azureabstraction > out of the blue

That's a great song.

Joan Baez was interviewed for Martin Scorsese's Bob Dylan documentary. She also played Dylan's song "Love Is Just a Four-Letter Word".

The best parts are at 0:59 and 2:41, when Baez lapses into a playful Dylan impression. That touch of amusement that surfaces here and there. And her expression at the end, the raised eyebrows and grin. It's lovely.

Here's the surrounding commentary, composed of present-day interviews with Dylan and Baez, and old clips from a 1967 documentary by D. A. Pennebaker called "Don't Look Back":

Dylan: You know, it was probably a stupid thing to do, not letting her play, but you can't be wise and in love at the same time, so I hoped she'd see the light sooner or later on that.

Baez: Bob is one of the most complex human beings I've ever met. I think at first I really, "try to figure this guy out". Phh, I gave it up, so I don't know. I don't know what he thought about. I only know what he gave us.

[interlude: "Percy's Song", Baez on guitar and Dylan on the typewriter]

Baez: The poetry, it tumbles out. And I've watched him write on a typewriter or writing — it's done.

[documentary clip]

1967 Dylan: I never finished that song, did I, huh? No, I never finished it.

1967 Baez: Oh, God…. You finished it about eight different ways.

[/documentary clip]

Baez: I stole four-letter word. I took that and disappeared with it. And sang it, and I think the next Bob knew about it he heard it on the radio. I was with him when he heard it on the radio and he was listening, he said, "That's a great song…. That's a great song." He didn't remember he had written it. I said, "You wrote it, you dope."

It's kinda difficult to render relaxed, conversational speech into text. I stayed pretty close to a literal transcription, so I hope it's understandable. This way you get the cadence of their speech patterns and everything.

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