Daniel and Kelly are listening to Dylan one random song at a time. This episode features our discussion of 1993’s “Jack-A-Roe” from World Gone Wrong.

context and episode setup (2:00) | versions (10:00) | song itself (24:00) | does this song work today? (43:00) | we’re a real podcast with a playlist (50:30) | recommendations (1:02:00) | endings (1:13:00)

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Context (2:00)

This song was recorded by Dylan in May 1993 for World Gone Wrong. The song itself is quite old and storied – it’s indexed in Roud 268 and Laws N7. Roud notes the variety of versions this song comes in. One can focus on the man “Jack” or the war or the merchant; one can change his name while no one is looking; if you wanted to obscure the songs twist, you can; or you can just be open about the song itself by deemphasizing “Jack” for “Jackie” or “Lily.” Or you can call it "The East Wind Blowing From the Southward" and call it a day!

This song during Dylan's 80th birthday (5:00)

We share our initial thoughts on the song as we’re in the midst of celebrating Dylan’s 80th. This is a weird one to have for such a momentous birthday, but here we are.

Versions (10:00)

We listened to the World Gone Wrong version as well as his two performances at The Supper Club in 1993. Kelly enjoys the recorded version while Daniel digs the banjo and how the Supper Club renditions move.

Kelly plays “Jack-A-Roe” that morphs into “House of the Risin' Sun”

Song Itself (24:00)

We split the episode into parts. To open, we quote Laws N7 on some basic facts of this song.

DESCRIPTION: A rich girl loves a soldier/sailor; her father does not, and has the boy pressed to Germany. She disguises herself and enlists under the name (Jackie Monroe). When her lover is wounded, she nurses him. She reveals her identity; they are married

EARLIEST DATE: 1818 (Garret, Merrie Book of Garlands)

KEYWORDS: love cross-dressing disguise injury medicine marriage

Of course, Dylan notes, in his liner notes to the album, that this is “another Tom Paley ballad.” We quote A.L. Lloyd (who recorded this in 1956):

The figure of the Maiden Warrior, the girl who dresses herself in soldier's or sailor's clothes, and follows her lover to the wars, was a constant favourite with street balladeers. Scholars have traced the line of such heroines from the days of Hercules and Hippolyte to Mary Ambree and beyond. Jackie Munro, one of the completest treatments of the theme, has become a rarity in England and Scotland, though versions of the ballad are not uncommon in America. In spite of its Scottish title name and one or two north country expressions, this version is regarded as being unmistakenly English in text and tune.

We also play Paley’s version from 1953’s Folk Songs From The Southern Appalachians.

We talk about the song’s set up, then its conflict. Comparing this to other versions, with different setups and conflicts depending on when and where this song is performed, it’s clear that Dylan, as with “Stack-A-Lee,” will choose the inferior of all versions he could’ve possibly done. We riff on Mulan, of course, and relish in the song’s twist and lament lost possibilities. We joke on Dylan rhyming “town” and “wounds” and the weak ending.

Does this work today? (43:00)

Kelly felt stronger than Daniel did. Historically, sure. It’s another link in the chain and who’s gonna be mad about that. The live performance at Supper Club is unique to the Dylan catalog. However, knowing the possibilities for what this song could be make this a squandered opportunity all around.

We're a Real Podcast and Playlist (50:30)

Recommendations (1:02:00)

Kelly watched Army of the Dead (Netflix). She listened to The Beths, Fresh and There Their They're; Japandroids; K Flay "TGIF"; Tor Oasis Sky, and God is an Astronaut All is Violent, All is Bright: Live.

Daniel listened to Mannquin Pussy Perfect and the Marvin Gaye deluxe What's Going On. He’s been playing Red Dead Redemption 2 again and started reading Clinton Heylin's The Double Life of Bob Dylan: A Restless, Hungry Feeling, 1941-1966, which was just released.

Endings (1:13:00)

363 songs left. Kelly chose 5 words at random to lyrically select our next song. The words this episode were: head (93), resident (6), certain (6), call (65), cut (55). Next time we’re listening to “Highlands” (!!!).

References

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