As pointed out, "I contain multitudes" is used in a poem by Walt Whitman. In a letter once written to Walt Whitman, Reuben Carwell said, "Walt my dear old Friend how I would like to grasp your hand and give you a kiss as I did in the days of yore. what a satisfaction it would be to me."* Bob has previously used bits from the correspondence of other authors, like James Joyce's letters to his wife. The Walt thing could have no significance and there could be nothing ever planned to be called Days of Yore, I'm just spitballing here. I'm banking on a new album press release this spring. * Reuben Farwell to Walt Whitman, 10 May 1864 (Correspondence) - The Walt Whitman Archive
This is probably 100% a coincidence, but when I Googled “I contain multitudes” it brought up a recently published book (from 2016) about microbes in the human body. Maybe he’s been doing some quarantine reading? (again probably not, but I found the coincidence to be pretty funny)
was hoping for a whole album drop but single in advance of an album is good too! assuming it's not just another one-off. or is "Murder Most Foul" not a one-off???
Well I never would have guessed that Indiana Jones would make an appearance in a Bob Dylan song, but here we are.
I'm thrilled. I will take whatever I can get. However I can get it. I don't mind a slow, steady drip. It is strange that both these songs were released when Europe is waking up - Americans get them late in the PM. Interesting.
Today and tomorrow And yesterday, too The flowers are dying Like all things do Follow me close I’m going to Berlinale I’ll lose my mind if you don’t come with me I fuss with my hair And I fight blood feuds I contain multitudes Got a tell-tale heart Like Mr. Poe Got skeletons in the walls Of people you know I’ll drink to the truth And things we said I’ll drink to the man that shares your bed I paint landscapes And I paint nudes I contain multitudes Red Cadillac And a black mustache Rings on my fingers That sparkle and flash Tell me what’s next What shall we do? Half my soul, baby, belongs to you I welk and I frolic With all the young dudes I contain multitudes I’m just like Anne Frank And Indiana Jones And them British bad-boys, The Rolling Stones I go right to the edge I go right to the end I go right where all things lost I made good again I sing the songs of experience Like William Blake I have no apologies to make Everything’s flowing All at same time I live on a boulevard of crime I drive fast cars And I eat fast foods I contain multitudes Pink pedal pushers Red blue jeans All the pretty maids And all the old queens All the old queens From all our past lives I carry four pistols and two large knives I’m a man of contradictions I’m a man of many moods I contain multitudes You greedy old wolf I show you my heart But not all of it Only the hateful part I sail you down the river I put a price on your head What more can I tell ya? I sleep through life and death in the same bed Get lost, madam Get up off my knee Keep your mouth away from me I’ll keep the path open The path in my mind I’ll see to it there’s no love left behind I play Beethoven’s sonatas Chopin’s preludes I contain multitudes
Right after I finished my transcription I see this. At least I don't have to swipe all the words on my phone from my notes now (no computer). Well done!
I literally laughed out loud at Indiana Jones! Did again later in the song, too. Ahhhhhhhhhhh BOB IS THE BEST!
Double record perhaps, with this pre-release of two songs now. Don’t want him to spoil the whole album for us now.
