Highlands (song)
"Highlands" is a song by Bob Dylan, released on his 30th studio album Time Out of Mind in 1997. It is Dylan's second longest officially released studio recording at sixteen minutes and thirty-one seconds, surpassed only by "Murder Most Foul", which runs twenty-three seconds longer.
"Highlands" | |
---|---|
Song by Bob Dylan | |
from the album Time Out of Mind | |
Released | September 30, 1997 |
Recorded | January 1997 |
Genre | Country blues,[1] folk rock[2] |
Length | 16:31 |
Label | Columbia |
Songwriter(s) | Bob Dylan |
Producer(s) | Daniel Lanois |
Time Out of Mind track listing | |
11 tracks
|
Song
The song's title is thought to be borrowed from the poem "My Heart's in the Highlands" by Scottish poet Robert Burns, whom Dylan later cited as his greatest influence.[3] In the song's lyrics, Dylan makes references to musician Neil Young and author Erica Jong.[4]
The song is based on a simple (E blues) riff, inspired, according to Dylan, by an unnamed Charley Patton record that has yet to be identified.[5] The riff is played the whole way through the song. The song has no traditional chorus or bridge.[6]
According to Dylan's website, the song had been played live nine times, as of 2018.[4] "Highlands" was named Dylan's 94th best song by Rolling Stone magazine.[7]
Other versions
A live version of the song was included on the limited edition version of The Best of Bob Dylan, Vol. 2 (2000) and on a Japanese edition of the "Things Have Changed" single. The recording came from a performance in the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium in Santa Cruz, California on March 16, 2000.
References
- Pareles, Jon (September 28, 1997). "POP/JAZZ; A Wiser Voice Blowin' In The Autumn Wind". The New York Times. Retrieved December 8, 2019.
"...and a riff and a country-blues lilt from Charley Patton in Highlands.
- Porter, Carl J.; Vernezze, Peter; Irwin, William (May 24, 2011). "Bob Dylan and Philosophy: It's Alright Ma (I'm Only Thinking)". Open Court – via Google Books.
- Simpson, Aislinn (2008-10-05). "Bob Dylan 'inspired by Scottish poet Robert Burns'". ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2018-02-27.
- "Highlands | The Official Bob Dylan Site". bobdylan.com. Retrieved 2018-02-27.
- Sounes, H., 2002. Down The Highway: The Life of Bob Dylan. Grove Press. p481.
- Marshall, L., 2007. Bob Dylan: The Never Ending Star. Polity. pp. 246
- "100 Greatest Bob Dylan Songs". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2018-02-27.