Cover art for John Wesley Harding by Bob Dylan

John Wesley Harding

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Dec. 27, 19671 viewer12K views

John Wesley Harding Lyrics

[Verse 1]
John Wesley Harding
Was a friend to the poor
He traveled a'with a gun in ev'ry hand
All along this countryside
He opened a'many a door
But he was never known
To hurt an honest man

[Verse 2]
’Twas down in Chaynee County
A time they talk about
With his lady by his side
He took a stand

And soon the situation there
Was all but straightened out

For he was always known
To lend a helping hand

[Verse 3]
All across the telegraph
His name it did resound

But no charge held against him
Could they prove

And there was no man around
Who could track or chain him down
He was never known
To make a foolish move

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About

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Genius Annotation

The first song, and title track, of Bob Dylan’s supposed “comeback” album after the famed motorcycle crash 18 months earlier. Gone is the thin, wild mercury music of 1965-1966, gone is the wild-haired, shade-wearing rock star, gone is any hint at being “the voice of a generation”, replaced by a soft-spoken, acoustic folk singer both far more traditional and far more mystical than his original “protest singer” version, eschewing touring to stay home with his family in upstate New York.

“John Wesley Harding” is an archetypical story of a famous outlaw which manages to get almost every single fact about the historical John Wesley Hardin (up to and including his name) completely wrong. Hmm. It’s almost as if Dylan, trying to escape his own myth, is trying to make a point about what a hero is.

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Credits
Produced By
Written By
Guitar
Vocals
Harmonica
Cover Photo
Management
Photography
Producer [Additional]
Remastering Engineer
Designed At
Manufactured by
Phonographic Copyright (p)
Record Company
Recorded At
Columbia Records (Studio A) - New York City, NY
Release Date
December 27, 1967
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