Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine covers Bob Dylan’s “Blind Willie McTell,” for Chimes of Freedom, the Amnesty International USA benefit album that is a compilation of Dylan covers that was recently released.

Bob Dylan himself recorded the song in 1983, but only released it on the The Bootleg Series Volumes 1-3 (Rare & Unreleased) 1961-1991. On that 1991 album, the song is recorded with Mark Knopfler and tells the story of slavery and America.

You can listen to Morello’s interview about his Dylan inspiration and his cover HERE and  compare it to the original Dylan song and the ORIGINAL Blind Willie McTell himself below.

 

Blind Willie McTell (Bob Dylan — 1983)

Seen the arrow on the doorpost
Saying, “This land is condemned
All the way from New Orleans
To Jerusalem”
I traveled through East Texas
Where many martyrs fell
And I know no one can sing the blues
Like Blind Willie McTell

Well, I heard that hoot owl singing
As they were taking down the tents
The stars above the barren trees
Were his only audience
Them charcoal gypsy maidens
Can strut their feathers well
But nobody can sing the blues
Like Blind Willie McTell

See them big plantations burning
Hear the cracking of the whips
Smell that sweet magnolia blooming
See the ghosts of slavery ships
I can hear them tribes a-moaning
Hear that undertaker’s bell
Nobody can sing the blues
Like Blind Willie McTell

There’s a woman by the river
With some fine young handsome man
He’s dressed up like a squire
Bootlegged whiskey in his hand
There’s a chain gang on the highway
I can hear them rebels yell
And I know no one can sing the blues
Like Blind Willie McTell

Well, God is in His heaven
And we all want what’s his
But power and greed and corruptible seed
Seem to be all that there is
I’m gazing out the window
Of the St. James Hotel
And I know no one can sing the blues
Like Blind Willie McTell

Feb 7 2012 in Home Slides admin No Comments »