Chimes of Freedom: The Politics of Bob Dylan's Art
Encyclopedia
Chimes of Freedom: The Politics of Bob Dylan's Art is a major work on the music and politics of Bob Dylan
, written by Mike Marqusee
(New York, The New Press, 2003, ISBN 1-56584-825-X).
The book takes its title from the song "Chimes of Freedom
", which is a transitional work between Dylan's earlier 'protest
' style and his later more free-flowing obscure and poetic style.
Marqusee discusses Dylan's early influence by Woody Guthrie
, his involvement with the protest movement, his ready youthful empathy with the American Civil Rights Movement and with those in poverty within the USA; and his increasing disillusionment in the mid-sixties with protest politics. This was paralleled musically by his moving away from the use of a simple acoustic guitar, to a full backing group; and lyrically, by his evolution of a highly complex poetic style which influenced popular music for a generation.
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
, written by Mike Marqusee
Mike Marqusee
Mike Marqusee is an American-born writer, journalist and political activist in London. His partner is the barrister Liz Davies.Marqusee, who describes himself as a "deracinated New York Marxist Jew" has lived in Britain since 1971...
(New York, The New Press, 2003, ISBN 1-56584-825-X).
The book takes its title from the song "Chimes of Freedom
Chimes of Freedom
"Chimes of Freedom" is a song written and performed by Bob Dylan and featured on his 1964 album Another Side of Bob Dylan , produced by Tom Wilson. It was written in early 1964 and was influenced by the symbolist poetry of Arthur Rimbaud. The song depicts the feelings and thoughts of the singer...
", which is a transitional work between Dylan's earlier 'protest
Protest song
A protest song is a song which 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...
' style and his later more free-flowing obscure and poetic style.
Marqusee discusses Dylan's early influence by Woody Guthrie
Woody Guthrie
Woodrow Wilson "Woody" Guthrie is best known as an American singer-songwriter and folk musician, whose musical legacy includes hundreds of political, traditional and children's songs, ballads and improvised works. He frequently performed with the slogan This Machine Kills Fascists displayed on his...
, his involvement with the protest movement, his ready youthful empathy with the American Civil Rights Movement and with those in poverty within the USA; and his increasing disillusionment in the mid-sixties with protest politics. This was paralleled musically by his moving away from the use of a simple acoustic guitar, to a full backing group; and lyrically, by his evolution of a highly complex poetic style which influenced popular music for a generation.