You have no idea how many incredible tracks he has only on bootlegs, together with an uncountable amount of brilliant songs released on albums. His songbook is my favorite and I’m really happy that there’s someone checking out some of his more obscure songs. Thanks Syed!

Infidels is one of my favorite records - "Jokerman", "I and I", and "Sweetheart Like You" are so good.

The first time I heard this song, I cried. It was so unexpected, but the tears just flowed. That also happened when I listened to I’m Not There off of The Basement Tapes Bootleg. Tears. Those songs are both (and especially I’m Not There) sort of stream of consciousness, not quite fully fleshed out, works in progress. I believe it was Joan Baez who said that the veil is very thin between Bob and whatever it is he receives and transmits into words and music. I feel so fortunate to even a tiny bit be on that same wavelength when I hear these songs. The third song to do this was Murder Most Foul. I still can’t even believe what I’m hearing when I listen to it or how it makes me feel. It is otherworldly.

Great album. It's been years since I heard it. "Sweetheart Like You" and "Don't Fall Apart On Me Tonight" are two of my favorite tracks. This is a gem. Excellent.

Some of Dylan’s outtakes are amazing.Red river shore is up there😊✌️🙏

So many great bootlegs and unreleased outtakes from Dylan. One of the best is "Up to Me" from Biograph. Try it.

I've been meaning to listen to Springtime in New York for a while. I'll have to pop the CDs in and rip them soon! Thanks for making a deep cut on Dylan! Foot of Pride was covered by Lou Reed at Dylan's live 30th Anniversary Concert. Predictably, Lou Reed being Lou Reed, he turned it into a very interesting monster of a song. It sounded almost nothing like what Dylan did here, but you can hear the resemblance.

Dylan will never disappoint. More please. From Duluth, MN.

This song seems to be a rough draft of “Foot of Pride”,some of the lines are exact.

This is just too good.🖖🏼

His Throwaways are Pure Awesomeness ! Wow - Why I Love 💕 this Genius!

Dylan is the absolute undisputed king of leaving masterpieces off his albums. Album after album after album's worth of unreleased songs and outtakes - there are 17 official "bootleg series" compilations out so far with no end in sight! Some songs have become classics long after they were written. I second Blind Willie McTell as a "bootleg" track to check out next.

Cool reflections Syed and excellent choice - this is an amazing song! I think a possible interpretation is that the "friend" who was murdered is a figure of Christ and the narrator is attacking the corruption and hypocrisy of the world from which god is gone and it's "too late" to bring him back. (Jesus was a bit of a rebel assassinated by powerful enemies, etc.) But it's deliberately ambiguous so of course this is only one possible level of interpretation..

Infidels is such a great album

If you're doing Dylan outtakes, I'd strongly suggest these: Blind Willie McTell (Bootleg Vol 3 version) Red River Shore (Version 1 from Tell Tale Signs) Mississippi (Take 1, Tell Tale Signs Version) Percys Song (Biograph Version) I'll Keep it with Mine (Biograph Version) Series of Dreams Dreamin' of You I'm not There I Cant Leave Her Behind The last two are a good insight into his lyrical process and knack for pulling songs out of thin air

Loving your channel: its the best. And the best vids by far are your Dylan ones. Yes you put him at the top with others you Respect. I get that. But today you have introduced me to a Dylan track I have not heard (I have over 35 of his vinyls). Think of that body of work! It is unpassable. No one else deserved that Nobel prize in the art world than this man. And he is still playing! Let us all be so grateful.

This is ART … so we all see it the way we see it. It is Beautiful . It is fun to hear your opinion too .

You do get Dylan, love it

Thanks Syed for all your amazing reactions, especially the Dylan ones. I have listened to some of his more well known tracks but through you and your knowledgeable followers I am now hearing ones that I have never heard before. I am totally enjoying and learning about them at the same time, this one being one of my favourites to date.

Hey Syed, been enjoying your reactions for a while now, intelligent and insightful, and I respect your attempts at unwinding the mysterious head scratching enigma that is Bob Dylan's lyrics, I gave up years ago! Now I just sit back and enjoy their wit and beauty. We will never see the like of him again. I would strongly recommend 2 songs that, for some reason he decided not to release, they only appeared many years later on a bootleg type release, the first one is 'Seven curses' and the next is 'Percy's song' both brilliant stories played with just an acoustic guitar, I'd love to hear your critique of these songs, considering Dylan didn't think they were good enough to release! Keep digging into Dylan's back catalogue Syed, the best is yet to come!

Maybe others have brought this up- Listen to this with the crucifixion of Jesus in mind- Christian imagery abounds through this track- and he goes back and forth of time which only Bob can do with such deft mystery. Jesus was a revolutionary- he climbed the hill to Golgotha- in one of the Gospels the women were at the tomb to tend to the body and it was gone- “Too late to bring him back” is brilliant in this context. So many levels, as usual with Dylan. As an aside, In the end it doesn’t matter what Dylan meant it’s what you hear/feel for you that’s important- and I find that over the years the meanings change as I do. Christian scripture says Jesus will come again- may be too late? Anyway- once again I had to switch over to the phone to comment. I am enjoying your discovery of Dylan so much!!! I never have people to talk to about Dylan music and listening to your discoveries sparks new ideas about his writing for me! I thank you.

I never heard this one even I´m a great Dylan´s fan .I´ve enjoyed every line of the story. Thanks!

Really enjoyable reaction! You have a great eye for character and I love how excited you were by the song. I'd never heard this song either, though I've been digging Bob Dylan for years. Great writing, as always.

I had not heard this one yet! It appears to be a reworking or an earlier version of "Foot of Pride". It alludes in all kinds of way to corruption and ruthlessness in high places, which is a common theme in Bob's songs, but what it's specifically about remains mysterious. Great to hear this song.

On the subject of Dylan’s “throw aways”, check out “Let me die in my footsteps”

Thanks for this reaction to Too Late. As K W says below, check out the Lou Reed cover of this song "Foot of Pride" at the Dylan tribute show in 1992.

i love love love love love love love this song ! the first time i heard it - i wanted to jump up and shout and yes - like your version of the story

I second the Outtake recommendations given earlier below : Blind Willie McTell (Bootleg Vol 3 version) Red River Shore (Version 1 from Tell Tale Signs) Mississippi (Take 1, Tell Tale Signs Version)

Great song, great lyrics, brilliant try at analysis Syed.

Try..Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts.. you gonna like it..

You should react to Dylan's Hard Rain's Gonna Fall. For me his best written song and truly his masterpiece. I have been watching you for over two months and I must say that you have the best react channel on youtube.

I like the earlier Foot of Pride better ~ very different. I also like the earlier version of Blind Willie McTell much more than the version on this album.

That analysis was dope! Now you've come to the real Dylan. Each line can be sliced and diced almost with infinitely different intentions and infinitely different outcomes. He's claimed divine inspiration. Other times he has to work it out from pages of endless messages. I've often wondered if we will find a huge cache of songs he wrote but never published. Is it really possible that he wrote his lyrics knowing what would cause deep reflection and pondering in listeners? If so, that would make him unique in the history of the world.

Love your analysis. I got emotional listening to this and your recaps painting the picture the lyrics could be trying to make, or maybe they're something totally different, but your interpretation was smart, incisive, and as valid as anyone else's. Welcome to the Dylanphile club friend! We're still working on a name for the club, we've only had 50 years to come up with a better one....Dylanphile kinda sucks and makes us sound crazy. But we're not crazy, I swear! Some of us may be a little unhinged, however.

Blind Willie McTell is awesomely good.

By the way- I think it’s about 500 plus songs he’s written/ that we know of. We are indeed fortunate to be alive in the time of Bob- I think Tom Petty/Heartbreaker guitarist said that. So many songs I’d like to hear your take on. I and I from Infidels! Also “Born in Time”❤❤❤

Amazing version of this evolution on the 30th anniversary concert as foot of pride.

This song turned into foot of pride

My interpretation is that the "him" is Jesus, who came to redeem man of his sins, then left to return on judgement day. But since then man has continued to be corrupt and sinful and so it's too late to bring "him" back.

Dylan's Bootleg albums are better than many of his studio albums. Well done Syed interpreting Dylan's lyrics. I really like his early bootlegs during his folk music era from the early 1960's.

If you want to dive into a convoluted story try Lily, Rosemary, and the Jack of Hearts from Blood on the Tracks.

At first hesring what I can see IS the rythm makes me think of Like a rolling stone. Also theres a line there that was also used in Foot of pride ( the thing of going Up and down in Fortune)

Good call Syed, Bob Dylan - the esoteric pragmatist.

Love your Dylan reactions the most! Keep it up! React to chelsea Hotel by Leonard Cohen some time please.

Absolutely love how you appreciate Dylan. He's amazing and paradoxical real in his incredible writing. Liked your take!

Not an outtake but another track to savour..Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts

Now you need to do a foot of pride evolution video. Great video as always 👍

I'd never this before. I'm a super fan of Dylan's, but haven't heard at least a third of them. At my age, 70, who knows who'll die first. Him or me. But if I'm around after his death I'll bet even money he's got another 100 songs to be released after his death. Thanks!

Listening to Dylan lyrics is like reading a postmodernist novel. Don't think he is considered part of that movement - if not he should be.

I have really enjoyed your discovery of Dylan. A really unusual and complex artist. For the most part I prefer his studio tracks to live versions, and his throwaway bootlegged tracks better than the official tracks. He'd probably hate that, but that's how it is. This song is a case of it. So many unreleased treasures. Some one described Dylan's best lyrics as "insinuatingly true..." There's an undertone of insinuation. Very clever.

Imo, this is a meditation that relates to his Murder Most Foul. It applies to the jfk mythology

Never heard this one before. The stream-of-consciousness lyrical style with very loose rhythmic and rhyming patterns reminds me of Van Morrison's "TB Sheets". You should check that one out, too.

Just out of interest, Syed, have you checked out any of his 1997 album TIME OUT OF MIND? Even though it was released 22 years later, I always consider it a sister album to BLOOD ON THE TRACKS. To me, it sounds like it's the same person speaking in both albums but with 22 years of bitterness added to the mix. In other words, he's describing a relationship breakup on BOTT and then on TOOM he's still incredibly bitter about it and hasn't really gotten over it or completely come to terms with it. Incredible writing.

"License to Kill" is another of many wonderful Infidels track. Folk great, Richie Havens, does a wonderful cover of it. Dylan leaves better stuff on the cutting room floor than most artists create at their peak output. He constantly rewrote stuff and has alternative couplets and lines. You can hear this by listening to multiple outtakes of the same song (Mississippi is an example, but there are other songs where he is constantly switching out lyrics). This song features many lines that also show up on another cool song, "Foot of Pride"

You should check out paths of victory chimes of freedom and others

Other out takes to bear in mind Abandoned love..and Up to Me…

he says "I know you don't know Motherless Children", I'm pretty sure that's reference to the song Motherless Children here's the Rosanne Cash version of that kzfaq.info/get/bejne/hpaoZ9ylstrXhIk.html. Thanks for all the Bob Dylan love I enjoy your enjoyment :)

I don't know if I remember correctly, but I think I read Joan Baez say in an interview that Dylan often sat at the typewriter and wrote sketches for lyrics and songs, while talking to her and others present. Then on one occasion a song came on the radio and Dylan commented, "good song, who made it?" - and Baez: "You did." Dylan had forgotten. Think the song was "Love is just a four letter word". Am I remembering correctly? - Anyone know? (Norwegian Dylanolog)

Hi Syed, it's great listening along and hearing your interpretations. I have never heard this song before and I am big fan of Dylan, I guess I am very behind catching up on a lot of bootlegs. Do you know some of these lyrics in this song can also be found in the song Foot of Pride?

Some of the greatest leftovers are Red River Shore and most definitely Blind Willie McTell... the latter is kinda straightforward (for a vision song) but all the more powerful. Wouldn't really pale in ANY album. The acoustic "original" version has some really beautiful haunting quality in it.

If you want a primo Dylan “novel in a song” listen to Lily Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts. (Blood on the Tracks album). Really good storytelling. Really good!!!

I know it's kinda out there but I kinda like to think this track may be about Phil Ochs, who you should also listen to by the way

Foot of Pride. Give it a listen to hear what this song became. It's twice as good as this, and still Dylan felt he didn't get it right to put it on an album.

What Dylan omits from release is several other band's albums.

Love to see your breakdown of 'Where Are You Tonight'... my favorite of his 'underrated' songs

It's difficult to take in Dylan songs..esp on the first listen, you do a great job though. I've heard his music for decades - sometimes I'll have a lightbulb 💡moment & think...Oh! I know what he meant there! Great song but not in my top 50 Dylan tracks, lol

Chords remind me "I've got a feeling" by The Beatles

I’m a huge Dylan fan, and love the way he keeps everyone guessing - not only about the meaning of his lyrics, but by weighing in on controversial topics in a way that doesn’t line up with simple political narratives. As a proud Jew who has been critical of Israel for decades, I love “Neighborhood Bully” from the Infidels album. Many blast the song as a sign of Dylan’s mindless support of Israel’s (in my mind, unforgivable) treatment of the Palestinians. But I hear a great artist willing to struggle with a no-win situation in a way many of his mostly lefty fans would be sure to hate. Check it out, Syed. As a history fan, I think you’d like it.

"Boots of Spanish Leather"

Be nice to people on the way up -- etc. It's an ANCIENT idea.

Swiss bank: I’d link it with lines immediately prior. At the time TV evangelists were not only getting rich off gullible viewers, they were forming their own money-making universities.

I always thought this was a song was about Jesus and the hypocrisy of the church.

See "Foot of Pride" from The Bootleg Series, Volumes 1-3... it is an outtake from Infidels too. It is the more polished version of this song... and it kicks some serious a$$ without bothering to take any names. Dylan often writes multiple versions of the same song, e.g. Call Letter Blues is an early version of Meet Me in the Morning from Blood on the Tracks. Also, please do not compare anyone with Dylan... he is a true poet and the others like Kendrick Lamar, Leonard Cohen, Lennon are mere pedestrians on the path to poetry. To me, Dylan is the greatest writer in the English language... yes, beyond Shakespeare... poetry that can be sung... Wow!!!

Bobby's obscure

Ever thought that he is often singing to or about himself?

Great review. Listen again. The man it's "too late to bring him back" is the revolutionary Christ. Dylan wrote this at the time of his disillusionment with fundamentalist Christianity. Later he turns this into Foot of Pride, a much angrier version but the message is more about your own pride killing the man.

The song is about Bob changing and evolving. Bob feeling the pressure to remain "folk Bob" but killing him off to become "new Bob".

After John Wesley Harding, guess the trajectory

Whole song has always made me think of MLK Jr.

I think your on the right track with the MLK idea

Considering the songs that finally made it onto INFIDELS, this one really should have made the album as it's easily better than half of it. Just my opinion. That's 2 great songs that Bob left off the album.

This guy loves Bob Dylan How has he not listened to Hurricane

If we all were painters?

Joey Gallo!!!

Tempest is a great song about the titanic

Please react to the “jealous Guy” video by John Lennon.

Aren't we all wearing veils?

I don't know if you actually read these but I always thought the song was based on the song George Jackson, which is similar in Melody and instrumentation. Now that song was in 1971 which of course was before Dylan became born again. The religious stuff in this song is very similar to his other religious songs which is to criticize Orthodox religion. Passing the hat is something they do in church to raise money for the church. Dylan is criticizing the luxuriousness of pastures and the wealthy church leaders.

Climbing up that hill - Jesus ?

The album Infidels is my favorite Dylan album beginning to end. Not one clunker on the whole album! As great as this song is, I don’t think it fits with the other songs on the album. Just my humble opinion. Listen to Infidels Syed!

Frank Zappa Hungry freaks daddy

And yes, Christ was a revolutionary.

Jesus. Too late to bring him back.

fractured narrative

Another out-take from Infidels is, 'Neighborhood Bully' about how Israel's treatment, as a Jewish Nation is held in double standards in the "neighborhood". It is so powerful. Only a Jewish man like Dylan could compose a song like that. Every word in it is true representation. It is on KZfaq as well.

These review videos are forcing, you the reviewer, to comment on videos cold turkey. Dylan's songs can't be reviewed cold turkey. To see what his poetry paints for an image or scene takes some real deep pondering. The Girl From North Country is the ultimate Dylan analysis, but it's sure to be eclipsed by other plays to come. I believe the world will not understand Dylan's artistry for decades or even centuries.

He’s talking about Jesus

Jesus? Paul?

Day 2 of begging Syed to react to Rio by Duran Duran

It's a FICTION.