I have often thought of this as one of Dylan's more enduring love songs simply for its title. All of his other songs that could be classified as "love songs" have a title that betrays either a name (ie. "Visions of Johanna") or a feeling (ie. "Tangled Up in Blue"). But "Ballad in Plain D" is exactly that...a ballad in plain D. It's almost as if Dylan felt that by stating a name or an emotion would in a sense tarnish who he was writing the song for. That's why I feel whoever this girl is she was probably Bob's greatest love interest. I have a theory as to who this song is about, but I could very well be (and probably am) wrong: I think it's about the Italian girl he wrote about in "Chronicles Vol. 1" that he was obviously very taken with. The "bronze skin" leads me to believe this, as well as (more importantly) the mother that stayed close. Now, we all know the Italian stereotypes of the close-knit family unit (and since I'm Italian I can relate) so I assume that in this song he is referring to a mother that would not let her daughter see a man that she didn't like. In "Chronicles" Dylan painted this picture very vividly. Those are my thoughts on the meaning of the song, but two things before I go: "Are birds free from the chains of the skyway" is one of my favorite Dylan lyrics ever, and I can't believe I am the first one to be posting for this song. I mean, for the love of God, someone at least call me a shithead in response so I know you have a pulse. Oh well. I'm finished.
I have often thought of this as one of Dylan's more enduring love songs simply for its title. All of his other songs that could be classified as "love songs" have a title that betrays either a name (ie. "Visions of Johanna") or a feeling (ie. "Tangled Up in Blue"). But "Ballad in Plain D" is exactly that...a ballad in plain D. It's almost as if Dylan felt that by stating a name or an emotion would in a sense tarnish who he was writing the song for. That's why I feel whoever this girl is she was probably Bob's greatest love interest. I have a theory as to who this song is about, but I could very well be (and probably am) wrong: I think it's about the Italian girl he wrote about in "Chronicles Vol. 1" that he was obviously very taken with. The "bronze skin" leads me to believe this, as well as (more importantly) the mother that stayed close. Now, we all know the Italian stereotypes of the close-knit family unit (and since I'm Italian I can relate) so I assume that in this song he is referring to a mother that would not let her daughter see a man that she didn't like. In "Chronicles" Dylan painted this picture very vividly. Those are my thoughts on the meaning of the song, but two things before I go: "Are birds free from the chains of the skyway" is one of my favorite Dylan lyrics ever, and I can't believe I am the first one to be posting for this song. I mean, for the love of God, someone at least call me a shithead in response so I know you have a pulse. Oh well. I'm finished.