Life is a highway and today I completed Highway 61

You never know when a Bob Dylan song will hit close to home. I first heard it in 1965 when I was 16 years old. Life is very much like a highway which can can go uphill, downhill, or stay on a plateau. The trip can be turbulent, happy or uneventful. I would classify my last year as being somewhat mundane with too much of "same old." As one gets older people become more resistant and even fearful of change. We are in a comfort zone when we do the same thing over again, but this can be boring. I would have to say the highlight of my year was celebrating my mothers 90th birthday. She is in excellent health for her age. Getting an iPhone would be a very distant second place. On the negative side, this past year I had to face rejection for the silliest of reasons.

I thank everyone for their kind birthday wishes.

According to the Dylan covers database Highway 61 Revisited was covered over 300 times. I am posting the version by Ben Sidran which I first heard on WBGO. He has a CD of covers called Dylan Different. My name for this CD is Dylan with Diction. Facebook friends can see and hear it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFTbqz_6pGI

Oh God said to Abraham, “Kill me a son”
Abe says, “Man, you must be puttin’ me on”
God say, “No.” Abe say, “What?”
God say, “You can do what you want Abe, but
The next time you see me comin’ you better run”
Well Abe says, “Where do you want this killin’ done?”
God says, “Out on Highway 61”

Well Georgia Sam he had a bloody nose
Welfare Department they wouldn’t give him no clothes
He asked poor Howard where can I go
Howard said there’s only one place I know
Sam said tell me quick man I got to run
Ol’ Howard just pointed with his gun
And said that way down on Highway 61

Well Mack the Finger said to Louie the King
I got forty red, white and blue shoestrings
And a thousand telephones that don’t ring
Do you know where I can get rid of these things
And Louie the King said let me think for a minute son
And he said yes I think it can be easily done
Just take everything down to Highway 61

Now the fifth daughter on the twelfth night
Told the first father that things weren’t right
My complexion she said is much too white
He said come here and step into the light, he says hmm you’re right
Let me tell the second mother this has been done
But the second mother was with the seventh son
And they were both out on Highway 61

Now the rovin’ gambler he was very bored
He was tryin’ to create a next world war
He found a promoter who nearly fell off the floor
He said I never engaged in this kind of thing before
But yes I think it can be very easily done
We’ll just put some bleachers out in the sun
And have it on Highway 61

Copyright © 1965 by Warner Bros. Inc.; renewed 1993 by Special Rider Music