User blog:The Bespectacled Guy/BRBH 6: Bob Dylan VS Marcus Mumford MEANINGS

Link to the actual battle

Marcus Mumford:
'''Hey now! What's this? What a sad sight to see!'''

(Mumford questions what he sees before him, proclaiming Dylan to be "a sad sight". Also, the music of Mumford & Sons is characterised by shouts belonging to the US and UK folk tradition, like "hey" and "woo".)

A 70-year-old man who wants to face off with me?

(Dylan is over 70 years old, something Mumford mentions incredulously when comparing the two of them, suggesting Dylan is too old to rap.)

You've had a long career, look at all the songs you wrote,

(Dylan has indeed written many, many songsthroughout his lengthy career, whether for himself or for other artists.)

But I have more sons than you have well-sung notes!

(There are three other members of Mumford & Sons: Ben Lovett, Ted Dwane and Winston Marshall. While none of them are actually Mumford's sons, they are referred to as such in the band's name. Bob Dylan is known for his characteristic throaty, off-key singing voice. Although Dylan performed in imitation of traditional folk singers like Dick Justice, his voice is often criticised as poor, something Mumford references. Given Mumford's three 'sons' within the band, he is stating that Dylan has sung less than three notes correctly in his career.)

You've left quite a legacy, but there's no hope of escape,

(Dylan has influenced countless numbers of singers and songwriters, from Bruce Springsteen to Neil Young to Joni Mitchell. Here, Mumford declares that despite this, there is no escaping this battle and his legacy does not mean he will win.)

I'll leave you broken up and scattered, like your bootleg tapes!

(Dylan's unreleased work has been extensively bootlegged (his album 'The Great White Wonder' has become probably the most famous bootleg album of all time), with official bootleg releases being sold since 1991. Mumford threatens to kill Dylan, break his body into pieces and scatter it around, like how the bootleg tapes were themselves broken up and distributed by different sources for decades.)

'''But to go on and sing for 50 years? Ma, that's not alright,'''

(Dylan's career has lasted from the early '60s until the present day. Mumford states his disapproval of this, while referencing Dylan's song "It's Alright Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)".)

About time you retired, and stopped hogging the limelight!

(Mumford suggests that Dylan should retire, since all Mumford believes him to be doing at the moment is "hogging the limelight" or being the centre of attention undeservedly, when Mumford believes other singers should be talked about more.)

Bob Dylan:
What's that noise I hear, Blowin' In The Wind?

(Dylan describes Mumford's voice as a noise, and makes reference to his famous song "Blowin' In The Wind".)

It's the sound of some Idiot who thinks he's goin' to win!

(He continues his last line to identify Mumford's rapping, and calling him an 'idiot' in reference to his song "Idiot Wind" which continues with the imagery of Mumford's voice travelling on the wind.)

'''You want me to retire? That wouldn't be a mistake,'''

(Dylan states that retiring wouldn't necessarily be a bad idea, for reasons he elaborates on in the next line.)

'Cause if you're where music's headin', I'll be glad to take a break!

(If Mumford is the future of music, as he seems to be implying in his verse, Dylan doesn't want to be involved in the business for a considerable amount of time, as he suggests that Mumford is a terrible musician.)

Spit rhymes fast like a Hurricane that's tearin' down 4th Street,

(Dylan says that he raps quickly, comparing the speed to a hurricane tearing down 4th Street. This makes reference to two different Dylan songs, "Hurricane" and "Positively 4th Street".)

Yes, Like A Rolling Stone, I will knock you off your feet!

(He goes on to threaten to bowl Mumford over, referring once more to one of his songs, in this case his biggest hit "Like A Rolling Stone". This could have a double meaning, since Like A Rolling Stone, with its long running time and large backing band, was considered to be a groundbreaking song for pop music, one that quite possibly knocked people off their feet in surprise.)

Son, I invented rap, with Subterranean Homesick Blues,

(Subterranean Homesick Blues, one of Dylan's earlier songs, has been considered by many to be a possible forerunner to rap music. Dylan mentions this in order to assert his superiority over Mumford - he was rapping before the genre existed.)

'''And I changed music forever! What the hell did you do?'''

(As mentioned previously by Mumford, Dylan's musical legacy is almost unrivalled. Dylan states here that music would not be the same without him, while questioning what exactly Mumford has achieved from his own work.)

Marcus Mumford:
'''Is that the best you've got? I expected better.'''

(Mumford is suggesting that Dylan's verse was weak, and that he was hoping for more of a challenge.)

And if you won't kiss my arse, then you can eat my woollen sweater!

("Kiss my arse" and "eat my arse" are insults that can be used in a variety of ways. They can be used to tell someone to go away, to show dissent from an order, or just to state disapproval. British folk singers commonly wear woolly jumpers, so Mumford incorporates that into the insult.

Note: To be honest, this line is best read screaming in a West Country accent.)

You may think I'm just some posh Brit, but I'm really quite able,

(Mumford was quite well-off during his childhood, which he mentions while warning Dylan that there is more to him than meets the eye.)

I'll turn into a Little Lion Man and drag you back to Babel!

(Mumford threatens to viciously drag Dylan to the town of Babel, the name of a song and album by Mumford & Sons. The title of Babel is a biblical reference, and the location is described in the lyrics as a terrible place. "Little Lion Man" is also the name of a song by Mumford & Sons.)

I'll take you into a Cave, smash a mandolin on your head,

(Here, Mumford threatens Dylan once more, while continuing to refer to his own music. "The Cave" is the title of a Mumford & Sons song, and they are known for including mandolins as part of their instrumental line-up.)

Then tie you up by Highway 61 and leave you there for dead!

(Mumford continues his threat from his previous line. "Highway 61 Revisited" is the title of a song and album by Dylan.)

They may say you're incredible, but I know that's untrue,

(Music critics have wildly praised Dylan's music for decades and his lyrics are complex and referential enough to warrant analyses by self-proclaimed 'Dylanologists', though Mumford states here that he disagrees with the general consensus.)

Even Barry Manilow is more talented than you!

(Barry Manilow is a well-known singer who has released hits such as "Copacabana" and "Could It Be Magic", but not one who is widely acclaimed. He is generally considered to be a bit bland and cheesy, and not all that talented. Here, Mumford speaks scornfully of Dylan and Manilow, saying that Manilow is better than Dylan but both are marginal.)

Yet you still want to make records? Well let the price be on your head!

(Mumford says that Dylan will be the one suffering the consequences if he continues to release albums, since, as Mumford believes, he has no talent.)

Toured with The Band and Jerry Garcia but I'll be Grateful when you're Dead!

(Mumford references other famous artists Dylan has toured with, The Band and also Jerry Garcia, who performed with Dylan alongside the other members of his band, the Grateful Dead. Mumford uses a play on words to convey the suggestion that he'll be happy when Dylan eventually dies.)

I'll beat you so badly, you'll be sent back in time,

(Mumford will beat Dylan up, and this will cause Dylan to be sent back in time.)

Back where you belong, circa 1969!

(Mumford suggests that Dylan really belongs in the past.)

TO BE CONTINUED