Positively 4th Street

Bob Dylan

About Positively 4th Street

"Positively 4th Street" is a song written and performed by Bob Dylan, first recorded in New York City on July 29, 1965. It was released as a single by Columbia Records on September 7, 1965, reaching No. 1 on Canada's RPM chart, No. 7 on the U. S. Billboard Hot 100, and No. 8 on the UK Singles Chart. Rolling Stone magazine ranked the song as No. 206 in their 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list. The song was released between Highway 61 Revisited and Blonde on Blonde, as the follow-up to Dylan's hit single "Like a Rolling Stone", but was not included on either album. The song's title does not appear anywhere in the lyrics and there has been much debate over the years as to the significance or which individual the song concerns. An unreleased promo spot of the song can be found on the No Direction Home DVD special features. 


Year:
2005
111 

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You've got a lotta nerve to say you are my friend
When I was down you just stood there grinnin'
You've got a lotta nerve to say you got a helping hand to lend
You just want to be on the side that's winnin'

You say I let you down, ya know its not like that
If you're so hurt, why then don't you show it?
You say you've lost your faith, but that's not where its at
You have no faith to lose, and ya know it

I know the reason, that you talked behind my back
I used to be among the crowd you're in with
Do you take me for such a fool, to think I'd make contact
With the one who tries to hide what he don't know to begin with?

You see me on the street, you always act surprised
You say "how are you?", "good luck", but ya don't mean it
When you know as well as me, you'd rather see me paralyzed
Why don't you just come out once and scream it

No, I do not feel that good when I see the heartbreaks you embrace
If I was a master thief perhaps I'd rob them
And tho I know you're dissatisfied with your position and your place
Don't you understand, its not my problem?

I wish that for just one time you could stand inside my shoes
And just for that one moment I could be you
Yes, I wish that for just one time you could stand inside my shoes
You'd know what a drag it is to see you

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Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan ( /ˈdɪlən/; born Robert Allen Zimmerman; May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter, musician, author, poet and artist. He has been an influential figure in popular music and culture for more than five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly reluctant figurehead of social unrest. A number of Dylan's early songs, such as "Blowin' in the Wind" and "The Times They Are a-Changin'", became anthems for the US civil rights and anti-war movements. Leaving his initial base in the culture of folk music behind, Dylan's six-minute single "Like a Rolling Stone" has been described as radically altering the parameters of popular music in … more »

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Written by: Bob Dylan

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Release Information
"Positively 4th Street" was released as a single by Bob Dylan in 1965. It remains one of his most popular and enduring songs.
Chart Performance
The song reached #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S and #8 in the UK Singles Chart. It was Dylan's first Top 10 hit in the UK.
Lyric Analysis
Unlike many of Dylan's songs, which often have abstract and poetic lyrics, "Positively 4th Street" is straight and direct. It is widely considered to be an acerbic retort to those who criticized Dylan for moving away from his folk roots toward rock and roll.
Instrumentation
"Positively 4th Street" is known for its distinctive lead electric piano, an unusual sound for pop records of the era. This exemplified Dylan's break from traditional folk and move toward a more eclectic sound.
Title Significance
The 4th Street in the song's title has been widely speculated to refer to a street in Greenwich Village, New York, where Dylan once lived and played. However, Dylan has never confirmed this interpretation.
Critical Response
Many critics and fans consider "Positively 4th Street" to be one of Dylan's best songs. It appears on numerous 'greatest songs' lists, including Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, where it ranks #203.
Controversies
The song's confrontational lyrics sparked controversy, with speculations arising that it targeted certain individuals or groups. Dylan's target in the song, however, remains a mystery, sparking numerous debates and theories.
Cover Versions
"Positively 4th Street" has been covered by various artists including The Byrds, Johnny Rivers, Simply Red, Lucinda Williams, and Jerry Garcia.
Place in Dylan's Catalogue
Though excluding it from his greatest hits albums, Dylan has included "Positively 4th Street" in his live setlists, signalling its importance among his works.
Sound Innovation
The song is noteworthy for its innovative sound that bridges folk and rock music. Dylan used a Fender Rhodes electronic piano, which gave the song a distinctive, cutting edge sound.

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    Positively 4th Street

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1965

    Billboard #7


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