Different Interpretations of the Song I Shall Be Released
Introduction
Different ways of performing a song: opportunities for a new artistic expression.
Possible differences: mood, interpretation, performance tools.
Song to be discussed: I Shall Be Released.
Original performer: Bob Dylan; multiple covers, including Nina Simone. Target performances: 976 and 994 live concerts.
Song History
Bob Dylan
Written in 967. Dylans version: 967, recorded. album version (Music from Big Pink): 968 Richard Manuel. Dylans version: is ultimately more popular.
Richard Manuel
Theme: Metaphorical Prison
I Shall Be Released means: reflecting a prisoners perspective. Metaphoric sense of being imprisoned and constrained. Urge for the ultimate release and the need for rebellion. Protest against conformity and establishment in its purest form.
Song Form
Form of the song; a very basic structure (verse-chorus). Surface problem: conflict between the rebellious nature and the conformity of the form. The underlying reason for complying with the tradition: is the need to focus on the content. Repetition is the tool for legitimizing the key statement (I see my light come shining (Dylan)).
Comparison: Shift of Emotions
Energetic, enthusiastic, joyful, performed alone, wistful, and performed with other musicians. Enduring Features.
Main enduring feature: difficult to identify due to the difference in performances. Lyrics and the soundtrack: the only enduring characteristics. Guitar solo: an enduring feature that characterizes the song and adds a unique flair to it. The recognizability of Dylans solo across all versions as contrasted with his unique voice in the 994 performance is the main point of difference between the two versions.
Difference in Interpretation
Change in the level of energy: the main difference between the 976 and 994 concerts. 976: Energetic, cheerful anticipation and optimism. 994: Lacking energy. Protest is emphasized to a lesser extent, with a greater focus on the implied meanings of the song (prison as the limitations set by oneself).
Conclusion
976 and 994 performances of I Shall Be Released: drastically different despite the same lyrics and soundtrack. Focus on the different themes of the song (external as the rebellion against the system versus internal as confronting oneself). Drop-in energy of the performance in the 994 version compared to 976 one. Result: two entirely different interpretations of the same song. I Shall Be Released has gained a new meaning.
Works Cited
Dylan, Bob. I Shall Be Released Bob Dylan and The Band 976. YouTube, uploaded by Grey Coyote.
Dylan, Bob. BOB DYLAN I Shall Be Released (Live in Woodstock 994). YouTube, uploaded by JIMBLUESROCK Vol2.
Jacobs, Jonas. Evolution of a Song I Shall Be Released (Videos). PopMatters. Web.