Bob Dylan - "Murder Most Foul"

Didn’t get through it on the first go. 9+ minutes in. Have yet to go back but might….

It’s long and disturbing and arguably 57 years late which makes the timing of the release given current events even weirder.

Strikes me as something that didn’t get on to The Tempest. I haven’t tried to research when it might have been recorded, so could be way wrong on that.

I’m not anyone needing to be convinced of RZ’s genius, but I don't genuflect either.

Props to roxy54 for his candor.

Interesting piece. The music is just there for accompaniment obviously. Not quite sure what to make of it or why released now of all times. I’m sure there is a reason. The insinuation seems to be that something sinister showed its face back then and has maintained a broad influence ever since.

@Everyone! - Thanks for your comments, so far. I made the original post, without comment, to see if it would elicit comments and opinions..... and it has. Thanks again, and keep them coming.

@mapman 

Interesting piece. The music is just there for accompaniment obviously. Not quite sure what to make of it or why released now of all times. I’m sure there is a reason. The insinuation seems to be that something sinister showed its face back then and has maintained a broad influence ever since.

I agree, the music is there for accompaniment, and I think it is very effective. It's melancholy and almost a drone. I think it is beautiful and it sets the mood very well.

I'm also not quite sure what to make of it, or why it was released now. A couple of thoughts I've had regarding that are: 

JFK's killing had a profound affect on Dylan and made him very sad (well documented). Maybe the current situation in the country, and the world, has has a similar affect on him and brought up the old feelings again.

Or, possibly, he thinks something sinister is about to show its face again.....

Who knows. Would be good to hear from him at some point.


 

I'm with roxy54 on this one, and I'm generally into this sort of vibe (compare contrast with Nick Cave's song Sun Forest). 

If Bob freestyled this, then its a miracle and a masterpiece. But if he wrote this down first...I guess I concur with one reviewer who wrote that, "At least he didn't also say it was a dark and stormy night..." (sic).

Who was Jack Ruby? Whatever he was he was not patriotic. He did what he had to do when he killed Lee Harvey Oswald, and he knew why.

When an oligarch orders a hit, he's certain it will never come back to him.

Who was Lee Harvey Oswald? Oswald was a nut, just the kind of person to get for this type of mission. He was solicited by Jack Ruby; when Ruby came up to him, he expressed recognition of Ruby. He had a look of total astonishment on his face after he was shot.

Why is discussion of this subject total taboo, that's the question everyone should ask.