Neighborhood Bully?

As someone who grew up in WASP-centric Darien, Connecticut, I am among the least knowledgeable, least qualified people to discuss the current Israel-Hamas situation.

In fact, when the bombing began to escalate in the Gaza Strip, my thoughts did not run to U.N. resolutions or whether Israel's relentless bombing was too much or not enough. It was "I need to give Bob Dylan's 'Neighborhood Bully' a spin."

Bob Dylan, "Neighborhood Bully"


After a trio of born-again gospel records (Slow Train Coming, Saved and Shot of Love), Bob Dylan set his sights on Judaism with his 1983 album Infidels. "Neighborhood Bully," with its pro-Israel agitprop and danceable rhythms, was one of the highlights. And as is the case with many a Dylan track, it's as relevant today as ever.

According to Zimmy's lyrics Israel is unfairly seen around the world as the bully of the Middle East:

The neighborhood bully just lives to survive,
He's criticized and condemned for being alive.
He's not supposed to fight back, he's supposed to have thick skin,
He's supposed to lay down and die when his door is kicked in.
He's the neighborhood bully.

The neighborhood bully been driven out of every land,
He's wandered the earth an exiled man.
Seen his family scattered, his people hounded and torn,
He's always on trial for just being born.
He's the neighborhood bully.

Some find the song right on the money, others find it racist. But few who listen to "Neighborhood Bully" find it boring.

With an all-star band including Mark Knopfler, ex-Stone Mick Taylor and riddim kings Sly & Robbie, Infidels was hailed as a major comeback by the Bard of Hibbing upon its release.

In retrospect, however, the albums that preceded it - Slow Train Coming, Saved and Shot of Love - have gained in stature and the term comeback no longer really fits. Plus, Knopfler's very 80s production has not aged particularly well. But like just about every Dylan album, Infidels is studded with great songs, including "Jokerman," "Sweetheart Like You" and "Licence to Kill."

These days, Infidels has become perhaps more well known for a song that was recorded for Infidels but left off: "Blind Willie McTell," arguably the single best Dylan track of the past 25 years. Knopfler was so angry that Dylan refused to put the song on Infidels, he vowed never to work with Dylan again. (The track was released eight years later on the first Bootleg Series box set.)

Bob Dylan, "Blind Willie McTell"


Infidels also led to one of Dylan's more underrated tours, his 1984 swing through Europe with Mick Taylor on lead guitar, which was captured on several excellent bootlegs, and the less excellent album Real Live. Perhaps most notable in these shows was his completely re-written version of "Tangled Up in Blue."

Equally notable, but lesser known, was Dylan's rambling, flirtatious interview with MTV cupcake Martha Quinn, filmed backstage before a show at Wembley Stadium. Clear your afternoon calendar and settle back for this one - it's a hoot.

Bob Dylan - Martha Quinn 1984 interview, part I:


Part II:


Part III:


Part IV:


Part V: