When the Ship Comes In: Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox song
{{Infobox Song <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Songs -->
| Name = When the Ship Comes In
| name = When the Ship Comes In
| cover =
| Cover = TimesChangin'.jpg
| Caption = Album cover
| alt =
| Artist = [[Bob Dylan]]
| type =
| artist = [[Bob Dylan]]
| Album = [[The Times They Are a-Changin']]
| album = [[The Times They Are a-Changin' (album)|The Times They Are a-Changin']]
⚫
| released = January 13, 1964
| B-side =
| format =
⚫
| Released = [[January 13]], [[1964]]
| Recorded = [[October 23]], [[1963]]
| recorded = October 23, 1963
| track_no =
| studio =
| venue =
| Genre = [[Folk music|Folk]]
| genre = [[Contemporary folk music|Folk]]
| Length = 3:18
| Label = [[Columbia Records|Columbia]]
| length = 3:18
| label = [[Columbia Records|Columbia]]
| Writer = [[Bob Dylan]]
| writer = [[Bob Dylan]]
| Producer = [[Tom Wilson (producer)|Tom Wilson]]
| producer = [[Tom Wilson (producer)|Tom Wilson]]
| Chart position =
| Last single =
| This single =
| Next single =
|Misc = {{Extra tracklisting
| Album = [[The Times They Are a-Changin']]
| Type = studio
| prev_track = "[[Boots of Spanish Leather]]"
| prev_no = 7
| this_track = "'''When the Ship Comes In'''"
| track_no = 8
| next_track = "[[The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll]]"
| next_no = 9
⚫
}}
}}
}}


"'''When the Ship Comes In'''" is a song by [[Bob Dylan]], released on his 3rd [[studio album]] ''[[The Times They Are a-Changin']]'' in [[1964]].
"'''When the Ship Comes In'''" is a [[folk music]] song by [[Bob Dylan]], released on his third [[studio album|album]], ''[[The Times They Are a-Changin' (album)|The Times They Are a-Changin']]'', in 1964.
⚫
[[Joan Baez]] stated in the documentary film [[No Direction Home]] that "When the Ship Comes In" was, more or less, inspired by a hotel clerk that refused to allow [[Dylan]] a room due to his "unwashed" appearance (he was not famous outside of the folk movement at this time). The song then grew into a sprawling epic allegory about vanquishing the oppressive "powers that be."


==Background and composition==
==Covers==
The Irish folk group [[The Clancy Brothers]] preformed this song at the Bob Dylan [[The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration]]. Seminal Irish punk rock band [[The Pogues]] covered this tune during their [[Shane MacGowan]]-less period (1991-2001) on the 1996 album, [[Pogue Mahone]]. Scottish rock band [[Idlewild (band)]] also covered the song as a b-side to [[These Wooden Ideas]].
[[Marcus Carl Franklin]] also covered the song in the movie [[I'm Not There]]. This version of the song can be found on The Original Soundtrack of the movie.


⚫
[[Joan Baez]] states in the documentary film ''[[No Direction Home]]'' that the song was inspired by a hotel clerk who refused to allow Dylan a room due to his "unwashed" appearance (he was not famous outside of the folk movement at this time). The song then grew into a sprawling epic allegory about vanquishing the oppressive "powers that be". Another inspiration was the [[Bertolt Brecht]]/[[Kurt Weill]] song, "Pirate Jenny".<ref name="Heylin">{{cite book|author=Heylin, Clinton|date=2000|title=Bob Dylan: Behind the Shades Revisited|pages=124–125|isbn=978-0060525699}}</ref>

According to biographer [[Clinton Heylin]], "When the Ship Comes In" was written in August 1963 "in a fit of pique, in a hotel room, after his unkempt appearance had led an impertinent hotel clerk to refuse him admission until his companion, Joan Baez, had vouched for his good character". Heylin speculates that "[[Pirate Jenny|Jenny's Song]]" from Brecht and Weill's ''Threepenny Opera'' was also an inspiration: "As Pirate Jenny dreams of the destruction of all her enemies by a mysterious ship, so Dylan envisages the neophobes being swept aside in 'the hour when the ship comes in'." Dylan's former girlfriend [[Suze Rotolo]] recalls that her "interest in Brecht was certainly an influence on him. I was working for the Circle in the Square Theater and he came to listen all the time. He was very affected by the song that Lotte Lenya's known for, 'Pirate Jenny'."<ref name="Heylin"/>

The lyrics and meter are remarkably similar to the first six stanzas of the Egyptian [[Great Hymn to the Aten]]<ref>[https://uh.edu/honors/human-situation/survival-kit/study-aids/Hymn%20to%20the%20Aten.pdf ]</ref> written around 1500 BC, which celebrates the rising sun.

==Live performances==

Shortly after Dylan wrote the song, he and Baez performed it together at the [[March on Washington]] on August 28, 1963, as heard on Dylan's ''Live 1962-1966: Rare Performances From The Copyright Collections'' album (2018). Dylan later performed the song at [[Carnegie Hall]] on October 26, 1963; this performance was included on ''[[The Bootleg Series Vol. 7: No Direction Home: The Soundtrack]]'' (2005).<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Bootleg Series, Vol 7: No Direction Home {{!}} The Official Bob Dylan Site|url=http://www.bobdylan.com/albums/bootleg-series-vol-7-no-direction-home/|access-date=2021-01-03|website=www.bobdylan.com}}</ref>

Dylan performed the song during [[Live Aid]] on July 13, 1985, accompanied by [[Keith Richards]] and [[Ron Wood]] of the [[Rolling Stones]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bob Dylan Live Aid Concert Programme|url=https://www.bobdylan-comewritersandcritics.com/pages/programmes/dylan-1985-live-aid.htm|access-date=2021-01-03|website=www.bobdylan-comewritersandcritics.com}}</ref>

==Cover versions==
[[Peter, Paul and Mary]] released "When the Ship Comes In" as a single in 1965. ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' described this version as an "exciting rouser from the pen of Bob Dylan with an outstanding performance by the trio."<ref name=bb>{{cite news|newspaper=Billboard|accessdate=2021-03-15|date=May 1, 1965|page=47|title=Singles Reviews|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/60s/1965/Billboard%201965-05-01.pdf}}</ref> ''[[Cash Box]]'' described it as "a rhythmic, fast-moving [[blues]]y ditty on warm-hearted somewhat euphoric theme."<ref name=cb>{{cite magazine |title=CashBox Record Reviews |date=May 1, 1965 |page=8 |access-date=2022-01-12 |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/60s/1965/CB-1965-05-01.pdf |magazine=Cash Box}}</ref> ''[[Record World]]'' called it "a moving Bob Dylan song" and that there is "joy, joy, joy in [the trio's] voices."<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Singles Reviews|magazine=Record World|date=May 1, 1965|page=7|accessdate=2023-07-21|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/60s/65/RW-1965-05-01.pdf}}</ref>

The Pogues covered it on their album Pogue Mahone, as an upbeat Irish-trad tune with Spider Stacey on vocals.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.bobdylan.com/us/songs/when-ship-comes Lyrics on BobDylan.com]

{{Navboxes
| title = Bob Dylan related articles
| titlestyle = background: khaki
| list1 =
{{Bob Dylan}}
{{Bob Dylan songs (1960s)}}
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}}
{{Peter, Paul and Mary}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:When The Ship Comes In}}
[[Category:Songs written by Bob Dylan]]
[[Category:Bob Dylan songs]]
[[Category:Bob Dylan songs]]
[[Category:1964 songs]]
[[Category:1964 songs]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Tom Wilson (record producer)]]

[[Category:The Pogues songs]]
{{1960s-song-stub}}
[[Category:Peter, Paul and Mary songs]]
[[Category:1965 singles]]

Latest revision as of 15:58, 11 April 2024

"When the Ship Comes In"
Song by Bob Dylan
from the album The Times They Are a-Changin'
ReleasedJanuary 13, 1964
RecordedOctober 23, 1963
GenreFolk
Length3:18
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Bob Dylan
Producer(s)Tom Wilson

"When the Ship Comes In" is a folk music song by Bob Dylan, released on his third album, The Times They Are a-Changin', in 1964.

Background and composition[edit]

Joan Baez states in the documentary film No Direction Home that the song was inspired by a hotel clerk who refused to allow Dylan a room due to his "unwashed" appearance (he was not famous outside of the folk movement at this time). The song then grew into a sprawling epic allegory about vanquishing the oppressive "powers that be". Another inspiration was the Bertolt Brecht/Kurt Weill song, "Pirate Jenny".[1]

According to biographer Clinton Heylin, "When the Ship Comes In" was written in August 1963 "in a fit of pique, in a hotel room, after his unkempt appearance had led an impertinent hotel clerk to refuse him admission until his companion, Joan Baez, had vouched for his good character". Heylin speculates that "Jenny's Song" from Brecht and Weill's Threepenny Opera was also an inspiration: "As Pirate Jenny dreams of the destruction of all her enemies by a mysterious ship, so Dylan envisages the neophobes being swept aside in 'the hour when the ship comes in'." Dylan's former girlfriend Suze Rotolo recalls that her "interest in Brecht was certainly an influence on him. I was working for the Circle in the Square Theater and he came to listen all the time. He was very affected by the song that Lotte Lenya's known for, 'Pirate Jenny'."[1]

The lyrics and meter are remarkably similar to the first six stanzas of the Egyptian Great Hymn to the Aten[2] written around 1500 BC, which celebrates the rising sun.

Live performances[edit]

Shortly after Dylan wrote the song, he and Baez performed it together at the March on Washington on August 28, 1963, as heard on Dylan's Live 1962-1966: Rare Performances From The Copyright Collections album (2018). Dylan later performed the song at Carnegie Hall on October 26, 1963; this performance was included on The Bootleg Series Vol. 7: No Direction Home: The Soundtrack (2005).[3]

Dylan performed the song during Live Aid on July 13, 1985, accompanied by Keith Richards and Ron Wood of the Rolling Stones.[4]

Cover versions[edit]

Peter, Paul and Mary released "When the Ship Comes In" as a single in 1965. Billboard described this version as an "exciting rouser from the pen of Bob Dylan with an outstanding performance by the trio."[5] Cash Box described it as "a rhythmic, fast-moving bluesy ditty on warm-hearted somewhat euphoric theme."[6] Record World called it "a moving Bob Dylan song" and that there is "joy, joy, joy in [the trio's] voices."[7]

The Pogues covered it on their album Pogue Mahone, as an upbeat Irish-trad tune with Spider Stacey on vocals.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Heylin, Clinton (2000). Bob Dylan: Behind the Shades Revisited. pp. 124–125. ISBN 978-0060525699.
  2. ^ [1]
  3. ^ "The Bootleg Series, Vol 7: No Direction Home | The Official Bob Dylan Site". www.bobdylan.com. Retrieved 2021-01-03.
  4. ^ "Bob Dylan Live Aid Concert Programme". www.bobdylan-comewritersandcritics.com. Retrieved 2021-01-03.
  5. ^ "Singles Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. May 1, 1965. p. 47. Retrieved 2021-03-15.
  6. ^ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. May 1, 1965. p. 8. Retrieved 2022-01-12.
  7. ^ "Singles Reviews" (PDF). Record World. May 1, 1965. p. 7. Retrieved 2023-07-21.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=When_the_Ship_Comes_In&oldid=1218415788"