Dirge
Bob Dylan
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I hate myself for lovin' you and the weakness that it showed You were just a painted face on a trip down Suicide Road. The stage was set, the lights went out all around the old hotel, I hate myself for lovin' you and I'm glad the curtain fell. I hate that foolish game we played and the need that was expressed And the mercy that you showed to me, who ever would have guessed? I went out on Lower Broadway and I felt that place within, That hollow place where martyrs weep and angels play with sin. Heard your songs of freedom and man forever stripped, Acting out his folly while his back is being whipped. Like a slave in orbit, he's beaten 'til he's tame, All for a moment's glory and it's a dirty, rotten shame. There are those who worship loneliness, I'm not one of them, In this age of fiberglass I'm searching for a gem. The crystal ball up on the wall hasn't shown me nothing yet, I've paid the price of solitude, but at last I'm out of debt. Can't recall a useful thing you ever did for me 'Cept pat me on the back one time when I was on my knees. We stared into each other's eyes 'til one of us would break, No use to apologize, what diff'rence would it make? So sing your praise of progress and of the Doom Machine, The naked truth is still taboo whenever it can be seen. Lady Luck, who shines on me, will tell you where I'm at, I hate myself for lovin' you, but I should get over that.
Struggling with Dirge? Become a better singer in 30 days with these videos!
Written by: BOB DYLAN
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
15 facts about this song
Album Release"Dirge" is a song by Bob Dylan that was featured on his 1974 album "Planet Waves".
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Collaboration with The BandThe album "Planet Waves", including the song "Dirge", marked Dylan's first album in collaboration with the Canadian-American rock group, The Band.
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Not a Single ReleaseDespite the popularity of "Dirge", it was never made into a single release by Dylan.
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Album ArtThe album cover for "Planet Waves" is a drawing by Dylan himself, which includes a depiction of him with his family.
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Writing ProcessDylan's writing process for the songs on this album, including "Dirge", was unorthodox. He would come up with lyrics on the spot while recording.
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Dylan's Pessimistic Views"Dirge" is seen to represent Dylan's pessimistic viewpoint at the time, with lyrics containing strong lines like "I hate myself for loving you."
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Live PerformancesDespite its popularity, "Dirge" was not often included in Dylan's live sets and there are only a few known live performances of this song by him.
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making it the first ever Dylan's album to top the chart.Album's Success:
"Planet Waves" became a commercially successful album, reaching No.1 on the Billboard 200
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Reviews"Dirge" garnered positive reviews from music critics, with many praising its raw energy and strong lyricism.
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Notable LyricsOne of the notable lyrics of "Dirge" is "I ain't saying you treated me unkind / You could have done better but I don't mind / You just kinda wasted my precious time / But don't think twice, it's all right".
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Song ThemeThe song touches on themes of bitterness, regret, and self-loathing, which were quite prominent in Dylan's music during this era.
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Influence"Dirge" had a profound influence on many future artists and songwriters, illustrating the darkness that can be explored through music and lyrics.
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Richard ManuelIn an interesting tidbit, the piano part in "Dirge" was played by The Band's Richard Manuel, not Dylan.
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Vinyl RecordFor vinyl collectors, the album "Planet Waves" became a coveted item, not just for the music, but because the cover represented a rare instance of Dylan's visual art being made publicly available.
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Personal StrugglesBob Dylan was going through a lot of personal struggles at the time of writing and recording "Dirge". This is believed to have greatly influenced the raw emotion and powerful lyricism in the song.
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Citation
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"Dirge Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 26 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/2401793/Bob+Dylan/Dirge>.
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