3A. Cover Song Exploration

MR. TAMBOURINE MAN

Bob Dylan
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The Byrds

Mr. Tambourine Man, released in 1965, was written by Bob Dylan and he was the first to perform it, however in the same year The Byrds covered the song.  There is both contrast and affinity between the two versions of the song.  Techniquely, the contrast comes mainly from The Byrds adding a 12 string guitar, changing the some of the lyrics, and shortening the length, but the contrast in the timbre or feel of the song comes from the emotion that Dylan creates by just opening his mouth, while The Byrds have a happier, lighter feel to their voices and sound.  Dylan also has more varied pitch range. The affinity between the songs is apparent in the melody and speed of the songs, as they both have the same melody to hum throughout. 

The lyrics of the original song are repeated in the in cover, but The Byrds also removed some of the verses.  Some of the lyrics missing in the cover:

Left me blindly here to stand but still not sleeping
My weariness amazes me, I'm branded on my feet
I have no one to meet
And the ancient empty street's too dead for dreaming.

Though you might hear laughin', spinnin' swingin' madly across the sun
It's not aimed at anyone, it's just escapin' on the run
And but for the sky there are no fences facin'
And if you hear vague traces of skippin' reels of rhyme
To your tambourine in time, it's just a ragged clown behind
I wouldn't pay it any mind, it's just a shadow you're
Seein' that he's chasing.

Then take me disappearin' through the smoke rings of my mind
Down the foggy ruins of time, far past the frozen leaves
The haunted, frightened trees, out to the windy beach
Far from the twisted reach of crazy sorrow
Yes, to dance beneath the diamond sky with one hand waving free
Silhouetted by the sea, circled by the circus sands
With all memory and fate driven deep beneath the waves
Let me forget about today until tomorrow.

It is almost a shame that these beautiful words were removed, but no one can replicate the raw emotion Dylan creates when writes and sings.  Dylan has created beautiful text, but also a hidden subtext that brings light to the politics and social tension of the time, and we lose this in The Byrds version, but they were a pop group, not folk singers or activists.

The timbre is the biggest difference between the two songs, as they each create a completely different feel to the song.  Dylan’s version is much more tonal and simple, and has that hardy, emotional, feel of pushing for change.  The Byrds have created a version that is happier, lighter, and easier to obliviously sing along with.  The timbre of the cover is also more noisy and has more complexity with the increased number of voices and instruments.  The pitch also contrasts between the two versions, Dylan has a wide range of pitches, while The Byrds have a lower vocal pitch, but higher instrumental one.

The affinity comes in the melody and speed of the songs.  Both versions are almost identical in melody, as we hum the same line for both and the speed is contrast throughout both versions.

Although I really enjoy listening to both versions of the song, I like The Byrds version better, sorry Bob.  It is the version I grew up listening and it just has a happier, lighter feeling, it easier sing along and dance to, without feeling melancholy.