Being one of the most famous singer-songwriters of all time means there will invariably be countless songs that mention your name, and Bob Dylan has no small shortage of such references. As a major figure in music, poetry, and the most prominent cultural movements of the 1960s, Dylan is a regular character in rock, country, and folk songs—some of which he prefers over others.
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In a 2017 interview with Bill Flanagan for Dylan’s website, the folk-rock legend shared which one of his many musical mentions was his favorite.
Bob Dylan Reveals Favorite Song That Has Mention Of His Name
Bob Dylan doesn’t only have contemporary musical mentions of his name to boast. Songwriters of equal fame were name-dropping Dylan in real-time throughout his career, including David Bowie’s “Song for Bob Dylan,” The Who’s “The Seeker,” and John Lennon’s “God.” But according to Dylan himself, his favorite mention of his name came from Rick Nelson’s 1972 track, “Garden Party.” Dylan’s mention appears in the second verse: And over in the corner, much to my surprise, Mr. Hughes hid in Dylan’s shoes wearing his disguise. Earlier in the verse, Nelson describes seeing Yoko [Ono], who brought her walrus [John Lennon]. So, where were all these famous guests?
Madison Square Garden, hence, “Garden Party.” Nelson’s song describes the 1971 “Rock & Roll Spectacular” concert in the iconic New York City venue where Nelson and the Stone Canyon Band heard boos while they were performing. The band had just switched from recognizable hits to newer material, which they believed led to the audience’s reaction. When I got to the garden party, they all knew my name. But no one recognized me. I didn’t look the same. But it’s alright now. I learned my lesson well. You see, you can’t please everyone, so you got to please yourself.
To the audience’s credit, some say that the boos were actually because of a security guard forcibly removing a drunk patron from the back of the audience. Of course, from the band’s vantage point on the stage, all they would be able to pick up on were the displeased sounds of the crowd. Some reports say Nelson finished the set quickly after the boos started and didn’t return for the finale.
How Does Bob Dylan Fit Into The Story?
Ricky Nelson mentioning Yoko and a walrus were pretty apparent references to Yoko Ono and John Lennon. But the mention of Bob Dylan is a bit more opaque. Some believe Mr. Hughes to be a reference to Nelson’s good friend, George Harrison. Describing Harrison as hiding in Dylan’s shoes could refer to the “New Morning” album sessions Harrison and Dylan were working on in the spring of 1970. With Harrison and Lennon both fresh from the Beatles breakup, Nelson’s lines seem to contrast the two musicians’ paths post-split. But one could argue that it’s not just the passing reference of his name that makes “Garden Party” Dylan’s favorite song that mentions him.
Because if there’s anyone who can empathize with the experience of the audience booing them on a major stage, it would be Dylan. The folk hero faced a similar resistance from an audience who wanted to hear one thing and was angry when they heard something else. For Dylan, most of the booing came about when he was transitioning from his traditional folk sound to electric folk-rock. The most notable example came about during the 1965 Newport Folk Festival, which marked Dylan’s electric debut.
“I didn’t know what was going to happen, but they certainly booed, I’ll tell you that,” Dylan said in a Rolling Stone interview a few years later. “You could hear it all over the place. They’ve done it just about all over. I mean, they must be pretty rich, to be able to go someplace and boo. I couldn’t afford it if I was in their shoes.” Indeed, Dylan had been to many “garden parties” in his own career and likely felt a kindred connection to Nelson’s final Top 40 hit.
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