Talkin’ John Birch Paranoid Blues
Well, I finally started thinkin' straight
When I run outa things to investigate.
Couldn't imagine doin' anything else,
So now I'm sittin' home investigatin' myself!
Hope I don't find out nothing...good God!
Well, I see it as a humorous metaphor that the lyricist/Bob knows the relationship is eventually doomed, but is defiantly going for it anyway because, as he says, he wants her. Which is further emphasized by the poor organ grinder who has apparently already lost his monkey companion, and the silver saxophones, which are often used in the blues.
“I Shall Be Free” off of Freewheelin’ contains my favorite humorous Dylan lyrics:
“Telephone rang, it would not stop, it was President Kennedy callin’ me up / He said, ‘My friend Bob, what do you think we need to make the country grow?’ I said, ‘My friend John, Brigitte Bardot…Anita Ekberg…Sophia Loren…country’ll grow.” Whole song is hilarious too but I love that verse.
The section of “Highlands” detailing the narrator’s exchange with the waitress in the restaurant is a riot.
There’s some good humor in “Isis.” I especially like, “We set out that night for the cold in north / I gave him my blanket, and he gave me his word / I said ‘Where are we going?’ He said we’d be back by the fourth / I said, ‘That’s the best news that I’ve ever heard’”
Just realized all three of these examples all share a ‘he said/she said/i said’ dynamic, possibly a recurrence in Dylan’s style?
In any case, those are a few of the many examples of Dylan’s humor showing in his songs.
Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat!
I saw you making love to him…….You forgot to close the garage door.
Talkin Bear Mountain Picnic Freight Train Blues is kinda funny. The Traveling Wilburys had a bunch of funny songs.
"Have a picnic in my bathroom" is high up there as funniest lyric.
"Congratulations" is one I find funny - his tone is dripping with sarcasm.
a lot of the songs on The Basement Tapes
ri don't know why but clothes line saga always cracks me up
It's about nothing and so dry and deadpan. It's a parody of Ode to Billie Joe.
Wiggle Wiggle
Motorpsycho Nitemare Talking WWIII Blues Highway 61 Revisited
Rainy Day Woman #12 & #35
Everybody must get stoned!
I was surprised no one else has said this yet!
The beginning of Bob Dylan’s 115th dream
All of it, really
They asked me for some collateral and I pulled down my pants
I Shall Be Free
Talkin’ John Birch Paranoid Blues Well, I finally started thinkin' straight When I run outa things to investigate. Couldn't imagine doin' anything else, So now I'm sittin' home investigatin' myself! Hope I don't find out nothing...good God!
That’s the outright funniest with set up and punch lines Some others ofc are just out there
“It was the mail man…. He punched me out”
Must be "Must be Santa"!
4th Time Around Day of the Locusts
Leopard Skin Pill-Box Hat
'The guilty undertaker sighs' cracks me up every time. IOW...I Want You.
The lyrics there go off the rails in such short time, it's hilarious.
Why is that funny?
Well, I see it as a humorous metaphor that the lyricist/Bob knows the relationship is eventually doomed, but is defiantly going for it anyway because, as he says, he wants her. Which is further emphasized by the poor organ grinder who has apparently already lost his monkey companion, and the silver saxophones, which are often used in the blues.
The Traveling Wilburys have a lot of fun ones
Stuck inside of mobile with the Memphis blues again
Po’ Boy
Cry a While also
Came here looking for Wiggle Wiggle Wiggle and Must be Santa and this sub did not disappoint.
Talking’ John Birch Society, very funny until 2016, f it, still funny
* Po’ Boy * Tin Angel - black humor I suppose
Brownsvile Girl/New Danville Girl
*I was crossin’ the street when shots rang out* *I didn’t know whether to duck or to run, so I ran*
Ballad of a thin man
All Over You
She’s Your Lover Now is pretty wicked
Million dollar bash
John Birch Paranoid Blues
Country Pie?
Talkin John Birch Paranoia Please Mrs Henry Tiny Montgomery Million Dollar Bash Talkin World War III Blues Tweedly Dum Tweedly Dee The list goes on
“I Shall Be Free” off of Freewheelin’ contains my favorite humorous Dylan lyrics: “Telephone rang, it would not stop, it was President Kennedy callin’ me up / He said, ‘My friend Bob, what do you think we need to make the country grow?’ I said, ‘My friend John, Brigitte Bardot…Anita Ekberg…Sophia Loren…country’ll grow.” Whole song is hilarious too but I love that verse. The section of “Highlands” detailing the narrator’s exchange with the waitress in the restaurant is a riot. There’s some good humor in “Isis.” I especially like, “We set out that night for the cold in north / I gave him my blanket, and he gave me his word / I said ‘Where are we going?’ He said we’d be back by the fourth / I said, ‘That’s the best news that I’ve ever heard’” Just realized all three of these examples all share a ‘he said/she said/i said’ dynamic, possibly a recurrence in Dylan’s style? In any case, those are a few of the many examples of Dylan’s humor showing in his songs.
Highlands
Bob Dylan's 115th Dream
Country pie for sure. And the scathing lines in like a rolling stone and positively fourth street make me laugh
Bob Dylan's Blues, I Shall Be Free, I Shall Be Free#10, Lo and Behold
Lenny Bruce is a funny one
Summer Days. Odds And Ends.
All of them
Catfish
What songs aren’t funny ?
Talkin’ Hava Negeilah Blues
I’m Your Teenage Prayer Talkin’ Bear Mountain picnic Massacre Blues
Not sure if it counts but the music video for tight connection to my heart is really goofy
I think "My Own Version of You" is pretty funny.
See You Later Allen Ginsberg off the basement tapes bootleg
Basement Tapes
Don’t follow leaders watch the parking meters
Country Pie
Clothes Line Saga
I shall be free.
The line "I was thinkin' about diamonds and the world's biggest necklace" in Isis always cracks me up.
How has nobody said Motorpsycho Nightmare yet?
Clothes Line Saga off the Basement Tapes. That one always gives me a chuckle.
Ugliest Girl
Motorpsycho Nightmare, World War III blues and Bob Dylan's 115th Dream
Fur slippers.
Ballad of Hollis Brown Masters of War Forever Young Vomit Express
Sara Dirge All Along The Watchtower