Percy's song

[john743]

Hi.Try as I might ,I can't find info on what happened to Percy as the years past. Of course I'm speaking about that great Dylan song,Any up-dates. Thanks

john

[Carl]

Wow, that song is copyright 1964. Here are the lyrics on Dylan's official site:

http://www.bobdylan.com/us/songs/percys-song

This one is pretty convincing, as it would be typical of Dylan to testify in court and then write a song about it. It's one of the few artist accounts of a court case without the sensationalism - just a judge in an office making his ruling.

[john743]

Hi,and thank you Carl. But the question is ,what happened to Percy. Is he still doing the 99 years in the can. Was he let out early. Is he alive.Great song ,sad story

john

[Rayzor]

I think what Carl was trying to say was that there is no Percy. Dylan made him up. Great song about a fictional story.

[Carl]

I'd like to think Percy tunneled out with some help from Morgan Freeman, but he's probably still in the clink.

[john743]

Well with Dylan is guess all is possible. But no,I think the story is real. Far,far to much emotion (in the 60s bootleg) to be just a tune.Right up there with ballad in plain D

john

[greg]

Compare the last verse of Percy's song:

And I played my guitar

Through the night to the day

Turn, turn, turn again

And the only tune

My guitar could play

Was, “Oh the Cruel Rain And the Wind”

to the last verse of "Oh the Cruel Wind and Rain"

But the only tune that the fiddle could play
Was, Oh, the wind and rain
The only tune that the fiddle could play
Was, Oh, the cruel wind and the rain

This a really old folk song with many variations (often called "The Two Sisters"), always with an instrument made from bones/hair of a murdered woman, which would only play sad songs. 

Dylan also borrowed from other folk songs - such as "She once was a true love of mine" in Girl from the North Country (also borrowed by Paul Simon). 

He used the tune of Lady Franklin's Lament for Bob Dylan's Dream - and also converted her 10,000 Pounds to 10,000 dollars in the final stanza.  Lady Franklin was mourning her husband's death as he tried to find the Northwest Passage, with a promised reward of 10,000 Pounds.  

These are only a few examples.  Dylan is basically a folk musician, and he has never been afraid to borrow themes, lyrics, or tunes in the finest tradition of folkies!