Unlike some of Bob Dylan’s contemporaries in age (but not talent – he has no contemporaries in talent), whenever Dylan speaks, everyone listens. Perhaps this is because he rarely gives interviews. Perhaps it’s because when he does give an interview, he usually shows that he’s been paying pretty close attention to everything we’ve been doing.
Dylan’s done his fair share of political music and most of it is pretty brilliant. Dylan’s not known as a hopeless lefty or a secret Republican, he just seems to be anti-bigotry, anti-corruption, anti-pain. But Bob made a rare endorsement last year, for Barack Obama. So, is Dylan rethinking his endorsement of the now-president Obama? Not really.
With typical Dylan thoughtfulness, he’s reflecting on the nature of time, power and history. He says about Obama, “I have no idea [if Obama will be a good president]. He’ll be the best president he can be. Most of those guys come into office with the best of intentions and leave as beaten men. Johnson would be a good example of that… Nixon, Clinton in a way, Truman, all the rest of them going back. You know, it’s like they all fly too close to the sun and get burned.” Dylan also talks about how he finds Obama’s background fascinating, saying “He’s like a fictional character, but he’s real.” The Telegraph has more:
Bob Dylan has expressed fears that US President Barack Obama will leave office a “beaten” man despite beginning his term with the best of intentions.
Dylan was among the star names who voiced their support for Mr Obama during last year’s presidential campaign, citing him as someone “who is redefining the nature of politics from the ground up”.
However, in his latest interview, the singer appeared doubtful that Mr Obama really can effect change. Asked if he thought Mr Obama would make a good president, Dylan replied: “I have no idea. He’ll be the best president he can be. Most of those guys come into office with the best of intentions and leave as beaten men. Johnson would be a good example of that… Nixon, Clinton in a way, Truman, all the rest of them going back. You know, it’s like they all fly too close to the sun and get burned.”
Dylan first became intrigued by Mr Obama after reading his autobiography, Dreams From My Father. “He’s like a fictional character, but he’s real,” the singer said in the interview with author Bill Flanagan, published in Newsweek.
The politician’s heritage – a Kenyan father from a tradition of “lion killers” and a mother from “wizard of Oz Kansas” – also proved fascinating to Dylan.
“I mean, it’s just so incongruous that these two people would meet and fall in love. You kind of get past that, though. And then you’re into his story. Like an odyssey, except in reverse. First of all, Barack is born in Hawaii. Most of us think of Hawaii as paradise, so I guess you could say that he was born in paradise.”
Dylan said there was nothing in Mr Obama’s book that indicated he would make a good politician. “In some sense, you would think being in the business of politics would be the last thing that this man would want to do. I think he had a job as an investment banker on Wall Street for a second, selling German bonds. But he probably could’ve done anything. If you read his book, you’ll know that the political world came to him. It was there to be had.”
Mr Obama is a fan of the singer and has spoken of having “probably 30 Dylan songs on my iPod”.
From The Telegraph
Dylan for President! Wouldn’t that be a hoot? We could elect him just for a few months, then impeach him for getting high or something. Now I’m obsessed with finding out Dylan’s views on all of the hot-button issues.
I actually like and agree with what Dylan is saying – it’s so common sense and pragmatic, and it’s something you would never hear from a pundit or journalist. I can’t even imagine Chris Matthews saying something like “Hey, he’ll do his best, but power corrupts even the best of us, dude. Just chill and give him time.”
Bob Dylan is shown performing at ‘Rock in Rio’ in Madrid on 7/6/08. Obama is shown on 4/2/09 at the press conference for the G20 Summit in London. Credit: WENN.com
Bob rules. His theme time radio show (BBC 2) is just the best, funniest, smartest, most eclectic thing ever – real stream of consciousness stuff. Man’s a true maverick.
I love Bob Dylan. My kids love Bob Dylan. I’m immediately suspicious of people that don’t like Bob Dylan. (My husband doesn’t, but he gets a pass, because he at least likes Tom Petty.)
Every President leaves office a “beaten man”
wow that is like sooo profound
no one can touch bob; no one has and no one will. sounds like he knows obama can’t make good on his promises without being too political about it. mr dylan can choose his words perfectly and make them aim straight where they need to go without many people noticing. he’s a genious.
quite right bob! if you look at pictures of each president before they started their term and after they finished being president it is like looking at a different man. the office really ages a person. not just mentally but physically. no matter what obama does, he won’t be able to make it unscathed. heck he already has had attempts on his life, most recently in turkey, so yeah.
He only stated the OBVIOUS!!! It doesn’t take a rocket scientist like my neighbor to know this. But isn’t Obama the youngest Prez? He might carry it better than most!
Obama’s already aged. Not an easy job, but who expected it to be?
Of course he has aged after a 2 year campaign to W!n this mess of an economy, financial crisis, etc, etc, etc….