Walls of Red Wing

Last updated
"Walls of Red Wing"
Song by Bob Dylan
from the album The Bootleg Series Volumes 1-3 (Rare & Unreleased) 1961-1991
ReleasedMarch 26, 1991
RecordedApril 24, 1963
Genre Folk
Length5:05
Label Columbia
Songwriter(s) Bob Dylan

"Walls of Red Wing" is a folk and protest song, written by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan. Originally recorded for Dylan's second album, The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan , [1] it was not included, and eventually attempted for his next work, The Times They Are a-Changin' , but, again, this version was never released. The version recorded for Freewheelin' eventually appeared on The Bootleg Series Volumes 1-3 (Rare & Unreleased) 1961-1991 . The song describes a boys' reform school located in Red Wing, Minnesota.

A protest song is a song that is associated with a movement for social change and hence part of the broader category of topical songs. It may be folk, classical, or commercial in genre.

Singer-songwriter musician who writes, composes and sings

Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose, and perform their own musical material, including lyrics and melodies.

Bob Dylan American singer-songwriter, musician, author, and artist

Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, author, and visual artist who has been a major figure in popular culture for six decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s, when songs such as "Blowin' in the Wind" (1963) and "The Times They Are a-Changin'" (1964) became anthems for the Civil Rights Movement and anti-war movement. His lyrics during this period incorporated a wide range of political, social, philosophical, and literary influences, defied pop-music conventions and appealed to the burgeoning counterculture.

Contents

Composition

Dylan based "Walls of Red Wing" on the traditional Scottish folk ballad "The Road and the Miles to Dundee", which he may have learned during his trip to London in early 1963, from other aspiring folk singers, such as Martin Carthy. [1] In his narration, Dylan goes to describe a juvenile detention center in Red Wing, Minnesota. The description is hyperbolical, and goes to describe the students there as "thrown in like bandits and cast off like criminals", [2] the walls of "barbed wire" and the fence with "electricity's sting", [2] the guards holding their clubs like they were "kings", [2] and the supposed "dungeon" of the building. [2] Despite these harrowing descriptions, Red Wing was not the impenetrable "Gothic fortress" (as John Bauldie calls it [1] ) portrayed in this song. [1]

Scotland Country in Europe, part of the United Kingdom

Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Sharing a border with England to the southeast, Scotland is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, by the North Sea to the northeast and by the Irish Sea to the south. In addition to the mainland, situated on the northern third of the island of Great Britain, Scotland has over 790 islands, including the Northern Isles and the Hebrides.

London Capital of the United Kingdom

London is the capital and largest city of both England and the United Kingdom. Standing on the River Thames in the south-east of England, at the head of its 50-mile (80 km) estuary leading to the North Sea, London has been a major settlement for two millennia. Londinium was founded by the Romans. The City of London, London's ancient core − an area of just 1.12 square miles (2.9 km2) and colloquially known as the Square Mile − retains boundaries that follow closely its medieval limits. The City of Westminster is also an Inner London borough holding city status. Greater London is governed by the Mayor of London and the London Assembly.

Martin Carthy English musician

Martin Carthy MBE is an English folk singer and guitarist who has remained one of the most influential figures in British traditional music, inspiring contemporaries such as Bob Dylan and Paul Simon and later artists such as Richard Thompson since he emerged as a young musician in the early days of the folk revival.

Cover versions

Joan Baez covered this song on her 1968 album Any Day Now ; Ramblin' Jack Elliot covered it in 1997 on his album Friends of Mine . [3]

Joan Baez American singer

Joan Chandos Baez is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and activist whose contemporary folk music often includes songs of protest or social justice. Baez has performed publicly for over 60 years, releasing over 30 albums. Fluent in Spanish and English, she has also recorded songs in at least six other languages. Although generally regarded as a folk singer, her music has diversified since the counterculture era of the 1960s, and encompasses genres such as folk rock, pop, country, and gospel music.

<i>Any Day Now</i> (Joan Baez album) 1968 studio album by Joan Baez

Any Day Now was a Joan Baez double LP from 1968, made up exclusively of Bob Dylan songs. It peaked at number 30 on the Billboard Pop Albums chart.

<i>Friends of Mine</i> (Ramblin Jack Elliott album) 1998 studio album by Ramblin Jack Elliott

Friends of Mine is an album by American folk musician Ramblin' Jack Elliott, released in 1998.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Bauldie, John, Linear Notes to The Bootleg Series Volumes 1-3
  2. 1 2 3 4 Lyrics to "Walls of Red Wing" bobdylan.com. Retrieved August 23, 2010
  3. ↑ Bjorner: Walls of Red Wing Covers Bjorner's It Ain't Me Babe. Retrieved August 23, 2010
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