Sign on the Window

Sign on the Window is a weekly podcast where we randomly select a Bob Dylan song, listen to it for a week, then report back. This week, we listened to “Yea! Heavy and a Bottle of Bread” from the legendary Basement Tapes (our 4th of the season). 

We talk context, we talk bread and bread (6:15), we talk coded language and free-writing and the logistics of having one foot in reality and the other in a Dalí painting (20:00). Paul Williams described this as one of Dylan’s “most charming performances” and we’d have to agree. While we’d understand if this didn’t exist, we’re very happy it does exist! 

As always, full show notes at our website. You can also follow along with our weekly real-time Spotify playlist – See That My Playlist is Kept Clean – and join the conversation on Twitter, message us on Facebook, and like on Instagram. And if you're loving us, consider our Patreon. For as little as one dollar you get early access to every episode we do as soon as they're edited (and a dedicated feed just for you) and exclusive content that'll only ever be on Patreon. Thanks!

Next week: our season finale on a South Dakota farm.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit signonthewindow.substack.com/subscribe

This week, because of Thanksgiving getting all up in the way, Sign on the Window decided its better late than never to go the movies! We watched 2007's I'M NOT THERE and talked about it immediately afterward. Lots of love, little confusion. A new holiday tradition in the making?! 

As always, full show notes at our website. You can also follow along with our weekly real-time Spotify playlist – See That My Playlist is Kept Clean – and join the conversation on Twitter, message us on Facebook, and like on Instagram. And if you're loving us, consider our Patreon. For as little as one dollar you get early access to every episode we do as soon as they're edited (and a dedicated feed just for you) and exclusive content that'll only ever be on Patreon. Thanks!

Hope you had a great Thanksgiving, he says, uploading this, at his day job. <3

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This week, Daniel and Kelly look at "Everything is Broken" from 1989's Oh, Mercy. They talk context, the song, personal and societal fissures, the non-judgmental nature of the narrator, broken fun facts and our own broken world. Plus, some admin and announcements at the end! 

As always, full show notes at our website. You can also follow along with our weekly real-time Spotify playlist – See That My Playlist is Kept Clean – and join the conversation on Twitter, message us on Facebook, and like on Instagram. And if you're loving us, consider our Patreon. For as little as one dollar you get early access to every episode we do as soon as they're edited (and a dedicated feed just for you) and exclusive content that'll only ever be on Patreon. Thanks!

Next week: "What I'm talking about is traditional music, right, which is to say it's mathematical music, it's based on hexagons. But all these songs about, you know, roses growing out of people's brains and lovers who are really geese and swans are turning into angels - I mean, you know, they're not going to die. They're not folk music songs. They're political songs. They're already dead. You'd think that these traditional music people would - would gather that mystery, you know, is a traditional fact, you know, seeing as they're all so full of mystery."

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit signonthewindow.substack.com/subscribe

This week at Sign on the Window, we look at the intersection of Bob Dylan and Lenny Bruce and why this song showed up on Bob's 1981 Shot of Love (18:40). It's also a great excuse for us to delve into other rabbit holes! We talk Lenny Bruce (11:00) throughout and look at his Berkeley Concert, specifically (26:30), and the history of comedy, in general. In light of what's going on in the world, this one felt as vital to talk through as any other episode. 

As always, full show notes at our website. You can also follow along with our weekly real-time Spotify playlist – See That My Playlist is Kept Clean – and join the conversation on Twitter, message us on Facebook, and like on Instagram. And if you're loving us, consider our Patreon. For as little as one dollar you get early access to every episode we do as soon as they're edited (and a dedicated feed just for you) and exclusive content that'll only ever be on Patreon. Thanks!

Next week: Bullfrog's croaking

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit signonthewindow.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to November and welcome to Sign on the Window. This week, we're talking 1963's "Paths of Victory," officially released in the Bootleg Series Vol. 1-3 and Vol. 9. 

We talk palm branches, "Palms of Victory," Pilgrim's Progress and reflect on what a competent song can do for a crazy week. 

As always, full show notes at our website. You can also follow along with our weekly real-time Spotify playlist – See That My Playlist is Kept Clean – and join the conversation on Twitter, message us on Facebook, and like on Instagram. And if you're loving us, consider our Patreon. For as little as one dollar you get early access to every episode we do as soon as they're edited (and a dedicated feed just for you) and exclusive content that'll only ever be on Patreon. Thanks!

Next week: Lenny Bruce is dead...

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Today, we close out Woody Guthrie Month with Dylan's one-time performance of "Last Thoughts on Woody Guthrie." 

We delve into Bob's last thoughts (7:00), look at Woody's final days (24:30) and let you chew on our last thoughts (39:30). We've had such an amazing time deep-diving Woody that we're sad it's over but there may not be a better way to close than this. 

As always, full show notes at our website. You can also follow along with our weekly real-time Spotify playlist – See That My Playlist is Kept Clean – and join the conversation on Twitter, message us on Facebook, and like on Instagram. And if you're loving us, consider our Patreon. For as little as one dollar you get early access to every episode we do as soon as they're edited (and a dedicated feed just for you) and exclusive content that'll only ever be on Patreon. Thanks!

Next week: trails of trouble, roads of battle.

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Our final Mixed Up Confusion for Woody Guthrie month looks at Woody's influence beyond Bob Dylan and onward toward the future, with projects like Mermaid Avenue and others. 

Part 1 (3:00) looks at other artists interpretation of Woody, featuring: Donovan, Ani DiFranco, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, Bruce Springsteen, Alison Krauss, Country Joe McDonald, Ry Cooder, Old Crow Medicine Show, U2, Jimmy LaFave and Odetta. Part 2 (14:00) concerns Billy Bragg and Wilco's 1998 MERMAID AVENUE and the utter brilliance of Woody as a tender hearted and quite romantic songwriter. Part. 3 (45:00) looks toward the future. We listen to songs by the Dropkick Murphy's and Anti-Flag and delve into the other album interpretations of Woody's words with the Klezmatics, Jonatha Brooke, and Jay Farrar and Company. 

Full Woody Guthrie Month posts (and playlists for every episode) at our website. You can also follow along with our weekly real-time Spotify playlist – See That My Playlist is Kept Clean – and join the conversation on Twitter, message us on Facebook, and like on Instagram. And if you're loving us, consider our Patreon. For as little as one dollar you get early access to every episode we do as soon as they're edited (and a dedicated feed just for you) and exclusive content that'll only ever be on Patreon. Thanks!

Tomorrow: Our last thoughts on Woody Guthrie.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit signonthewindow.substack.com/subscribe

Woody Month rolls on! This week, Daniel and Kelly talk "Union Sundown" off 1983's Infidels. 

This is quite the episode... We talk about the song, unions, globalization and funk music. If you ever wanted a ramblin' pod, this is it. 

As always, full show notes at our website. You can also follow along with our weekly real-time Spotify playlist – See That My Playlist is Kept Clean – and join the conversation on Twitter, message us on Facebook, and like on Instagram. And if you're loving us, consider our Patreon. For as little as one dollar you get early access to every episode we do as soon as they're edited (and a dedicated feed just for you) and exclusive content that'll only ever be on Patreon. Thanks!

Next week: Last Thoughts

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit signonthewindow.substack.com/subscribe

Woody Guthrie Month rolls on! This week, we talk about the overlap of Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan. 

We spent some time with Woody songs that we have a young (and harmonica hungry) Bob playing back before he became "Bob Dylan." Because there's so much music, we broke it into sets. The songs are below and at our website, you can get to the Spotify playlist: - Set One, Woody songs by Dylan (5:20) - Ramblin’ Round - Talking Fishing Blues - Pastures of Plenty - This Land is Your Land (and Reprise) - Hangknot, Slipknot - Long John - I Ain’t Got No Home - Set Two, nursery songs (22:30) - Car Song - Howdi Do - Don’t You Push me Down - Come See - I Want My Milk (I Want It Now) - Set Three, let's talk about PNW and VD (33:20) - Talking Columbia - VD Suite - Set Four, traditional songs both sung (48:30) - “Gypsy Davy,” “Buffalo Skinners,” — East Orange Tape, Feb-Mar 1961 - “Ranger's Command” and “Pretty Boy Floyd” at Gerde’s, Sept. 1961 - “1913 Massacre” at Carnegie Chapter Hall, Nov 4, 1961 - Ramblin’ Blues - Jesus Christ - Talking Sailor (Talking Merchant Marine) - Set Five, two songs that aren't timely or depressing (52:20) - Lindbergh - Deportees 

As always, full show notes at our website. You can also follow along with our weekly real-time Spotify playlist – See That My Playlist is Kept Clean – and join the conversation on Twitter, message us on Facebook, and like on Instagram. And if you're loving us, consider our Patreon. For as little as one dollar you get early access to every episode we do as soon as they're edited (and a dedicated feed just for you) and exclusive content that'll only ever be on Patreon. Thanks!

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit signonthewindow.substack.com/subscribe

"Burning telephone books, burning newspaper clippings. Huckleberry Finn hats." 

This week we continue Woody Guthrie month with Dylan's "I Shall Be Free" from his Freewheelin' LP. We talk the talkin' blues, dive into who's who in Dylan's 1962, and discuss just where this song came from and how it fits into our month. 

As always, full show notes at our website. You can also follow along with our weekly real-time Spotify playlist – See That My Playlist is Kept Clean – and join the conversation on Twitter, message us on Facebook, and like on Instagram. And if you're loving us, consider our Patreon. For as little as one dollar you get early access to every episode we do as soon as they're edited (and a dedicated feed just for you) and exclusive content that'll only ever be on Patreon. Thanks!

Next week: Well, my podcast mic, it came from Singapore

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit signonthewindow.substack.com/subscribe