Sign on the Window isn't the Bob Dylan podcast you need, but it's definitely the one that you want! Each week we select a Dylan song at random, live with the song for a week (or two) and then get together to discuss. This week our Music Video month continues with "Duquesne Whistle" off 2012's Tempest.
This week, Kelly and Daniel talk context (4:00), Duquesne (8:00), Joplin 2011 (12:00) and apply all that the lyrics (17:00) with a few asides – including where we hum "Runaway Train," find out it's Soul Asylum who sings it, then emotionally try to handle the video of it! We talk our playlist (link below), recommendations for this week and force Kelly to guess next week's song, even though it's already been decided!
Next episode: Either you'll love Music Video Month continuing or I'll love it, when the night etc etc.
CONTEXT (4:00)
The song was recorded, with the rest of Tempest, at Groove Masters Studio in Santa Monica between January to March, 2012. It premiered on NPR on August 27, 2012.
The song is built off Jelly Roll Morton's "Each Day."
Dylan has played the song 350 times (as of recording) — from June 26, 2013 to August 22, 2018.
Duquesne and Joplin 2011 (8:00)
We discuss "Duquesne" and the compelling evidence of this song being about the tornado that ripped through Joplin in 2011.
SONG ITSELF (17:00)
As much as it points to Joplin, there's plenty to point away from it. So what could it be about? Fort Duquesne? Trains? Jesus? Iowa? A tornado, in general? We examine the lyrics to try to suss something out of this song.
DOES IT WORK IN 2019?
Of course, it's all metaphors so it can fit a lot of situations. It's also a great opener to Tempest.
IT'S STILL MUSIC VIDEO MONTH!
For all our talk of music videos this month, see our hub — Mixed Up Music Video Month II. See: Bob Dylan Debuts Shocking New Video
THE EPISODE’S BOOKLET & PLAYLIST (39:00)
RECOMMENDATIONS
Kelly recommends seeing Team Dresch live (as she did at Mississippi Studios) and Booksmart.
Daniel recommends Justin Townes Earle The Saint of Lost Causes, Martha Love Keeps Giving, Bars of Gold Shelters, Clowns Nature/Nurture and Fontaines D.C. Dogrel.
He's also finished re-watching the three seasons of Deadwood after the official trailer was released for Deadwood: The Movie.
ENDINGS
There's 419 songs left. Kelly was forced to pick a random number. She chose #152, which would have been 1989's Oh, Mercy. It's cruel because no number she picked could ever work. Why? Cause it's Music Video Month and we're watching/listening to "When the Night Comes Falling From the Sky" next.
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088 – "Duquesne Whistle"