Idiot Wind
Bob Dylan
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Someone's got it in for me They're planting stories in the press Whoever it is I wish they'd cut it out quick But when they will I can only guess They say I shot a man named Gray And took his wife to Italy She inherited a million bucks And when she died it came to me I can't help it if I'm lucky People see me all the time And they just can't remember how to act Their minds are filled with big ideas Images and distorted facts Even you, yesterday You had to ask me where it was at I couldn't believe after all these years You didn't know me better than that Sweet lady Idiot wind Blowing every time you move your mouth Blowing down the back roads headin' south Idiot wind Blowing every time you move your teeth You're an idiot, babe It's a wonder that you still know how to breathe I ran into the fortune-teller Who said beware of lightning that might strike I haven't known peace and quiet For so long I can't remember what it's like There's a lone soldier on the cross Smoke pourin' out of a boxcar door You didn't know it, you didn't think it could be done In the final end he won the wars After losin' every battle I woke up on the roadside Daydreamin' 'bout the way things sometimes are Visions of your chestnut mare Shoot through my head and are makin' me see stars You hurt the ones that I love best And cover up the truth with lies One day you'll be in the ditch Flies buzzin' around your eyes Blood on your saddle Idiot wind Blowing through the flowers on your tomb Blowing through the curtains in your room Idiot wind Blowing every time you move your teeth You're an idiot, babe It's a wonder that you still know how to breathe It was gravity which pulled us down And destiny which broke us apart You tamed the lion in my cage But it just wasn't enough to change my heart Now everything's a little upside down As a matter of fact the wheels have stopped What's good is bad, what's bad is good You'll find out when you reach the top You're on the bottom I noticed at the ceremony Your corrupt ways had finally made you blind I can't remember your face anymore Your mouth has changed Your eyes don't look into mine The priest wore black on the seventh day And sat stone-faced while the building burned I waited for you on the running boards Near the cypress trees, while the springtime turned Slowly into autumn Idiot wind Blowing like a circle around my skull, From the Grand Coulee Dam to the Capitol Idiot wind Blowing every time you move your teeth You're an idiot, babe. It's a wonder that you still know how to breathe I can't feel you anymore I can't even touch the books you've read Every time I crawl past your door I been wishin' I was somebody else instead Down the highway, down the tracks Down the road to ecstasy I followed you beneath the stars Hounded by your memory And all your ragin' glory I been double-crossed now For the very last time and now I'm finally free I kissed goodbye the howling beast On the borderline which separated you from me You'll never know the hurt I suffered Nor the pain I rise above, And I'll never know the same about you Your holiness or your kind of love And it makes me feel so sorry Idiot wind Blowing through the buttons of our coats Blowing through the letters that we wrote Idiot wind Blowing through the dust upon our shelves We're idiots, babe It's a wonder we can even feed ourselves
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Written by: Bob Dylan
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
12 facts about this song
Songwriting"Idiot Wind" is one of Bob Dylan's most lyrically complex songs. It's known for its scornful tone and profound metaphors, showing a significant shift in Dylan's songwriting style.
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AlbumThe song is included in his 15th studio album, "Blood on the Tracks," released in 1975. This album is said to be influenced by his personal experiences, specifically his estrangement from his then-wife, Sara Lownds.
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Original VersionThere is an earlier, acoustically softer version of "Idiot Wind" recorded in September 1974 in New York City, showing a gentler and more introspective tone. However, Dylan re-recorded it in December 1974 in a more bitter tone.
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Performance"Idiot Wind" has been performed over 200 times by Dylan during his concerts but it isn't one of his most played songs.
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AwardsNME named "Idiot Wind" the 7th greatest Bob Dylan song in their list published in 2015.
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Critic ReceptionDespite its harsh lyrics, the song was generally well-received by critics, praising its raw emotion and lyrical brilliance. Rolling Stone ranks it among the top 15 of Dylan's best songs.
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Length"Idiot Wind" is one of Dylan's longest songs, running for over 7 minutes.
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InterpretationMany speculate the song was a harsh response to the criticism Dylan faced from the press and fans during his career upheaval in the early 1970s.
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CoversThe song has been covered by a number of artists over the years, including The Jerry Garcia Band, Hampton Hawes, Mary Lee's Corvette, and Sam Shepard.
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Musical Style"Idiot Wind" demonstrates Dylan’s return to a more folk-blues style, in contrast to his earlier electric rock phase.
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Album SuccessThe album "Blood on the Tracks" that contains "Idiot Wind" reached No.1 on the Billboard 200 charts in America and was certified double Platinum.
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InspirationThough Dylan never confirmed, many fans and critics believe "Idiot Wind" was partially inspired by his deteriorating relationship with his wife Sara, much like many of the songs on the album "Blood on the Tracks."
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Citation
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