12.30.08
Hamas ups death toll by turning guns on its own people
NEW YORK TIMES: No justice, no peace, for Arab enemies of Hamas
12.29.08
Israel's Gaza Defense
WALL ST JOURNAL: The more damage to Hamas, the better the chances for peace.
12.29.08
Palestinians Need Israel to Win
WALL ST JOURNAL: If Hamas gets away with terror once again, the peace process will be over.
12.26.08
Workshop Live Is Dead
Berkshire Eagle fails to report on downtown business failure
12.20.08
Justice to Jews: No Bail, Go Directly to Jail
Ruling makes dual loyatly the legal default for all American Jews
12.18.08
KLEZMER CLARINET GREAT MARGOT LEVERETT FUSES COUNTRY AND OLD COUNTRY MUSIC AT CLUB HELSINKI ON SATURDAY, DEC. 20
One of world's greatest, according to Seth Rogovoy
12.18.08
[FILM REVIEW] HAPPY-GO-LUCKY by Mike Leigh
Review by Seth Rogovoy, critic-at-large, Berkshire Living
12.15.08
Berkshire Eagle owner on brink of bankruptcy
NY Times paints doom and gloom for Dean Singleton's MediaNews Group
12.4.08
The Biblical origins of Bob Dylan's IT'S ALRIGHT MA (I'm Only Bleeding)
King Solomon inspired one of Dylan's most enduring songs
7.13.08
[MUSIC REVIEW] Los Lobos at the Mahaiwe
Review by Seth Rogovoy, BERKSHIRE LIVING Magazine
11.29.08
[BOOK REVIEW] LUSH LIFE by Richard Price
Review by Seth Rogovoy, critic-at-large, Berkshire Living
11.26.08
MASS MoCA DIRECTOR to BRING SOL LEWITT SOUTH
Rest of the Story event at the Triplex on Dec. 14
11.25.08
[FILM REVIEW] QUANTUM OF SOLACE
Review by Seth Rogovoy, BERKSHIRE LIVING Magazine
11.23.08
[FILM REVIEW} A SECRET by Claude Miller
Review by Seth Rogovoy, critic-at-large, Berkshire Living
11.23.08
Why so many Holocaust films, and what do they say about us?
Film critic A.O. Scott asks penetrating questions about our obsession with Nazis and their Jewish victims
11.23.08
Why so many Holocaust films, and what do they say about us?
Film critic A.O. Scott asks penetrating questions about our obsession with Nazis and their Jewish victims
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Another look at Dylan's IS YOUR LOVE IN VAIN?
11.6.08
When the album STREET LEGAL first came out in 1978, Bob Dylan was criticized for a streak of misogyny that ran through many of the songs on the record. His first "post-divorce" album, he seemed to be vindictive to his former wife, Sara, and at best, uncharitable to women, even in what passed for the album's love songs.
Lines like "Can you cook and sew, make flowers grow," were ripped out of context and used against Dylan to make him out to be an old-fashioned, male chauvinist pig.
But another reading of "Is Your Love in Vain?" reveals the song to be a brutally honest examination of the transitional period one goes through -- men and women alike -- after the breakup of a long-term relationship, particularly a marriage.
As it turns out, this song could well be Exhibit A in the steps one needs to go through after the pain and heartbreak of divorce in order to come out the other side as a complete person, one who is at peace with oneself in the world, and therefore able to offer all the more to a potential partner in love.
With this in mind, take another listen to "Is Your Love in Vain?" and see if your appreciation for this song, like the song itself, hasn't matured.
"Is Your Love In Vain?"
Do you love me, or are you just extending goodwill?
Do you need me half as bad as you say, or are you just feeling guilt?
I've been burned before and I know the score
So you won't hear me complain.
Will I be able to count on you
Or is your love in vain?
Are you so fast that you cannot see that I must have solitude?
When I am in the darkness, why do you intrude?
Do you know my world, do you know my kind
Or must I explain?
Will you let me be myself
Or is your love in vain?
Well I've been to the mountain and I've been in the wind,
I've been in and out of happiness.
I have dined with kings, I've been offered wings
And I've never been too impressed.
All right, I'll take a chance, I will fall in love with you
If I'm a fool you can have the night, you can have the morning too.
Can you cook and sew, make flowers grow,
Do you understand my pain?
Are you willing to risk it all
Or is your love in vain?
Copyright ©1978 Special Rider Music
Commentary by Seth Rogovoy, author of BOB DYLAN: Prophet, Mystic, Poet, forthcoming from Scribner Books/Simon and Schuster
11/7/2008
Well worth a second look....and a third and fourth.
Always has been a favourite of mine this song. To me it is incredibly open, romantic and honest.
I can completely agree that if you take the line "Can you cook and sew, make flowers grow." by itself it is open to an interpretation which could not be put against the whole song.
However, if you look at the song in its entirety it is the performer looking in on himself, asking questions inside his head which may possibly never become spoken questions.
Well, that’s my view.
Another reason I like this song is that 1978 was the first year I had a real job after leaving college. I’d left northern England and was working in Greece. Trust me, blasting out Street Legal in the Greek sunshine that year was just pure magic.
From IP address: 222.153.147.137
11/7/2008
Wonderful song. And very very beautiful version sang by Barb Jungr...
From IP address: 85.54.198.196
11/7/2008
This is one of Bob's most powerful I am who I am love songs.Few of us do not know his "world" or his kind,and most cannot explain.Therefore all the world around appears to love in vain.-jan sevastakis
From IP address: 74.229.153.25
11/7/2008
p.s.-meant to write few of us know Bob's "world",I'm not very good at this write quick or loose the thought type of thing!---jan
From IP address: 74.229.153.25
11/8/2008
Well when I bought that album I was feeling uncharitable towards men, as were many of my female friends! However I was also going through the disappointment and hurt of a broken relationship and moving towards a new one. This song speaks to me and I am so thankful to have Dylan to listen to at that time and now. As someone else said recently, he tells me how I feel.
From IP address: 91.105.64.180
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