 Blood On The Tracks (1975) [ larger cover art ] |
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Musicbrainz DBThey sat together in the park
As the evening sky grew dark.
She looked at him and he felt a spark
Tingle to his bones.
'Twas then he felt alone
And wished that he'd gone straight
And watched out for a simple twist of fate.
They walked alone by the old canal.
A little confused, I remember well,
And stopped into a strange hotel with a neon burning bright.
He felt the heat of the night hit him like a freight train
Moving with a simple twist of fate.
A saxophone someplace far off played
As she was walking on by the arcade
As the light bust through a beat up shade
Where he was waking up.
She dropped a coin into the cup of a blind man at the gate
And forgot about a simple twist of fate.
He woke up; the room was bare.
He didn't see her anywhere.
He told himself he didn't care; pushed the window open wide;
Felt an emptiness inside to which he just could not relate
Brought on by a simple twist of fate.
He hears the ticking of the clocks
And walks along with a parrot that talks.
Hunts her down by the waterfront docks
Where the sailors all come in.
Maybe she'll pick him out again. How long must he wait
One more time for a simple twist of fate.
People tell me it's a sin
To know and feel too much within.
I still believe she was my twin, but I lost the ring.
She was born in spring, but I was born too late.
Blame it on a simple twist of fate.
| Poacher (Brighton, UK) | Posted: May 07, 2013 - 07:22 I must be getting old. . . I am starting to like Dylan. |
| NoEnzLefttoSplit | Posted: May 07, 2013 - 07:20 I think I am going to shoot the next person who says Dylan can't sing. |
| iSoul (Hamburg, Germany) | Posted: Feb 02, 2013 - 08:14 He´s a very good songwriter, but he shouldn´t try to sing. |
| toterola (Further) | Posted: Sep 29, 2012 - 20:03 idiot_wind wrote: What a beautiful song. I saw Bob last week in Des Moines last week. He didn't play this song (and rarely does) BUT he is now playing a grand piano for most of his songs. He was playing Jerry Lee Lewis on some songs and then on different songs breaking it down with a tempo and harmonics change like T Monk. Freakin amazing. Long live Bob. P.S. most of the crowd was under 30 years old...and there was group of teenage girls in the crowd formed a chorus singing "blowing in the Wind". Freakin amazing. I'm really glad to see your comment. Most folks treat Bob like he's a museum relic. I see him as a living, breathing link to our collective music past. I'm gonna go see him and Mark Knopler at Berkeley in October. I can't wait. It should be transcendent. That said, this song is from his best album. I wallow that idea around a lot, and I wonder if I love this album so much because it came out when I was 13 (uber impressionable). But damn, the album is so GOOD. Rock on, Maestro. I'll be listening. |
| idiot_wind | Posted: Aug 29, 2012 - 07:02 What a beautiful song. I saw Bob last week in Des Moines last week. He didn't play this song (and rarely does) BUT he is now playing a grand piano for most of his songs. He was playing Jerry Lee Lewis on some songs and then on different songs breaking it down with a tempo and harmonics change like T Monk. Freakin amazing. Long live Bob. P.S. most of the crowd was under 30 years old...and there was group of teenage girls in the crowd formed a chorus singing "blowing in the Wind". Freakin amazing. |
| lemmoth (NYC) | Posted: Aug 29, 2012 - 07:01 IMHO Bob's best vocal, and possibly his best song. |
| SweTex (Swede living in Texas) | Posted: Jul 29, 2012 - 00:54 romeotuma wrote: Everybody in my hotel room loves this song... In my hotel room too..... |
| WayUpNorth | Posted: Jun 27, 2012 - 10:31 One of the few Dylan songs I like ... and I REALLY like it  great music for this rainy day. |
| d-don (Oregon) | Posted: Apr 27, 2012 - 14:45 A Brazilian production company is considering making a movie of the album "Blood On the Tracks". Interesting. I'd love to see what they would do with "Idiot Wind". |
| coloradojohn (A Mile High and then some, Cherry Creek, Denver) | Posted: Apr 24, 2012 - 20:12 When he lays out that first big play: "...and wished that he'd gone STRAAAAAAAAAAAAYt..." man, it hits me every time just like a FRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYt train and reminds me that I forgot about that simple twist of Fate and man can I relAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYt to Uncle Bob on this one and time and Time again; and one more time I'll have to WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYt for a little Simple Twist of Fate... Thanks a mil for playing this, Bill and Rebecca! |
| Hr-Rosendahl (Skælskør Denmark) | Posted: Apr 22, 2012 - 12:59 I never had listen to this song before, But I think it's one of the best he had made. |
| (former member) (hotel in Las Vegas) | Posted: Jan 20, 2012 - 16:46 Everybody in my hotel room loves this song... |
| TuneAgeWhereWoof | Posted: Jan 20, 2012 - 16:41 Thank you. |
| haresfur (Bendigo Australia) | Posted: Oct 17, 2011 - 15:25 Maudlin, but effectively so. |
| Misterfixit (Nashville) | Posted: Oct 17, 2011 - 15:21 We should all pause for a moment and consider how a simple twist of fate would change your life and the lives of others. If you really think about it make sure you don't have any razor blades handy. |
| bluecshells (EARTH) | Posted: Oct 17, 2011 - 15:20 ♥♥♥ |
| fast_eddie | Posted: Jul 15, 2011 - 07:57 Wow! I can't believe that I missed this. This is possibly my favorite Dylan song except maybe Visions of Johanna!! Should have tuned in ten minutes ago.. |
| lily34 (lexvegas) | Posted: Jun 13, 2011 - 15:47 outstanding. crying now. |
| fast_eddie | Posted: Apr 11, 2011 - 10:39 This is one of the most honest (and sad) songs Dylan ever wrote!! |
| 4merdj (donde el viento se devuelve) | Posted: Apr 11, 2011 - 10:37 Good'ol Bobby ...  |
| bachbeet | Posted: Mar 10, 2011 - 22:25 I don't know which christian album you are talking about. I was talking about his conversion that happened in the late 60s and was apparent in Self Portrait and New Morning. He may have released a Christian album after Blood and Desire but I'm sure it was one I didn't like. I like all his albums through JWH. Nashville Skyline not as much and Self Portrait not at all. Then Blood and Desire came along and I was happy. Haven't like a whole lot since but some are pretty good. |
| Xstar (Florence, Kentucky) | Posted: Feb 07, 2011 - 14:18 calypsus_1 wrote:
KT Tunstall - Simple Twist Of Fate, Live (2005): |
| calypsus_1 | Posted: Jan 29, 2011 - 11:28  Bob Dylan by rising70 http://www.flickr.com/photos/the_first_rays/  All rights reserved |
| ziakut (A place with air, water and chocolate.) | Posted: Jan 07, 2011 - 07:04 4 - - - - 3 falling....and this is one of his better tunes. |
| fast_eddie | Posted: Sep 02, 2010 - 09:14 This is one of his most heartfelt songs. Ranks up there with Don't think twice. I love it!!! |
| rjewyo (Ventura, CA) | Posted: Sep 02, 2010 - 09:13 Thx Bill...Nice to hear something...when Bob was still "singing"....  |
| ziakut (Chicago, IL) | Posted: Sep 02, 2010 - 09:11 Oh no! He's back....... |
| calypsus_1 | Posted: Aug 10, 2010 - 20:14
KT Tunstall - Simple Twist Of Fate, Live (2005) |
| frank_eindhoven | Posted: Aug 01, 2010 - 09:16 it's a shame that bob only cares about the lyrics, cause musically it's really very boring....and his voice, just forget about sunshine... |
| bam23 (Berkeley) | Posted: Jun 30, 2010 - 12:10 modrakocka wrote: I get it that the lyrics are meaningful, poetic even, but I don't listen to lyrics. Music is supposed to lift you up and take you somewhere. The music here takes me round and round in dusty circles. To this I can only wonder, what on earth is this thing called singer-songwriter that we hear of? I find it hard to imagine not listening to lyrics, for better or worse. If only I could purge my brain of far too many lyrics that will not exit. |
| GWillacker (Lansing, MI) | Posted: Jun 30, 2010 - 12:10 My college roommate played Blood on the Tracks incessantly when it was released in 1975. I HATED it. Now this song gives me chills. 9->10. |
| JesseJ (Madison, WI) | Posted: May 29, 2010 - 16:20 peacockangel wrote: modrakocka wrote: I get it that the lyrics are meaningful, poetic even, but I don't listen to lyrics. Music is supposed to lift you up and take you somewhere. The music here takes me round and round in dusty circles. I'm not thinkin this was supposed to be a huge lift me up song lol some of us like the lyric part of song too ~ the lyric can take me places ~ the good ones anyhow I consider Dylan to have the music component also *said with a smiling mocking antagonism and I'm not too sure that dusty circles is far off lol but that works here for me just fine ~ it's not negative for me  yeah yeah and his voice sucks too ..whatever lol Haha... might as well just listen to Black Eyed Peas then :P |
| peacockangel (Phoenix) | Posted: Mar 27, 2010 - 08:41 modrakocka wrote: I get it that the lyrics are meaningful, poetic even, but I don't listen to lyrics. Music is supposed to lift you up and take you somewhere. The music here takes me round and round in dusty circles. I'm not thinkin this was supposed to be a huge lift me up song lol some of us like the lyric part of song too ~ the lyric can take me places ~ the good ones anyhow I consider Dylan to have the music component also *said with a smiling mocking antagonism and I'm not too sure that dusty circles is far off lol but that works here for me just fine ~ it's not negative for me yeah yeah and his voice sucks too ..whatever lol |
| modrakocka (Czech Republic) | Posted: Feb 23, 2010 - 19:03 I get it that the lyrics are meaningful, poetic even, but I don't listen to lyrics. Music is supposed to lift you up and take you somewhere. The music here takes me round and round in dusty circles. |
| ambrebalte (Beijing) | Posted: Dec 22, 2009 - 22:15 I like very much this way Dylan sings and plays, better than the more recent songs. I do not like the musical part of what he is doing now, this clean and supermarket kind of arrangement behind his voice. I love this one, Simple twist of Fate, exactly |
| On_The_Beach (Vancouver BC, Bud) | Posted: Oct 21, 2009 - 02:29 a_genuine_find wrote: Where's a Natalie Merchant remake when you really need one? Is this SINGING  Dylan's a Great composer, terrible singer The best way to ruin a Dylan song would be to have Natalie Merchant sing it! |
| (former member) (hotel in Las Vegas) | Posted: Sep 19, 2009 - 12:04 This song is soooo good for the ears... |
| Panama_Floyd (Atlanta, GA) | Posted: Aug 19, 2009 - 00:19 holborne wrote: Wait, was this before or after that Christian album he did? Agree, though, that this is one of his greatest albums. Before. I was going to say "long before" but it was 1975 or so. Five years seemed a lot longer to me back then than it does today.. |
| peter_james_bond (Lunenburg, NS) | Posted: Jun 16, 2009 - 13:55 A Masterpiece! |
| toterola (Further) | Posted: May 15, 2009 - 19:37 Excellent track. Good Lord, what a great album! Can it really be 35 years old?!? Say it ain't so!  |
| holborne (New York) | Posted: Jan 12, 2009 - 13:11 evergreener wrote: No matter how much you hate on Bob Dylan, Bill still plays him. Thank you Bill and thank you Bob! Yep. That's one of the great things about this station, IMO — Bill pays due attention to the listeners, but still programs by his own lights, which are pretty damn good. (Except for all the Pink Floyd — ha ha, JK.) |
| Mark7 (Fort Wayne, Indiana) | Posted: Jan 09, 2009 - 10:50 "Ladies and gentlemen please welcome the poet laureate of rock 'n' roll. The voice of the promise of the 60's counterculture. The guy who forced folk into bed with rock. Who donned makeup in the 70's and disappeared into a haze of substance abuse. Who emerged to find Jesus. Who was written off as a has-been by the end of the 80's, and who suddenly shifted gears releasing some of the strongest music of his career beginning in the late 90's. Ladies and gentlemen - Columbia recording artist Bob Dylan" - I heard this introduction at IU Alumni Hall for the homecoming show in '07 (apparently it's been around for a while). Dylan's show was opened by Elvis Costello. A night of two voices of distinction as well as two great songwriters - one legendary |
| joanot (Matadepera) | Posted: Jan 09, 2009 - 10:41 Don´t miss : Bootleg series nº 8- Tell tale signs . great, very great. |
| evergreener | Posted: Jan 09, 2009 - 10:41 No matter how much you hate on Bob Dylan, Bill still plays him. Thank you Bill and thank you Bob! |
| holborne (New York) | Posted: Jan 09, 2009 - 10:39 bachbeet wrote: Dylan lost it there for a while but really got it back with this album. This is a song that will last forever just like many of his others. Simple, straightforward great lyrics. Wait, was this before or after that Christian album he did? Agree, though, that this is one of his greatest albums. |
| bachbeet | Posted: Dec 08, 2008 - 20:15 Dylan lost it there for a while but really got it back with this album. This is a song that will last forever just like many of his others. Simple, straightforward great lyrics. |
| laroue (in the mind of the novel) | Posted: Dec 08, 2008 - 20:11 Concrete Blonde's version is good, too  What a story! |
| fredriley (Nottingham, UK) | Posted: Nov 07, 2008 - 07:27 'kin 'ell! A Bob Dylan song that doesn't make me reach for the mute button. Maybe it's because he's singing in a lower, less whiny register than was usual in his old days, maybe because the lyrics are so poignant, but to my surprise it's a 6 from the Nottingham jury. |
| ThePoose | Posted: Aug 04, 2008 - 11:48 brn wrote: I can't say that I was around when Bob Dylan was popular. Ok, I was, but I was in my teens. I greatly respect music from the era. I just don't get Bob. I don't see talent. Sorry Bob, but the lapels on your jacket are too wide (inside joke).
''...was popular'' ??? To paraphrase Norma Desmond, ''He's still big; it's the music business that got small.'' |
| a_genuine_find (Nieuw Amsterdam) | Posted: Aug 04, 2008 - 11:39 Paul_in_Australia wrote: I know Dylan has a nasal voice, but is he really such a poor singer? I listen to a lot of Dylan tracks and I think he is a great singer with an idiosyncratic voice. Some other 'it-would-have-been-really-great-if-only' nonsense 1 The Sydney Opera House; nice building but why build it so far away? 2 The Sistine Chapel; nice paintings, but on the ceiling? Puh-lease! 3 Van Gogh; couldn't he have used a smaller brush? 4 Prince; great talent but he is so short! 5 Venice; nice city, but why didn't they drain the lake first? 6 Stevie Wonder; great songs but imagine if he could see? 7 The Rolling Stones; great licks but why are they so old? 8 The Mona Lisa; nice graphics, but couldn't it have been a bit bigger? 9 Beethoven; if only he had hearing he would have been so much better Any more 'fatal flaw' ideas to challenge the "nice songs, shame about the voice" merchants? Wish I could appreciate it, must be something to it since there is a lot more positive feedback than negative. |
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