Blind Willie McTell

See them big plantations burning
Hear the cracking of the whips
Smell that sweet magnolia blooming
See the ghosts of slavery ships
I can hear them tribes a-moaning
Hear that undertaker’s bell
Nobody can sing the blues
Like Blind Willie McTell

There’s a woman by the river
With some fine young handsome man
He’s dressed up like a squire
Bootlegged whiskey in his hand
There’s a chain gang on the highway
I can hear them rebels yell
And I know no one can sing the blues
Like Blind Willie McTell

Well, God is in His heaven
And we all want what’s His
But power and greed and corruptible seed
Seem to be all that there is
I’m gazing out the window
Of the St. James Hotel
And I know no one can sing the blues
Like Blind Willie McTell

Copyright © 1983 by Special Rider Music