“All I can do is be me, whoever that is.” ~ Bob Dylan
“Chimes of Freedom” was featured on Dylan’s 1964 album Another Side of Bob Dylan. Music critic Paul Williams, a leading authority on Bob Dylan, has described “Chimes of Freedom” as Dylan’s Sermon on the Mount. The lyrics have been analyzed by many, some referencing the poetry of Arthur Rimbaud, others thinking the song included Dylan’s reflections on the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Click HERE for a link to the lyrics.
The first public performance of the song took place in early 1964, either at the Civic Auditorium in Denver or at the Berkeley Community Theater in Berkeley, California. It’s been covered by The Byrds, Jefferson Starship, Joan Osborne, and Warren Zevon, among others. Here is Bruce Springsteen’s version, played in East Berlin in 1988:
Martha Reynolds Writes 
Oh Y A Y so glad you’re here Mz. Martha ♥️ It’s late right now but I’ll pick you up tomorrow. Hope life has been treating you well out East !!! It’s still chilly and yucky weather here. Hope Spring will be here soon. Blessings dear Martha and I’ll be following and listening. Love music 🎼
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Thank you, Patti!
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Such great music you’re featuring during the A to Z!
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And Trisha, I’m so glad I decided to do cover versions, too. I knew that a month of Dylan might be too much (besides, with other people singing his songs, you might actually understand the words!)
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One could do worse than choose Springsteen as a Dylan interpreter. This is marvelous.
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More to come, Connie! xxx
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Dylan’s Sermon on the Mount. Yes, he was a prophetic voice and still is. Thanks for the great post!
https://meinthemiddlewrites.com/2019/04/03/a-to-z-challenge-april-world-holidays-letter-c/
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Thanks, Mary Lou. I’m loving your theme and posts!
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M- I love the Springsteen version and his comments at the end. The age old question; will this song stand the test of time……..I would say yes!
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ZD, I find so many of his songs are still relevant – 50+ years later, in some instances….
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