Highlands (song)

"Highlands" is a song by Bob Dylan, released on his 30th studio album Time Out of Mind in 1997. It is Dylan's second longest officially released studio recording at sixteen minutes and thirty-one seconds, surpassed only by "Murder Most Foul", which runs twenty-three seconds longer.

"Highlands"
Song by Bob Dylan
from the album Time Out of Mind
ReleasedSeptember 30, 1997
RecordedJanuary 1997
StudioCriteria Studios (Miami, FL)
GenreCountry blues,[1] folk rock[2]
Length16:31
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Bob Dylan
Producer(s)Daniel Lanois
Time Out of Mind track listing
11 tracks
  1. "Love Sick"
  2. "Dirt Road Blues"
  3. "Standing in the Doorway"
  4. "Million Miles"
  5. "Tryin' to Get to Heaven"
  6. "'Til I Fell in Love with You"
  7. "Not Dark Yet"
  8. "Cold Irons Bound"
  9. "Make You Feel My Love"
  10. "Can't Wait"
  11. "Highlands"

Song

The song's title is thought to be borrowed from the poem "My Heart's in the Highlands" by Scottish poet Robert Burns, whom Dylan later cited as his greatest influence.[3] In the song's lyrics, Dylan makes references to musician Neil Young and author Erica Jong.[4]

The song is based on a simple (E blues) riff, inspired, according to Dylan, by an unnamed Charley Patton record that has yet to be identified.[5] The riff is played the whole way through the song. The song has no traditional chorus or bridge.[6]

According to Dylan's website, the song had been played live nine times, as of 2018.[4] "Highlands" was named Dylan's 94th best song by Rolling Stone magazine.[7]

Other versions

A live version of the song was included on the limited edition version of The Best of Bob Dylan, Vol. 2 (2000) and on a Japanese edition of the "Things Have Changed" single. The recording came from a performance in the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium in Santa Cruz, California on March 16, 2000.

References
  1. Pareles, Jon (September 28, 1997). "POP/JAZZ; A Wiser Voice Blowin' In The Autumn Wind". The New York Times. Retrieved December 8, 2019. "...and a riff and a country-blues lilt from Charley Patton in Highlands.
  2. Porter, Carl J.; Vernezze, Peter; Irwin, William (May 24, 2011). Bob Dylan and Philosophy: It's Alright Ma (I'm Only Thinking). Open Court. ISBN 9780812697605 – via Google Books.
  3. Simpson, Aislinn (2008-10-05). "Bob Dylan 'inspired by Scottish poet Robert Burns'". Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2018-02-27.
  4. "Highlands | The Official Bob Dylan Site". bobdylan.com. Retrieved 2018-02-27.
  5. Sounes, H., 2002. Down The Highway: The Life of Bob Dylan. Grove Press. p481.
  6. Marshall, L., 2007. Bob Dylan: The Never Ending Star. Polity. pp. 246
  7. "100 Greatest Bob Dylan Songs". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2018-02-27.
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