Beyond Here Lies Nothin'

Album: Together Through Life (2009)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The title of this minor chord blues powerhouse is a quote from the ancient Roman poet Ovid.
  • David Hidalgo from Los Lobos is featured on this track playing the accordion. In fact Hidalgo's soulful squeezebox playing can be heard throughout Together Through Life. Dylan got to know Hildago from when he and Los Lobos played some shows in Mexico a few years prior to the recording of the album.
  • The guitar work of Mike Campbell of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers is prominent on this track. Dylan and Tom Petty have a history together going back to their days with the Traveling Wilburys and Dylan knew Campbell through their connection. In an interview on his website, Dylan commented on the guitarist: "He's good with me. He's been playing with Tom for so long that he hears everything from a songwriter's point of view and he can play most any style." (Check out our interview with Mike Campbell.)
  • In the same interview the interviewer commented that there is "wonderful playing" on this track. Dylan was asked how he approaches the instrumental sections on a record citing the Joe Perry solos on Aerosmith songs as an example. The singer-songwriter legend replied: "What can I say, if I had Joe Perry with me everything would obviously be different. As it is though, he wasn't there. Soloing is not a big part of my records anyway. Nobody buys them to hear solos. What I try to do is to make sure that the instrumental sections are dynamic and are extensions of the overall feeling of the song."

Comments: 1

  • Nancy from Crescent Heights, TxVery dark video...
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Rock Stars of Horror

Rock Stars of HorrorMusic Quiz

Rock Stars - especially those in the metal realm - are often enlisted for horror movies. See if you know can match the rocker to the role.

Elton John

Elton JohnFact or Fiction

Does he have beef with Gaga? Is he Sean Lennon's godfather? See if you can tell fact from fiction in the Elton John edition.

Adam Duritz of Counting Crows

Adam Duritz of Counting CrowsSongwriter Interviews

"Mr. Jones" took on new meaning when the song about a misguided view of fame made Adam famous.

When Rock Belonged To Michelob

When Rock Belonged To MichelobSong Writing

Michelob commercials generated hits for Eric Clapton, Genesis and Steve Winwood in the '80s, even as some of these rockers were fighting alcoholism.

Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders

Chrissie Hynde of The PretendersSongwriter Interviews

The rock revolutionist on songwriting, quitting smoking, and what she thinks of Rush Limbaugh using her song.

Stephen Christian of Anberlin

Stephen Christian of AnberlinSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer/lyricist for Anberlin breaks down "Impossible" and covers some tracks from their 2012 album Vital.