Catfish McDaris Starts off the 1940s Contest

By John Phelan - Own work, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10536217

A while back Catfish McDaris sent me a Dylan poem that was previously published in the late Camel Saloon (do you remember that venue?).  I trust that you will enjoy it, and I hope that it will inspire you to write something for the 1940s contest--or one of the other contests this summer/fall.

Bob Dylan Is Dead Or Rage Into The Night Mr. Jones
by Catfish McDaris

I grew up in N.M. in
a small town noted
for musicians &
snooker hustlers

My best amigo was
a Dylan fanatic, he
studied his words, 
guitar, & harmonica

Forget The Beatles,
Jimi, or The Doors
it was Minnesota
Zimmie 24/7

Wanting to put moves 
on his beautiful
concrete blonde sister
after long pursuit we
consummated our infatuation

Their father came calling
& said I'd infested his
baby with fleas & ruined her

Deciding it might be time
to seek my fortune elsewhere
I took my hot sauce recipe
for Louisiana champagne east

Outside of Tucumcari I picked
up this dude that hummed 
Ballad of a Thin Man for 3
states, when I got to Highway 61

He stepped in front of
a west bound semi full
of pigs, there wasn't 
much left of him 

I'm not sure if he was
Jewish or if going that 
way was kosher, but at
least I hope he's knocking

on heaven's door.
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Let's see if I can find some covers of Dylan.  

Let's start with "Ballad of a Thin Man" covered by Elliott Smith back in 1998:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pG-uyuuEXGU

In 1987, Dylan toured with the Dead, and then in 1988, the Dead covered some of his songs.  Here is their version of "Ballad of a Thin Man":  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAZ4-Ed_52g

They also did "Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again":  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwsjQbf0czc

Here is their "Queen Jane Approximately":  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xA-_51DCKM

 I'll finish with the Scottish band Anton and the Colts' version of "Highway 61":  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5wsO2enbX4

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For more information about the current contests, see the entry below:
http://thesongis.blogspot.com/2017/06/the-summerfall-contests-for-2017-at.html