I first heard this song on “Music from the Big Pink,” but I love the version from The Last Waltz best. Nothing better than live music, amiright?
Apparently this is a song inspired by gospel music, and written about wrongfully imprisoned “criminals”, but the last verse of the song seems especially timely, given the supposed witch hunts that I hear about so much about from a certain huckster-turned-politician. Here are the lyrics to that verse:
“Down here next to me in this lonely crowd
Is a man who swears he’s not to blame
All day long I hear him cry so loud
Calling out that he’s been framed”
So here we are, living in the most digitally connected yet most socially isolated times, all realizing how lonely we are in this “lonely crowd”. To me, the answer is not to fight tooth and nail to avoid blame, but accept our roles and complicity however possible, and fight for a better tomorrow. Together.
But hey, it’s just a really good song, too. I hope you like my rendition.
Taylor 114CE Acoustic/Electric with Garage Band.
