Tears of Rage

Bob Dylan

About Tears of Rage

"Tears of Rage" is a song written by Bob Dylan (lyrics) and Richard Manuel (melody) and recorded by Dylan and The Band on The Basement Tapes and by The Band on Music from Big Pink.


Year:
2001
4:12
124 
#3

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We carried you in our arms
On Independence Day
And now you'd throw us all aside
And put us on our way
Oh, what dear daughter 'neath the sun
Would treat a father so
To wait upon him hand and foot
And always tell him "No?"
Tears of rage, tears of grief
Why am I the one who must be the thief ?
Come to me now, you know
We're so alone
And life is brief.

We pointed out the way to go
And scratched your name in sand
Though you just thought that it was nothing more
Than a place for you to stand
Now I want you to know that while you watched
You discover there was no one true
Must everybody really thought
It was a childish thing to do
Tears of rage, tears of grief
Why am I the one who must be the thief ?
Come to me now, you know
We're so alone
And life is brief.

It was all very painless
When you went out to receive
All that false instruction
Which we never could believe
And now the heart is filled with gold
As if it was a purse
But oh, what kind of love is this
Which goes from bad to worse ?
Tears of rage, tears of grief
Why am I the one who must be the thief ?
Come to me now, you know
We're so alone
And life is brief.

 The easy, fast & fun way to learn how to sing: 30DaySinger.com


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: Richard Manuel, Bob Dylan

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


11 facts about this song

Genesis of the Song
"Tears of Rage" was co-written by Bob Dylan and Richard Manuel of The Band during the summer of 1967 from a house in West Saugerties, New York, famously known as "Big Pink," while Dylan was recovering from a motorcycle accident.
Album Release
The song was first released on The Band's 1968 album Music from Big Pink.
Song Impact
Often considered as one of Dylan's finest songs, it represents a powerful exploration of betrayal and regret with references to Shakespeare.
Dylan’s Version
Even though Bob Dylan co-wrote the song, his version of "Tears of Rage" was not released until 1975 when it was included in The Basement Tapes album.
Co-Author’s Performance
Richard Manuel, as the co-author, took the lead vocal in The Band's version of this track.
Song Theme
The song explores themes of aging, regret, and parental love, utilizing the context of the biblical story of Esau and Joseph to express the emotional complexity behind.
Chorus Line
An interesting fact is that the chorus line "Life is brief'' was inverted in Dylan's famous live versions to "Life is brief but when it's gone, love goes on and on".
Live Performances
"Tears of Rage" was included in The Band’s set list when it officially debuted at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco in April 1969.
Song Renditions
Besides Dylan and The Band, the song has been covered by many artists, including Grateful Dead, Stephen Stills and Manassas
Musical Style
The song showcases an early fusion of rock and roll with traditional folk and country influences, which became a characteristic style of The Band.
Emotional Depth
Critics have noted that the song’s emotional depth derives from the combination of Dylan’s lyrical genius and the deeply affecting vocal delivery by Richard Manuel.

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