Silvio

[LeftyFingerPop]

One of my favorite Dylan tunes. I could be wrong, but this may have been co-written with Bob Hunter, Grateful dead lyricist (I'm too lazy to Google it).

The lyrics have absolutely no personal meaning to me, but they are compelling nonetheless.

I know a guy named Silvio.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boyVsJI4XJI


Stake my future on a hell of a past
Looks like tomorrow is coming on fast
Ain't complaining 'bout what I got
Seen better times, but who has not?

Silvio
Silver and gold
Won't buy back the beat of a heart grown cold
Silvio
I gotta go
Find out something only dead men know

Honest as the next jade rolling that stone
When I come knocking don't throw me no bone
I'm an old boll weevil looking for a home
If you don't like it you can leave me alone

I can snap my fingers and require the rain
From a clear blue sky and turn it off again
I can stroke your body and relieve your pain
And charm the whistle off an evening train

I give what I got until I got no more
I take what I get until I even the score
You know I love you and furthermore
When it's time to go you got an open door

I can tell you fancy, I can tell you plain
You give something up for everything you gain
Since every pleasure's got an edge of pain
Pay for your ticket and don't complain

One of these days and it won't be long
Going down in the valley and sing my song
I will sing it loud and sing it strong
Let the echo decide if I was right or wrong

Silvio
Silver and gold
Won't buy back the beat of a heart grown cold
Silvio
I gotta go
Find out something only dead men know

[mulsh]

1. the back up vocals always blow me away

I love the song and the rest of that album isn't all that bad either.

[fishwax]

2. it was actually written by Hunter and then tweaked by Dylan

He recorded it (or at least, decided to record it) during the Dylan and the Dead tour in '87, and then it came out on Down in the Groove the next year.

I recall an interview with Hunter where he said Dylan told him on the tour bus one night that he had recorded it and that basically (paraphrasing from memory) he had "changed a few things and given myself a credit--you don't mind, right?"

Hunter said: "It's Dylan. What're'ya gonna do?" :rofl:

Good song, though. :)