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Subterranean Homesick Blues"Subterranean Homesick Blues", a song written by Bob Dylan, was originally released on the album Bringing It All Back Home in 1965. It was re-released on several other albums such as Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits, and has been covered by numerous recording artists including both Harry Nilsson and The Red Hot Chili Peppers. The song was used in what became one of the first "modern" music videos. The "video" was actually a segment from D. A. Pennebaker's film, "Don't Look Back" (a documentary on Bob Dylan's first tour of England in 1966), and was likely intended only for use in the film. In the film, Dylan holds up cue cards for the audience with words from the song on them. While staring at the camera, he flips the cards as the song plays. The presentation aims to involve the viewers, for the song belongs to those who listen. Interestingly, there are errors (probably intentional) throughout the video. For instance, the song's lyrics say "eleven dollar bills," but the poster says "20 dollars". The segment takes place in an alley behind a London hotel, and Poet Allen Ginsberg makes a cameo. In addition to its influence on the visual arts, the song had a profound impact on American culture and politics. The widespread use of LSD, and the opposition to the Vietnam War were both starting to take hold of the nation, and Dylan's song reinforced these sentiments. The song's first line is a reference to the production of LSD and the politics of the era: "Johnny's in the basement mixing up the medicine / I'm on the pavement thinkin' about the Government". Dylan's prophetic words were even enough to inspire a radical group (which broke away from the Students for a Democratic Society); they named themselves The Weathermen after the line "You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows". "Subterranean Homesick Blues" continues to affect the world of music even today. For example, the 1987 INXS track "Mediate" was likely inspired by the Dylan tune, and its video duplicated the format of the Dylan video, even its use of apparently deliberate errors. Also, in 2003 the Rock band Jet was inspired to name their very popular album Get Born after the lyrics from the last verse of Dylan's tune ("Ah get born, keep warm / short pants, romance, learn to dance"). John Lennon, upon hearing the song, was so amazed that he wondered how he could ever compete, and by reviving beat poetry through music, Dylan's song contributed to the development of Rap. The lyrics to "Subterranean Homesick Blues" as well as some sound clips are available here on Bob Dylan's Website.
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