Black Crow Blues

Album: Another Side Of Bob Dylan (1964)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • As with "All I Really Want To Do," the opening track of Another Side of Bob Dylan, this second track on the album is widely assumed to be about Dylan's breakup with Suze Rotolo (with Rotolo herself being among those assuming).

    The lyrics are pretty straightforward throughout the song, detailing Dylan's state as he wanders around feeling beaten up from losing his woman. The final verse, though, which also happens to be the one that gives the song its title, is sort of surreal.

    Black crows in the meadow
    Across a broad highway
    Black crows in the meadow
    Across a broad highway
    Though it's funny, honey
    I just don't feel much like a
    Scarecrow today

    The lyrics make sense in a sort of instinctual way, but they break down if you think very much about them. They don't really seem to make sense. The vaguely surreal, paradoxical nature of the words is not insignificant, as Another Side as a whole is considered a turning point in Dylan's songwriting, when he started incorporating visionary, mystical elements similar to the poetry of Arthur Rimbaud (who he began talking about frequently around this point in his career).
  • "Black Crow Blues" is significant because it's the first song Dylan ever recorded with him playing piano. There is no guitar in it, only piano, harmonica, and his vocals.
  • Dylan has never performed this song live.
  • The song was recorded June 9 and 10, 1964, in Columbia Recording Studios' Studio A.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne

Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of WayneSongwriter Interviews

The guy who brought us "Stacy's Mom" also wrote the Jane Lynch Emmy song and Stephen Colbert's Christmas songs.

American Hits With Foreign Titles

American Hits With Foreign TitlesSong Writing

What are the biggest US hits with French, Spanish (not "Rico Suave"), Italian, Scottish, Greek, and Japanese titles?

Michael Franti

Michael FrantiSongwriter Interviews

Franti tells the story behind his hit "Say Hey (I Love You)" and explains why yoga is an integral part of his lifestyle and his Soulshine tour.

Tom Waits Lyrics Quiz

Tom Waits Lyrics QuizMusic Quiz

Pool balls, magpies and thorns without roses - how well do you know your Tom Waits lyrics?

Scott Stapp

Scott StappSongwriter Interviews

The Creed lead singer reveals the "ego and self-fulfillment" he now sees in one of the band's biggest hits.

Subversive Songs Used To Sell

Subversive Songs Used To SellSong Writing

Songs about drugs, revolution and greed that have been used in commercials for sneakers, jeans, fast food, cruises and cars.