Bob Dylan - "Murder Most Foul"

orpheus10,

"When JFK was murdered, the future of millions of people was murdered; I dare say, the future of generations of people was murdered, and the killer knew that."

It's pretty well documented that the Kennedy's were aware of the various hidden dangers they were confronting with their brave approach to political life.

JFK even joked about it.

Their murders effectively served as a warning for any future presidential do-gooders not to rock the boat too much.

And so far no one has.

The difference between being unemployed and considering a liquor store holdup one day, and having a job at a manufacturing plant the next day is more dramatic than anyone can imagine.

And that has what to do with JFK?

Use your imagination roxy54.

I was born a year after the Kennedy assassination, and my parents at the time were so traumatized by the event (and the social/political upheaval that followed) that they had considered leaving the US to go back and live in Europe (my mother was Danish; my father is a US WWII vet).  They felt that their whole belief system had been subverted by what his murder/death personified.  The nation became quite divided (and still is), and social/economic inequalities became exacerbated as this country plunged itself down the path of neoliberalism.  I find the song to be quite haunting.  The lyrics for me cut like a knife - they are direct and unambiguous.  Death is unambiguous.  As to why Dylan chose to release this song right now I can only speculate.  On the surface the Kennedy assassination obviously impacted him (as the whole nation).  Covid-19 also conjures up fears of death.  As this country continually fails to have a meaningful discussion on the role government (I blame the tribalism that all political parties seem to embrace) we witness a staggeringly impotent response to this crisis.  To properly protect ourselves and appropriately respond to such crises, we have to be unified as a nation (it is in everyone’s best interest) otherwise the social/economic inequities will continue to surge and many more people will die than is necessary - Murder Most Foul.