Baby, Stop Crying: Difference between revisions
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| artist = [[Bob Dylan]] |
| artist = [[Bob Dylan]] |
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| album = [[Street Legal (album)|Street Legal]] |
| album = [[Street Legal (album)|Street Legal]] |
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| B-side = New Pony |
| B-side = [[New Pony]] |
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| released = 31 July 1978 (US single) |
| released = 31 July 1978 (US single) |
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| recorded = April 1978 |
| recorded = April 1978 |
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==Lyrical interpretation and reception== |
==Lyrical interpretation and reception== |
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The song's narrator is a desperate man attempting to play the role of consoler to a despairing woman, asking her for a pistol in the opening verse, and claiming he "can't tell right from wrong |
The song's narrator is a desperate man attempting to play the role of consoler to a despairing woman, asking her for a pistol in the opening verse, and claiming he "can't tell right from wrong".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Baby, Stop Crying {{!}} The Official Bob Dylan Site|url=https://www.bobdylan.com/songs/baby-stop-crying/|access-date=2021-01-03|website=www.bobdylan.com}}</ref> Commenting on the content of this song, Dylan once said, "The man in that song has his hand out and is not afraid of getting it bit".<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Nzz7M5FvWiUC&q=%22the+man+in+that+song+has+his+hand+out+and+is+not+afraid+of+getting+it+bit%22&pg=PA362|title=Rolling Stone Interv|last=Magazine|first=Rolling Stone|date=1989-09-15|publisher=Macmillan|isbn=9780312034863|pages=362|language=en}}</ref> |
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Dylan scholar Tony Attwood sees the song as having lyrical roots in [[Robert Johnson]]'s "[[Stop Breaking Down]]".<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-07-06|title=Bob |
Dylan scholar Tony Attwood sees the song as having lyrical roots in [[Robert Johnson]]'s "[[Stop Breaking Down]]".<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-07-06|title=Bob Dylan's "Baby Stop Crying": the meaning of the lyrics and the song {{!}} Untold DylanUntold Dylan|url=https://bob-dylan.org.uk/archives/2601|access-date=2021-01-03|language=en-GB}}</ref> |
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Like many of the tracks from ''Street Legal'', "Baby, Stop Crying" features a saxophone and a trio of female backup singers. According to ''[[Billboard |
Like many of the tracks from ''Street Legal'', "Baby, Stop Crying" features a saxophone and a trio of female backup singers. According to ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' the female voices provide an "exciting counterpoint" to Dylan's "raspy" vocal performance.<ref>{{cite news|title=Top Single Picks|newspaper=Billboard|access-date=2020-07-09|page=82|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/70s/1978/Billboard%201978-08-12.pdf|date=August 12, 1978}}</ref> ''[[Cash Box]]'' said that it "has a tight, repetitive hook, backing singers, strong sax solo and organ work."<ref name=cb>{{cite news|title=CashBox Singles Reviews|date=August 12, 1978|page=11|newspaper=Cash Box|accessdate=2022-01-01|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1978/CB-1978-08-12.pdf}}</ref> ''[[Record World]]'' said that "Old fans will lean toward [Dylan's] customary throaty vocals while new audiences might latch on to the high female background singing that gives it just a touch of r&b."<ref name=rw>{{cite magazine|magazine=Record World|date=August 19, 1978|accessdate=2023-02-13|title=Record World Single Picks|page=22|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/78/Record-World-1978-08-19.pdf}}</ref> |
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==Live performances== |
==Live performances== |
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Latest revision as of 15:07, 14 February 2023
| "Baby, Stop Crying" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Bob Dylan | ||||
| from the album Street Legal | ||||
| B-side | "New Pony" | |||
| Released | 31 July 1978 (US single) | |||
| Recorded | April 1978 | |||
| Genre | Rock | |||
| Length | 5:17 | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Bob Dylan | |||
| Producer(s) | Don DeVito | |||
| Bob Dylan singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Baby, Stop Crying" is a song written by Bob Dylan, released in the summer of 1978 as a single and in a longer album version on Street Legal. The song charted at #13 in the UK and was a top-ten song in much of Europe, although it failed to chart in the United States.[1]
Lyrical interpretation and reception
[edit]The song's narrator is a desperate man attempting to play the role of consoler to a despairing woman, asking her for a pistol in the opening verse, and claiming he "can't tell right from wrong".[2] Commenting on the content of this song, Dylan once said, "The man in that song has his hand out and is not afraid of getting it bit".[3]
Dylan scholar Tony Attwood sees the song as having lyrical roots in Robert Johnson's "Stop Breaking Down".[4]
Like many of the tracks from Street Legal, "Baby, Stop Crying" features a saxophone and a trio of female backup singers. According to Billboard the female voices provide an "exciting counterpoint" to Dylan's "raspy" vocal performance.[5] Cash Box said that it "has a tight, repetitive hook, backing singers, strong sax solo and organ work."[6] Record World said that "Old fans will lean toward [Dylan's] customary throaty vocals while new audiences might latch on to the high female background singing that gives it just a touch of r&b."[7]
Live performances
[edit]Dylan performed the song live in concert 39 times. All performances were in 1978.[8]
Covers
[edit]- Terrance Simien: Jam the Jazzfest (1998)
References
[edit]- ^ "baby stop crying | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2021-01-03.
- ^ "Baby, Stop Crying | The Official Bob Dylan Site". www.bobdylan.com. Retrieved 2021-01-03.
- ^ Magazine, Rolling Stone (1989-09-15). Rolling Stone Interv. Macmillan. p. 362. ISBN 9780312034863.
- ^ "Bob Dylan's "Baby Stop Crying": the meaning of the lyrics and the song | Untold DylanUntold Dylan". 2016-07-06. Retrieved 2021-01-03.
- ^ "Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard. August 12, 1978. p. 82. Retrieved 2020-07-09.
- ^ "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. August 12, 1978. p. 11. Retrieved 2022-01-01.
- ^ "Record World Single Picks" (PDF). Record World. August 19, 1978. p. 22. Retrieved 2023-02-13.
- ^ "Bob Dylan Tour Statistics | setlist.fm". www.setlist.fm. Retrieved 2021-01-03.
