Thursday Inspiration #158 I Want You

Respond to this challenge, by either by using the prompt word bad, or going with the above picture, or by means of the song ‘I Want You’, or by going with another song by Bob Dylan, or anything else that you think fits.  Dylan recorded ‘I Want You’ on his seventh studio album Blonde On Blonde, and this double album was released in 1966.  Dylan used the Hawks (a precursor to the Band) along with numerous other backing musicians, like keyboardist Al Kooper and several of Nashville’s top session players on this album.  The single ‘I Want You’ reached #20 on the Billboard Hot 100 and it went to #16 in the UK.  The single’s B-side was a live version of ‘Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues’, the first recording released with the Hawks.

Most of Dylan’s lyrics in this song are not meant to be understood, but many critics agree that the words fit the music on this song.  The song does not have to make sense, as it is about love, and some times that can be total madness.  Day in and day out, the undertaker has to deal with a lot of sadness, grief and loss, which can’t be the easiest job to do, but they are people and they must have the same feelings as the rest of us do, so they should not feel guilty for being human.  Being an organ grinder is probably a very lonely job, however most of these musicians will be accompanied by a white-headed capuchin monkey, tethered to a string, that will do tricks to attract attention, as well as the important task of collecting money from passers-by.  Some people despised the organ grinders and these so-called animal rights activists initiated anti-monkey laws, which forced many organ grinders to have to operate underground.  Since there is no such thing as a monkey sitter, the organ grinder’s whole life revolves around taking care of his pet, and I bet that can be pretty lonely.

Dylan mentions a “dancing child with his Chinese suit,” and many believe that he was referencing Brian Jones who dressed flamboyantly in silken three-pieces throughout the era.  Then Dylan goes on to say, “He spoke to me, I took his flute”, and Brian Jones played the recorder on ‘Ruby Tuesday’ which sounded like he was playing a flute, despite rock ‘n’ roll aficionados thinking they were not cool at the time.  Dylan says, “No, I wasn’t very cute to him, was I?  But I did it because he lied, and because he took you for a ride.”  Then Dylan goes on to mention “because time was on his side”, this is believed by some to be in reference the first Rolling Stones song to crack the US top ten ‘Time Is On My Side’.  Rolling Stones founder Brian Jones made some incredible friends in his short life, like Andy Warhol, Jimi Hendrix, John Lennon, and Bob Dylan.  He was particularly close to Bob Dylan, as they used to drop a lot of acid together and at one time, he called him every day.  Dylan dated Edie Sedgwick from the Andy Warhol Factory and Brian Jones probably knew her and he may have even dated her also.  If Jones took Sedgwick for a ride, this may have made Dylan a bit jealous.  It’s alleged that Dylan paid for the silver and bronze metal casket Jones was buried in on July 10, 1969, eight days after his death.

I don’t know about you, but if a group of silver saxophones ever had anything to say to me, I think I would be listening to their advice, however I would not go as far as letting them deny me of the person that I love.  I would probably ignore the cracked bells and washed-out horns, especially if they were blowing scorn into my face.  The lyrics in this song may not make the most sense, but the one thing that is clear, is that this guy wants the girl, and he makes this obvious, by repeating this over and over again.

But it’s not that way
I wasn’t born to lose you
I want you, I want you
I want you so bad