Like a Rolling Stone | Flannery’s | Grace’s | The Chelsea Bell
Alright @YouTheReader,
Bob Dylan’s “Like a Rolling Stone” came out on July 20, 1965, so it’ll be 58 years old on Thursday. Written by Bob Dylan the month after he returned stateside from touring England, at this point in his music career was unheralded and he told Playboy he’d considered quitting singing had “Like a Rolling Stone” not come to be. Songs on the radio during this time were quick, usually about 2 to 3 minutes long, so radio stations hated the idea of this 6-minute tune. Columbia Records wasn’t thrilled with the length either or the electric&folk sound so they almost cut the chord on it as well. Nonetheless, “Like a Rolling Stone” peaked on the US Billboard charts at #2 and became a worldwide hit. While it might not have been able to beat out The Beatles’ “Help!” for #1 on Billboard in 1965, in ‘04 it took the top spot on another list - Rolling Stone’s Greatest Songs of All Time. Rolling Stone magazine may be a bit biased about their ranking. Their name is partly inspired by Bob Dylan’s hit as well as The Rolling Stones’ band. The magazine didn’t hit the shelves until 1967.
This song wasn’t even originally a song. Dylan started writing 10 to 20 pages of rhymes while he was in Woodstock, New York. This was the pre-Woodstock that you think of now, it was just a small town in upstate NY. In 3 days he cut down the writing into a contentious chorus and 4 verses. In 1988, Dylan admitted to Rolling Stone, “The first two lines, which rhymed 'kiddin' you' and 'didn't you,' just about knocked me out and when I got to the jugglers and the chrome horse and the princess on the steeple, it all just about got to be too much.” When even the own artist is taken aback by the opening lines, I’d say that calls for a Strong Open.
“It was ten pages long. It wasn’t called anything, just a rhythm thing on paper all about my steady hatred directed at some point that was honest. In the end it wasn’t hatred, it was telling someone something they didn’t know, telling them they were lucky. Revenge, that’s a better word. I had never thought of it as a song, until one day I was at the piano, and on the paper it was singing, ‘How does it feel?’ in a slow motion pace, in the utmost of slow motion.” - Bob Dylan
So in Verse 1, Bob Dylan just starts off dissing a lady. In verse 2 he addresses her as “Miss Lonely.” While Bob Dylan has never outwardly revealed who Miss Lonely is, many on the internet speculate that it is either model Edie Sedgwick or folk heroin Joan Baez. To be honest, I can’t even Keep Up With The Kardashians so for all intents in purposes does it really matter? No, it does not. What I did find kind of cool from this verse is that getting “juiced in it” was slang for getting drunk. That’s a new one for me.
Okay, sorry I got a bit caught up in 1960s drama… Apparently, the song points more so toward Edie Sedgwick & Andy Warhol. Warhol’s circle of confidants told him, “Listen to ‘Like a Rolling Stone’—I think you’re the diplomat on the chrome horse, man.” Sedgwick had been seeing Dylan at some point in 1965 before the song and this verse could allude to Warhol’s alleged abuse against Sedgwick both mentally and physically. (Source: American Songwriter)
In Verse 4, Bob Dylan continues to lash out at Miss Lonely. From telling her to pawn her diamond ring and even comparing the situation to how Napoleon Bonaparte’s being an Emperor to exiled. Magazine magnate Jann Wenner stated, “Everything has been stripped away. You’re on your own, you’re free now … You’re so helpless and now you’ve got nothing left. And you’re invisible—you’ve got no secrets—that’s so liberating. You’ve nothing to fear anymore.” (Source: American Songwriter)
For the Jersey boys, here is what Bruce Springsteen had to say about the song, “The first time that I heard Bob Dylan I was in the car with my mother, and we were listening to, I think, maybe WMCA, and on came that snare shot that sounded like somebody kicked open the door to your mind, from ‘Like a Rolling Stone.’ And my mother, who was – she was no stiff with rock and roll, she liked the music, she listened – she sat there for a minute, she looked at me, and she said, ‘That guy can’t sing.’ But I knew she was wrong. I sat there, I didn’t say nothin', but I knew that I was listening to the toughest voice that I had ever heard.” (Source: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame)
Of course, there is also a totally different perspective you can take from this song. It could be Bob Dylan using Miss Lonely as a way to explain that real self-discovery and fulfillment come from facing the world alone, forging your own path through personal experiences without favor. His mother’s maiden name was in fact “Stone” and this was written at Woodstock after touring England. He was a long way away from his home in Minnesota.
Great tune. I could see why Don McLean was jealous. On to the Pints….
Guinness Challenge Season #1
@Kids don’t try this at home. Not just because you’re underage and will have plenty of pints to drink if that ends up being your thing when you’re older but also because Guinness is actually best served in a pint glass from a tap. A pint of Guinness varies depending on the drinking establishment. If the keg it sits in is rarely poured, it can lead to some underwhelming taste. Rather than stealing gimmicks, I’d like to start taking Notes while drinking Guinness. My grandfather from Connemara, who I never got the chance to meet, Thomas Davis, used to drink pints and by all accounts was a self-taught thinker. The one rule I’ve imposed on myself is that I will only have 1 pint per sitting from each establishment I review, so @AnyoneWorrying, don’t worry about my drinking habits. The Guinness Challenge is to “cut the G” on your first sip (more like a gulp and a half). If this is your first time hearing about it, I didn’t come up with the fun challenge @YouTheReader can try the next time you have a Guinness. The 0.0 to 10.0 scale will be extraordinarily nuanced but as a reference point, the only perfect 10.0 I plan ever to give out is at the Guinness Factory in Dublin one day.
Song On In The Background: ****Like a Rolling Stone by Bob Dylan****
Notes if you can’t read my sloppy scribble: Tottenham Hotspurs pub. 6 dart boards on the main floor and 3 downstairs. All of them are in use. Shamrock on the Guinness head top. Harry Kane game worn boot behind the bar. Remember to look up “White Hart Lane.” They just do pizza for food. Flannery’s, according to the bartender “is known for having the best Guinness in The City.” 16 teams play in an elite darts league here. “Some people are alive simply because it is against the law to kill them” sign hanging up behind the bar.
Great pint, but I haven’t sold out just yet so I can’t be persuaded by a bartender on my scoring. White Hart Lane was where the Hotspurs’ Stadium from 1898 to ‘17. I used to play with the Tottenham Spurs on FIFA, they had a solid foundation led by a young Harry Kane. I should also Note once again that Harry Kane is allegedly my 5th cousin 3 times removed or something like that - his father is a Gallagh Man from County Galway so we’re pretty much blood. Flannery’s is a great spot if you’re looking to play some serious darts. The skill level there is terrific and I’m sure there is no better spot to cheer on Harry Kane & the Spurs. The quote behind the bar was a bit dark but hey I mean it got a chuckle out of me. I look forward to grabbing another pint of Guinness at Flannery’s again soon!
Notes if you can’t read my sloppy scribble: Cassie is the bartender. She is from Washington but has lived in The City for a decade. “This is fun but Washington is still home.” I had a great conversation with Cassie, who was very interested in Week to Week Notes. I probably rambled and explained how much I really enjoy it. She thought it was a cool idea and said “Why wouldn’t you document all of it? You’re going to be old and wish you did one day.”
Grace’s is set up very much so like a traditional Irish pub built on warmth, hospitality, and community. Every Wednesday night at 8 PM they have Tradition Irish Sessions. Between the closed corners pub and music, there are not too many places in The City that feel more like a pub across the pond than Grace’s. Their culture encourages all walks of life to mix together and leave their jobs at the door. While I was drinking my pint of Guinness, there was a party going on in their back room. The space is perfect for engagement celebrations, small wedding receptions, corporate events, holiday parties, bridal & baby showers, fundraisers, and birthdays. All of their dishes are based on family recipes, with an American twist. I look forward to grabbing another pint of Guinness at Grace’s again soon!
Song On In The Background: Eyes Closed by Ed Sheeran
Notes if you can’t read my sloppy scribble: Kayla is the manager, she is from South Jersey. She’s a fan of the Phillies, Eagles, and Sixers. Tuesday Trivia is going on behind me. They have a Bell at the bar. Chicken Caesar wrap is recommended. Mojito is her favorite drink to make. Chelsea Bell is a sports bar with an LA feel to it, nicer than your bar around the corner. The first of every month is general knowledge. They also do Taylor Swift trivia on a monthly basis.
Not only does Chelsea Bell love Taylor Swift but they have over 100 Beers, Signature Cocktails, Upscale Pub Fare, and Weekend Brunches. Monday to Thursday they have Happy Hour from noon to 7 PM. Mondays they have $10 mules. Tuesdays are trivia nights as I mentioned. Wednesdays are their Taco Nights where you can get $12 Tacos Trio, $8 Margaritas, $10 Frozen Margaritas, $5 Tecate Cans & $10 Mexican Mules all day. On Saturdays and Sundays, they have brunch from 10 AM to 4 PM. Chelsea Bell is located in Chelsea and they have a Bell behind the bar. It is a newly renovated bar with 16 flat screens, making it a great spot to watch any sporting event. Lastly, if you’re looking for a night of laughter, grab dinner & a drink at Chelsea Bell and present your receipt at Asylum NYC Comedy Theater for a 20% discount; or present your ticket from Asylum NYC Comedy Theater to Chelsea Bell & you’ll get 20% off your next bill. I look forward to grabbing another pint of Guinness at Chelsea Bell!