Makes you think of gypsies... I don't recall the tune, but the lyrics put me in mind of "Farewell Angelina." Tim O'Brian does a nice version. I'm a fan of Mr. White, so I'll be checking this one out.

I've become a great big huge fan of Tim O'Brien over the past year -- since last Merlefest. I got to see him play with both Darrell Scott (you gotta get their _Real Time_ album, wow) AND Hot Rize! Very good!

I haven't heard the "Farewell Angelina" song, that I can remember, but I'll look it up.

As for this song, I could see gypsies from the lyrics alone, but the tune really gives you a "House of the Rising Sun"-New Orleans-gambler feel. Kinda Southern-Gothic-seedy, you know?

The Be Good Tanyas can nail that vibe too... you gotta listen to them Shannon, if you haven't already!

Bob Dylan wrote and recorded that song. Jack did an incredible job with it. Right down to the arabic like wail at the opening. I don't think it will top his cover of Jolene in my playlist however. If you've heard it I'm sure you understand. I really wish the stripes would cover Kenny Rodgers "Ruby" The song had a good vibe to begin with, but imagine the job they would do.

Dammit, that's twice now! Thanks, Keith, for setting me straight. I should've read the darn liner notes before posting anything. I thought that Jack had written it, and it really struck me how much it sounded like Dylan. At least my ears weren't lying to me.

I'd thought the same thing about "Black Jack Davey," only to find out that Dylan HAD recorded that tune, but that it was actually an old traditional song. Hell, even Bill Monroe covered it back in the Sixties.

I've also been listening to lots of old Iggy Pop and the Stooges. There's a band that you might wanna check out if you weren't really familiar with them before. Try Gimme Danger for starters followed by I Wanna be your Dog. Can't go wrong there.

Sounds good, Keith! I LOVE Uncle Tupelo's version of "I Wanna Be Your Dog." If you've never heard it, run right and buy their anthology disc! NOW! DO IT!

If I can find a place that has music. I most certainly will.

That's actually one of only two songs off of "Desire" that Dylan wrote by himself; the others he wrote with Jacques Levy. Good stuff.

White Stripes tunes remind me of Ryan Adams sometimes in that they seem to come from such different inspirations. Like "this is their Beatles song" and "this is their Dylan song" etc. of course when they are actually covers the inspirations are easier to see but other times it seems pretty clear. Whats amazing to me is how well they make them their own (and I think Adams does too most of the time)

Have you seen them live, or their live performances on TV? A few years ago they were on Saturday Night Live and then at the grammys (?) last year. Man they were awesome. Its hard for a two-piece "band" to keep your interest but White pulls it off

Sorry this is off topic a bit...Larry its great to check up on your blog now and again. Sometimes I wish we all lived in the same place, like all next to each other. Then other times I'm glad we don't if you know what I mean. Our family diversity is amazing to me especially since we're all white. Nevertheless I wish we were going to Merlefest too. Maybe in a few years.

Hi Larry and blog commenters ... I've been lurking around this blog for quite a few weeks now and finally decided to "introduce" myself. I found the blog by surfing the Tolkien community at Orkut.com ... and stayed when I started reading words like "bluegrass," "Scott Miller," "Dolly Parton," "Johnny Cash," etc. :) I'm visiting relatives in North Carolina right now and have just finished my first Merlefest experience ... probably walked right by some of you, hah. Anyway ... just wanted to say hi, like your blog, like lots of the same music, check out my Tolkien stuff over at TheOneRing.net (I'm "Anwyn" there) and ... hi. :)