Bob Dylan - 17-minute epic titled "Murder Most Foul."
By Mindy Bond. Published on March 27, 2020. Bob Dylan works in mysterious ways. The Nobel Prize-winning musician dropped a new song last night, "Murder Most Foul." Inspired by John F. Kennedy's assassination, the epic, nearly 17-minute song came with a message from Dylan telling fans to stay safe. Perhaps he's reacting to the Covid-19 pandemic. You can listen to the song below. We also did our best to transcribe the lyrics.
Similar to other musicians, the coronavirus derailed Dylan's tour plans. The artist was set to play a string of dates in Japan in April, but the shows have all been canceled. Hopefully, his U.S. tour, which kicks off June 4, will come to pass. It includes a show at Forest Hills Stadium on July 8 (tickets). For all dates, visit his website.
As for the new song, "Murder Most Foul," Dylan posted the following note:
Greetings to my fans and followers with gratitude for all your support and loyalty across the years. This is an unreleased song we recorded a while back that you might find interesting. Stay safe, stay observant and may God be with you. – Bob Dylan
The song's lyrics detail JFK's assassination. But Dylan also has some fun by including a host of musical references. There's a lot to dig into here.
"Murder Most Foul" is available for purchase on iTunes.
Murder Most Foul Lyrics
Twas a dark day in Dallas, November '63 A day that would live on in infamy President Kennedy was a-ridin' high A good day to be living and a good day to die Being led to the slaughter like a sacrificial lamb He said, "Wait a minute boys, you know who I am?" "Of course we do, we know who you are" Then they blew off his head while he was still in the car Shot down like a dog in broad daylight Was a matter a timing and the timing was right You got unpaid debts, we've come to collect We're gonna kill you with hatred without any respect We'll mock you and shock you and we'll put it in your face We've already got someone here to take your place
The day they blew out the brains of the king Thousands were watching, no one saw a thing It happened so quick and so quick by surprise, Right there in front of everyone's eyes Greatest magic trick ever under the sun Perfectly executed, skillfully done Wolfman, oh wolfman, oh wolfman howl Rub-a-dub-dub it's a murder most foul
Hush little children you'll understand The Beatles are coming, they're gonna hold your hand Slide down the bannister go get your coat Ferry 'cross the Mersey and go for the throat There's three bums coming all dressed in rags Pick up the pieces and lower the flags I'm going to Woodstock, it's the Aquarian age Then I'll go over to Altamont and sit near the stage Put your head out the window, let the good times roll There's a party going on behind the Grassy Knoll
Stack up the bricks, pour the cement Don't say Dallas don't love you, Mr. President Put your foot in the tank and step on the gas Try to make it to the triple underpass Blackface singer, whiteface clown Better not show your faces after the sun goes down Up in the red light district they got a cop on the beat Living in a nightmare on Elm Street
When your down on Deep Ellum put your money in your shoes Don't ask what your country can do for you Cash on the barrelhead, money to burn Dealey Plaza, make a left-hand turn I'm going down to the crossroads, gonna flag a ride The place where faith, hope, and charity died Shoot him while he runs, boy. Shoot him while you can See if you can shoot the invisible man Goodbye, Charlie. Goodbye, Uncle Sam Frankly, Miss Scarlet, I don't give a damn
What is the truth, where did it go? Ask Oswald and Ruby, they ought to know "Shut your mouth," said a wise old owl Business is business, and it's a murder most foul
Tommy, can you hear me? I'm the Acid Queen I'm riding in a long, black Lincoln limousine Riding in the backseat next to my wife Heading straight on into the afterlife I'm leaning to the left, I've got my head in her lap Hold on, I've been led into some kind of a trap Where we ask no quarter, no quarter do we give We're right down the street, from the street where you live They mutilated his body, and they took out his brain What more could they do? They piled on the pain But his soul was not there, where it was supposed to be at For the last fifty years, they've been searching for that
Freedom, oh freedom. Freedom over me I hate to tell you, mister, but only dead men are free Send me some loving, tell me no lies Throw the gun in the gutter and walk on by Wake up, little Susie, let's go for a drive Cross the Trinity River, let's keep open eyes Turn the radio on, don't touch the dials Parkland Hospital only six more miles
You've got me dizzy, Miss Lizzy. You filled me with lead That magic bullet of yours is going to my head I'm just a patsy like Pasty Cline Never shot anyone from in front or behind I've blood in my eye, got blood in my ear I'm never gonna make it to the new frontier Zapruder's film, I've seen night before Seen it thirty-three times, maybe more It's vile and deceitful. It's cruel and it's mean Ugliest thing that you ever have seen They killed him once and they killed him twice Killed him like a human sacrifice
The day that they killed someone said to me, "Son, The age of the antichrist has just only begun." Air Force One coming in through the gate Johnson sworn in at 2:38 Lemme know when you decide to throw in the towel It is what it is, and it's murder most foul
What's new, pussycat? What'd I say? I said the soul of a nation been torn away And it's beginning to go into a slow decay And that it's thirty-six hours past Judgement Day
Wolfman Jack, he's speaking in tongues He's going on and on at the top of his lungs Play me a song, Mr. Wolfman Jack Play it for me and my long Cadillac Play me that "Only the Good Die Young" Take me to the place Tom Dooley was hung Play "St. James Infirmary" and In the Court of King James If you want to remember you better write down the names Play Etta James, too, play "I'd Rather Go Blind," Play it for the man with the telepathic mind Play John Lee Hooker. Play "Scratch My Back" Play it for that strip club owner named Jack Guitar Slim going down slow Play it for me and for Marilyn Monroe
Play "Please Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" Play it for the First Lady, she ain't feeling too good Play Don Henley, play Glenn Frey Take it to the limit and let it go by Play it for Carl Wilson, too Looking far, far away down Gower Avenue Play "Tragedy," play "Twilight Time" Take me back to Tulsa to the scene of the crime Play another one, and "Another One Bites the Dust" Play "The Old Rugged Cross," and "In God We Trust" Ride the pink horse down that long, lonesome road Stand there and wait for his head to explode Play "Mystery Train" for Mr. Mystery The man who fell down dead like a rootless tree Play it for the Reverend, play it for the Pastor, Play it for the dog that got no master Play Oscar Peterson, play Stan Getz Play "Blue Sky," play Dickey Betts, Play Art Pepper, Thelonious Monk Charlie Parker, and all that junk All that junk and "All that Jazz" Play something for the Birdman of Alcatraz Play Buster Keaton, play Harold Lloyd, Play Bugsy Siegel, Play Pretty Boy Floyd Play the numbers, play the odds Play "Cry Me a River" for the lord of the gods Play number nine, play number six Play it for Lindsey and Stevie Nicks Play Nat King Cole, play "Nature Boy" Play "Down in the Boondocks" for Terry Malloy Play "It Happened One Night" and "One Night of Sin" There's 12 million souls that are listening in Play "Merchant of Venice," play "Merchants of Death" Play "Stella by Starlight" for Lady MacBeth
Don't worry, Mr. President. Help's on the way Your brothers are coming, there'll be hell to pay Brothers? What brothers? What's this about hell? Tell 'em, "We're waiting. Keep coming." We'll get them as well
Love Field is where his plane touched down But it never did get back up off the ground Was a hard act to follow, second to none They killed him on the altar of the rising sun Play "Misty for Me," and "That Old Devil Moon" Play "Anything Goes," and "Memphis in June" Play "Lonely at the Top," and "Lonely Are the Brave" Play it for Houdini spinning around in his grave Play Jelly Roll Morton, play "Lucille" Play "Deep in a Dream," and play "Driving Wheel" Play "Moonlight Sonata" in F sharp And a Key to the Highway of the king of the harp Play "Marching Through Georgia," and "Dumbarton's Drums" Play darkness and death will come when it comes Play "Love Me or Leave Me" by the great Bud Powell Play "The Blood-Stained Banner," play "Murder Most Foul"
https://www.theculturefiles.com/bob-dylan-murder-most-foul-lyrics-listen/
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/bob-dylan-murder-most-foul-jfk-references-974147/
Dylan sold his soul and he admits it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qzc09ExGJus (1:51)
He answers to ' The Man ' , the 'Chief'.
I say, FUCK THE CHIEF !
CHIEF, WE ARE GOING TO FUCK YOU , HARD, LEGALLY AND FOREVER.
LONG LIVE THE CONQUERER OF THE CHIEF AND THE ANTICHRIST. . .
KONADOG. . . AND THOSE THAT RESONATE WITH ME AND CHASE DOWN YOUR HOLLOW NOTHING WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE. . . YOU LOOSE. . .
satan, NO CAPITALS FOR YOU, Deciever, you Wormwood. . . Bye. . .
Bob was not referring to the Anti-Christ/false light, but to God.
Indeed he wasn't. In fact, he couldn't.
If it were God he was referencing, he would say His name
Jews aren’t fond of saying God’s name.
If you listen to the full interview it’s clear he’s talking about God — they were also discussing his Christian gospel albums.
Absolutely not
3 albums like this.
https://youtu.be/IcB8KPc9wHk?si=hdudRcOGohJQkRa5
Fair. In all honesty I'm not a fan of Dylan thusly I don't know enough about him.
Fool yourself if you want. No one says they make a deal with God to become rich and famous. He almost says the Devil before he catches himself. He admits he went to the "crossroads" in Clarksdale, Miss and made the deal. That's the same place a mediocre at best blues guitarist named Robert Johnson went and came back playing like a super star. It's the same place BB King says he went to make a deal.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWDpYjAiOIc
Do Satanists say they are washed in the blood of the lamb?
https://youtu.be/IcB8KPc9wHk?si=D2UBTiYX6wu33Lfe
Fuck Bob Dylan. I never understood his appeal. He sold his soul long ago. He admitted it during an interview
That was taken out of context. They were discussing his Christian albums and he was referring to God.
Not buying that. Dylan is a Luciferian. Keep on believing he's a good guy. He's not.
Great evidence you got there along with your accusation.
You do know the accuser is the devil, right?
https://youtu.be/IcB8KPc9wHk?si=D2UBTiYX6wu33Lfe
Testimony.
Bob is inspired by the former heavenly choir master who, as Barry Manilow so eloquently put it, “writes the songs the whole world sings”.
C’mon man say that 5 times
Disgusting music.
It’s a great song. Nothing disgusting about it. He is lamenting the murder of Kennedy and its disastrous consequences for our country.
To each his own.
Dylan couldn't hold a basic rhythm on a guitar if it was in a basket. I never admired his song writing, except for one phrase "cause the vandals took the handle" I have no idea how he became an admired artist/musician.
https://youtu.be/fnjxBmfvhRI?si=jNphKeDG05fLuesc
Watch.