AboutThom Expertise I will attempt to answer any questions relating to Bob Dylan`s life, music, religion, tours, lyrics, etc. If I don`t know the answer myself, I will make an effort to find the answer for you.
Experience Over 40 years of listening to Dylan, reading everything I could get my hands on about him.
Publications Eureka Times Standard
Eureka Ca.
Education/Credentials 5 years college without degrees
Question QUESTION: Hello! Please help! How can you explain the phrase from Bob's song "It's alright Ma" - Money doesn't talk, it swears. What does it mean? Thanks in advance!
ANSWER: Money talks: meaning it has influence; makes things happen....Money doesn't talk, it swears! Meaning it not only has influence, it is loud and obscene and makes things happen faster. MOney has more power than just talking. Hope that helps.
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QUESTION: Thom! Do you know other Dylan's songs where he says about money, his attitude to it, where there are some colorful metaphors of money? I managed to find "A satisfied mind", "Too much of nothing". They are pretty clear to me, but that's not enough. I need this for my thesis at University. I noticed that in almost all songs he has very trivial vision of money (it's evil, it's a symbol of betrayal, it's power), but are there any different, unique meanings of money? Has Bob got his own unique (probably unexpected) vision of money? I'm sorry for such a difficult question. But I'd be very happy if you could answer:-*
Answer I would suggest finding something from the sixties where he's talking about the evils of money, especially too much money...
then compare it with his most recent comments about money such as this line from Love + Theft (poor boy)
"I say how much you want for that, I go into the store. Man says, "Three dollars."
I say, "Alright, will you take 4?"
I think this describes two things:
That he is older and getting a little forgetful...and money is not important anymore, he'd just as soon give more than something is worth.
Another one famous line, which until this time had been his only statement about his own wealth....
"Well my pockets are loaded and I'm spendin every dime." I'm not sure where that came from but it's within 10 years.
another good one. "Steal a little and they throw you in jail, steal alot and they make you king." About power and money.
