pjcle wrote:

Because she's got a damn good voice?

This song/poem reminded me of the classic Robert Mitchum film "Night of the Hunter"...

pjcle wrote:

the poem's by Dylan, and if you listen to her version and his, I think she does at least as well. His sounds rushed and strained, hers cuts enough slack to let the music out.

a wordy poem (not a great poem) with a little music in the background, it makes me think why doesn't she just say it since she doesn't let the music in.

physicsgenius wrote:

these are more than five words, and they have a world in them:

Preacher was a talkin' there's a sermon he gave,
He said every man's conscience is vile and depraved,
You cannot depend on it to be your guide
When it's you who must keep it satisfied.
It ain't easy to swallow, it sticks in the throat,
She gave her heart to the man
In the long black coat.

There are no mistakes in life some people say
It is true sometimes you can see it that way.
But people don't live or die, people just float.
She went with the man
In the long black coat.

Once again, 5 words do not a set of lyrics make.

turnergirl1of2 wrote:

It just followed Eastmountainsouth again, if that's what you meant by "that mountainsouth tune."

And I couldn't tell the difference at the beginning either.

joan, layoff the crimper!

Can we hear Long Black Veil next?

Joan does it OK, but the original is definitely better. Did someone say torture? Not Dylan! He's still got it!

jehahn wrote:I'm with you -- though I don't know if this quite qualifies as a "torturing" of the song. You may be referring to a bastardized interpretation, or rather, the lack of any reinterpretation.

Mere use of an opposite-gender or contrasting voice does not qualify as a new interpretation of a song. And Bob Dylan's "interpretation" (of his own work) cannot really be argued.

algrif wrote:So comments suggesting his voice is torturous are just the same-old, same-old.

jehahn wrote:
Dylan manages to torture his own songs without any help.

Thanks Joan for making this song listenable.

P_k wrote:

Love this version too. She has got a powerful voice and even so she sings very feelingly.

Mari wrote:

I really love this version too.

jehahn wrote:

It might have been all right if it hadn't followed that mountainsouth tune. I almost couldn't tell the difference at the beginning, that there had been a switch. And not liking the mountainsouth song, I wonder if my perception has been a bit colored.

Ick. This version is awful.

The original Dylan version is great, and the rough quality on his voice lends the track an ominous note. This one has no oomph.

I wish people would stop torturing Dylan tunes. If you can't do it justice, please don't do it.

Nice song, but it is extremely noisy. There is a very bad hiss underneath the whole cut.

samiyam wrote:

I agree.

BoFiS wrote:

She didn't write this song. It's a Bob Dylan cover.

I gave this song a 5, only because I love the original Bob Dylan version (from Oh, Mercy) so much. Joan's version is alright, but a bit too straightforward for my liking.

Relish is a great album, but this is one of the worst songs on it. I think I'd listen to the overplayed "One of Us" before this song.

I also can't believe that "Spider Web" isn't on RP. I'll have to remember to upload it.

I'm thinking a great follow (were it in the RP library) would be Lefty Frizzell's (or Johnny Cash's) "Long Black Veil"...similar phrasing, key, and title. Still a likeable tune.

This is as beautiful as a photocopy of Vermeer painting.

What ever happened to dear Joan? I love this album and this song!

rascal420 wrote:

Every song on this album, except this one, and "One of Us" is a great portrayal of Joan's voice - Dylan would be bored stupid to listen to this.

This doesn't get it... I don't think it matches Joan's voice very well.

I've never heard her sing a song that matches her voice - 'til now.

She is amazing

This is my least favorite song from Relish . Indeed it is...

lester wrote:

Another pointless cover.