WORKINGMAN'S BLUES #2



No man no woman knows the hour that sorrow will come.


WORKINGMAN'S BLUES #2





There's an evenin' haze settlin' over town

Starlight by the edge of the creek

The buyin' power of the proletariat's gone down

Money's gettin' shallow and weak

Well, the place I love best is a sweet memory

It's a new path that we trod

They say low wages are reality

If we want to compete abroad

My cruel weapons have been put on the shelf

Come sit down on my knee

You are dearer to me than myself

As you yourself can see

While I'm listening to the steel rails a-hum

Got both eyes tight shut

Just sitting here trying to keep the hunger from

Creeping it's way into my gut

Meet me at the bottom, don't lag behind

Bring me my boots and shoes

You can hang back or fight your best on the frontline

Sing a little bit of these workingman blues

Well, I'm sailin' on back, ready for the long haul

Tossed by the winds and the seas

I'll drag 'em all down to hell and I'll stand 'em at the wall

I'll sell 'em to their enemies

I'm a-tryin' to feed my soul with thought

Gonna sleep off the rest of the day

Sometimes no one wants what you got

Sometimes you can't give it away

Now the place is ringed with countless foes

Some of them may be deaf and dumb

No man, no woman knows

The hour that sorrow will come

In the dark I hear the night birds call

I can feel a lover's breath

I sleep in the kitchen with my feet in the hall

Sleep is like a temporary death

Meet me at the bottom, don't lag behind

Bring me my boots and shoes

You can hang back or fight your best on the frontline

Sing a little bit of these workingman blues

Well, they burned my barn, and they stole my horse

I can't save a dime

I got to be careful, I don't want to be forced

Into a life of continual crime

I can see for myself that the sun is sinking

How I wish you were here to see

Tell me now, am I wrong in thinking

That you have forgotten me?

Now they worry and they hurry and they fuss and they fret

They waste your nights and days

Them I will forget

But you I'll remember always

Old memories of you to me have clung

You've wounded me with your words

Gonna have to straighten out your tongue

It's all true, everything you've heard

Meet me at the bottom, don't lag behind

Bring me my boots and shoes

You can hang back or fight your best on the frontline

Sing a little bit of these workingman blues

In you, my friend, I find no blame

Wanna look in my eyes, please do

No one could ever claim

That I took up arms against you

All across the peaceful sacred fields

They will lay you low

They'll break your horns and slash you with steel

I say it, so it must be so

Now I'm down on my luck and I'm black and blue

Gonna give you another chance

I'm all alone, I'm expecting you

To lead me off in a cheerful dance

I got a brand new suit and a brand new wife

I can live on rice and beans

Some people never work a day in their life

Don't know what work even means

Well, meet me at the bottom, don't lag behind

Bring me my boots and shoes

You can hang back or fight your best on the frontline

Sing a little bit of these workingman blues




PERFORMANCES


Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada - October 11, 2006

Seattle, Washington - October 13, 2006

Portland, Oregon - October 14, 2006

San Francisco, California - October 16, 2006

San Francisco, California - October 17, 2006

San Diego, California, - October 22, 2006

Denver, Colorado, - October 24, 2006

Lincoln, Nebraska, - October 25, 2006

Chicago, Illinois, - October 27, 2006

Chicago, Illinois, - October 28, 2006

Madison, Wisconsin, - October 31, 2006

Boston, Massachusetts, - November 11, 2006

Birmingham, England, - April 17, 2007

Morrison, Colorado - July 19, 2007

Morrison, Colorado - July 20, 2007

Telluride, Colorado - July 21, 2007

Albuquerque, New Mexico - July 22, 2007

Tucson, Arizona - July 24, 2007

Costa Mesa, California - July 26, 2007

Paso Robles, California - July 27, 2007

Kelseyville, California - July 28, 2007

Christchurch, New Zealand - August 8, 2007

Sydney, Australia - August 15, 2007

Adelaide, Australia - August 21, 2007

Perth, Australia - August 23, 2007

Auckland, New Zealand - August 26, 2007

Auckland, New Zealand - August 27, 2007

Austin, Texas - September 15, 2007

Austin, Texas - September 16, 2007

Nashville, Tennessee - September 19, 2007

Nashville, Tennessee - September 20, 2007

Duluth, Georgia - September 22, 2007

Clemson, South Carolina - September 23, 2007

Norfolk, Virginia - September 25, 2007

Charlottesville, Virginia - September 27, 2007

Columbia, Maryland - September 28, 2007

Kingston, Rhode Island - September 29, 2007

Bridgeport, Connecticut - September 30, 2007

Worcester, Massachusetts - October 2, 2007

Portland, Maine - October 4, 2007

Syracuse, New York - October 8, 2007

Rochester, New York - October 9, 2007

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - October 11, 2007

Ypsilanti, Michigan - October 12, 2007

Columbus, Ohio - October 13, 2007

Cincinnati, Ohio - October 15, 2007

Dayton, Ohio - October 16, 2007

Louisville, Kentucky - October 17, 2007

Bloomington, Indiana - October 19, 2007

Bloomington, Illinois - October 20, 2007

St. Louis, Missouri - October 22, 2007

Iowa City, Iowa - October 24, 2007

Omaha, Nebraska - October 26, 2007

Chicago, Illinois - October 27, 2007

Chicago, Illinois - October 28, 2007

Chicago, Illinois - October 29, 2007

Dallas, Texas - February 21, 2008

Dallas, Texas - February 22, 2008

Dallas, Texas - February 23, 2008

Mexico City, Mexico - February 26, 2008

Monterrey, Mexico - February 29, 2008

Guadalajara, Mexico - March 2, 2008

São Paulo, Brazil - March 5, 2008

São Paulo, Brazil - March 6, 2008

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - March 8, 2008

Santiago, Chile - March 11, 2008

Córdoba, Argentina - March 13, 2008

Buenos Aires, Argentina - March 15, 2008

Rosario, Argentina - March 18, 2008

Worcester, Massachusetts - May 16, 2008

Lewiston, Maine - May 17, 2008

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada - May 21, 2008

St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada - May 24, 2008

Reykjavik, Iceland - May 26, 2008

Odense, Denmark - May 28, 2008

Stavanger, Norway - May 30, 2008

St. Petersburg, Russia - June 3, 2008

Tallinn, Estonia - June 4, 2008

Warsaw, Poland - June 7, 2008

Vienna, Austria - June 10, 2008

Grenoble, France - June 19, 2008

Pamplona, Spain - June 24, 2008

Alicante, Spain - July 2, 2008

Jaén, Andalucia, Spain - July 5, 2008

San Diego, California - September 6, 2008

Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada - October 25, 2008

Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada - November 1, 2008

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - November 6, 2008

Kalamazoo, Michigan - November 8, 2008

Sudbury, Ontario, Canada - November 13, 2008

Oneonta, New York - November 19, 2008

Berlin, Germany - April 1, 2009

München, Germany - April 4, 2009

Amsterdam, The Netherlands - April 10, 2009

Amsterdam, The Netherlands - April 11, 2009

Florence, Italy - April 18, 2009

London, England - April 25, 2009

Birmingham, England - April 29, 2009

Glasgow, Scotland - May 2, 2009

Eastlake, Ohio - July 11, 2009

Allentown, Pennsylvania - July 14, 2009

Bethel, New York - July 18, 2009

Lakewood, New Jersey - July 23, 2009

Norfolk, Virginia - July 25, 2009

Simpsonville, South Carolina - July 29, 2009

Alpharetta, Georgia - July 30, 2009

Corpus Christi, Texas - August 5, 2009

Lubbock, Texas - August 8, 2009

Fresno, California - August 14, 2009

Stockton, California - August 15, 2009

Portland, Oregon - October 7, 2009

Berkeley, California - October 11, 2009

Los Angeles, California - October 14, 2009

Phoenix, Arizona - October 17, 2009

Denver, Colorado - October 21, 2009

Tulsa, Oklahoma - October 24, 2009

Chicago, Illinois - October 29, 2009

Chicago, Illinois - October 31, 2009

Canton, Ohio - November 5, 2009

Detroit, Michigan - November 6, 2009

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - November 9, 2009

Fairfax, Virginia - November 11, 2009

Boston, Massachusetts - November 13, 2009

New York City, New York - November 18, 2009

New York City, New York - November 19, 2009

Tokyo, Japan - March 28, 2010

Athens, Greece - May 29, 2010

Belgrade, Serbia - June 6, 2010

Prague, Czech Republic - June 11, 2010

Padova, Italy - June 15, 2010

Dornbirn, Austria - June 19, 2010

Paddock Wood, England - July 3, 2010

Limerick, Ireland - July 4, 2010

Austin, Texas - August 4, 2010

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma - August 6, 2010

Kansas City, Missouri - August 7, 2010

Lincoln, Nebraska - August 8, 2010

Sturgis, South Dakota - August 10, 2010

Billings, Montana - August 11, 2010

Boise, Idaho - August 15, 2010

Las Vegas, Nevada - August 18, 2010

Ontario, California - August 19, 2010

Troutdale, Oregon - August 28, 2010

Post Falls, Idaho - September 1, 2010

Ft. Lauderdale, Florida - October 6, 2010

Gainesville, Florida - October 8, 2010

Birmingham, Alabama - October 13, 2010

Nashville, Tennessee - October 19, 2010

Cedar Falls, Iowa - October 24, 2010

East Lansing, Michigan - October 26, 2010

Kalamazoo, Michigan - October 29, 2010

Highland Heights, Kentucky - November 3, 2010

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - November 7, 2010

Charlottesville, Virginia- November 10, 2010

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania - November 12, 2010

Amherst, Massachusetts - November 19, 2010

New York City, New York - November 23, 2010

Mashantucket, Connecticut - November 27, 2010

Rotterdam, The Netherlands - October 20, 2011



















"WORKINGMAN'S BLUES #2" was recorded early in 2006 for 'Modern Times', released in August of 2006.

The live debut of "WORKINGMAN'S BLUES #2" in Vancouver, British Columbia during the opening night of the fall tour of 2006 was the second song from 'Modern Times' performed on stage. Altogether this song appeared in 12 of the 29 shows during that tour.

During the fine European spring tour of 2007 "WORKINGMAN'S BLUES #2" was performed only once, in Birmingham, England. During the North American summer tour of 2007 "WORKINGMAN'S BLUES #2" was performed during the last eight of the 27 shows; and during the New Zealand and Australia tour in August 2007 "WORKINGMAN'S BLUES #2" appeared in six of the 12 shows. During the USA fall tour of 2007 "WORKINGMAN'S BLUES #2" was performed in 29 of the 30 shows.

In 2008 "WORKINGMAN'S BLUES #2" was performed thirteen times during the (mainly Latin American) tour in February and March; and then fifteen times in eleven countries during the (mainly European) tour from May to July. The last of the ten European performances, in Jaén, Andalucia, Spain, I had the extraordinary pleasure to see and hear for myself from the rail. I had hoped to experience it at least once during my ten day holiday in Spain, as I have listened to and enjoyed most versions of this gem on field recordings, and I sure am very glad to have witnessed now for myself such an outstanding version of this extraordinary masterpiece of a song.

Seven more times "WORKINGMAN'S BLUES #2" appeared in North America from September 2008 to November 2008. In 2009 "WORKINGMAN'S BLUES #2" was performed eight times in Europe in the spring, and eleven times in the US in the summer. During the fall tour of 2009 "WORKINGMAN'S BLUES #2" appeared in fifteen of the 33 shows.

The first performance of "WORKINGMAN'S BLUES #2" in 2010 was in March, during the penultimate of seven shows in Tokyo, Japan. The second appearance of "WORKINGMAN'S BLUES #2" in 2010 was two months later, in Greece, during the first show of the European tour. Six more times this gem was performed masterfully on a European stage in the following weeks, in Serbia, in the Czech Republic, in Italy, in Austria, in England, and finally as the finest song of Dylan's concert in Limerick, Ireland, where I had the extraordinary pleasure to be a part of the audience once more, after seeing this gem of a song already two years earlier in Jaén. In the US "WORKINGMAN'S BLUES #2" was performed eleven times in the summer and fourteen times in the fall of 2010.

The only appearance of "WORKINGMAN'S BLUES #2" in 2011 was in October, when Dylan chose to perform it in Rotterdam.








~ MP3 ~ WORKINGMAN'S BLUES #2 ~ BIRMINGHAM ~ APRIL 17, 2007 ~





~ MP3 ~ WORKINGMAN'S BLUES #2 ~ MORRISON ~ JULY 19, 2007 ~





~ MP3 ~ WORKINGMAN'S BLUES #2 ~ TUSCON ~ JULY 24, 2007 ~





~ MP3 ~ WORKINGMAN'S BLUES #2 ~ CHRISTCHURCH ~ AUGUST 08, 2007 ~





~ MP3 ~ WORKINGMAN'S BLUES #2 ~ SYDNEY ~ AUGUST 15, 2007 ~





~ MP3 ~ WORKINGMAN'S BLUES #2 ~ ADELAIDE ~ AUGUST 21, 2007 ~





~ MP3 ~ WORKINGMAN'S BLUES #2 ~ PERTH ~ AUGUST 23, 2007 ~





~ MP3 ~ WORKINGMAN'S BLUES #2 ~ AUCKLAND ~ AUGUST 26, 2007 ~





~ MP3 ~ WORKINGMAN'S BLUES #2 ~ AUCKLAND ~ AUGUST 27, 2007 ~





~ MP3 ~ MP3 ~ WORKINGMAN'S BLUES #2 ~ DALLAS, TEXAS ~ FEBRUARY 22, 2008 ~





~ MP3 ~ MP3 ~ WORKINGMAN'S BLUES #2 ~ DALLAS, TEXAS ~ FEBRUARY 23, 2008 ~





~ MP3 ~ MP3 ~ WORKINGMAN'S BLUES #2 ~ SANTIAGO DE CHILE ~ MARCH 11, 2008 ~





~ MP3 ~ MP3 ~ WORKINGMAN'S BLUES #2 ~ CORDOBA, ARGENTINA ~ MARCH 13, 2008 ~





~ MP3 ~ MP3 ~ WORKINGMAN'S BLUES #2 ~ BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA ~ MARCH 15, 2008 ~





~ MP3 ~ MP3 ~ WORKINGMAN'S BLUES #2 ~ ROSARIO, ARGENTINA ~ MARCH 18, 2008 ~