Tremendous exhibition of Dylan’s drawings accompanying handwritten lyrics to many of his best known songs. At the Halcyon Gallery, New Bond Street until 30 November 2018. Don’t miss it!
Bob Dylan
All along the watchtower
All along the watchtower
Broad Street in Reading town centre
standing beside a tall tree
draped with fairy lights
a busker in his fifties
stocky and with a short beard
is playing his guitar to a backing track
with bass and drums
a version of the Jimmy Hendrix take
on a Bob Dylan classic
It’s the last Sunday before Christmas
the sky is overcast
but only a fine drizzle is falling
shoppers are hurrying
from one store to another
in a barely controlled frenzy
But the guitar playing is brilliant
and when the man begins to sing
his voice is powerful and in key
an excellent all-round performance
Sitting in a chair just behind the singer
and holding an iPad or some other tablet
a stocky woman in her fifties
is absorbed in a world of her own
in whatever she’s watching or playing
but there’s a young boy aged about ten
in a wheelchair and he’s dancing
and waving his arms with a huge smile
energetically reacting to the music
he has glasses and there are gaps
in his teeth but he’s soaking up the song
with pure delight living
totally in the moment
a perfect audience
John Lyons