Bob Dylan Song Ratings | Bob Dylan Album Ratings | Bob Dylan's New Album | Bob Dylan iTunes Albums

"John Wesley Harding", Track #1

JOE DODGE: PERFECTION IN SINGING AND PLAYING,ONCE AGAIN ALL MUSICIANS ON THE SAME LEVEL.MAKES YOU WISH YOU WERE THERE.ONE OF THE REALLY OVERLOOKED GREAT SONGS (09/20/07)

BILL COHEN: I always had a problem in understanding that the vicious killer was a man named John Wesley Hardin, not Harding. Again, as is written in other comments, Dylan does what he wants, so Harding it is. Hardin was a vicious killer whth a gun in every hand. He was convicted of murder, jailed and later released. He became famous and feared. He was never known for kindness or compassion. The full bio of John Wesley Hardin can be found on the internet. Dylan decided, as he mentioned in his book to make kind men out of vicious killers if he wanted to. For example, Joey Gallo "Crazy Joe" was a vicious killer. Many of his murders and convictions can also be found on the internet. Gallo's funeral was a media bonanza. (07/09/06)

NINA: When I first listened to this album, I was just stupefied by its fundamental difference from what came before it. The strange haunting mystery of its sound is apparent right in the very first words of the very first song. I can't help doing what I'm not supposed to when I hear this song, and hear Dylan singing about himself, and preparing trhe listener for the unclassifiable journey ahead on this album. (05/13/05)