I’ve done this. Many times.
The issue is that what we like as Bob aficionados is not what the general audience likes.
I would stick to songs with a chorus, and maybe shorten the version.
Tight Connection to My Heart is super fun to play, and also was recently featured in a musical. I also really enjoying playing Man in the Long Black Coat, Trying' to Get to Heaven.
E B A E
'Twas in another lifetime, one of toil and blood
E B A
When blackness was a virtue and the road was full of mud
E B A
I came in from the wilderness, a creature void of form.
E B A E
"Come in," she said, "I'll give you shelter from the storm."
B A E E B A E
Any songs played at an open mic should be crowd pleasers or songs that are well known. Dylan can be so polarizing in the first place. So if you're gonna play Dylan play one of the big hits. Most people who come to watch an open mic aren't looking for a dive into the "deep cuts" of an artist who's *Back Pages* go really deep and who might be a turn-off from the get go for half the people there.
Having said all that:
Like A Rolling Stone
Just Like A Woman
Don't Think Twice It's Alright
Knockin' On Heaven's Door
All Along The Watchtower
Conversely I would suggest OP stays well away from the 'geatest hits' and plays something obscure that most people would not recognise or know was written by Dylan.
Not necessarily the best for you as a performer, nor is it an objective list of crowd pleasers, but as a performer myself, something like this is what I’d attempt as an acoustic set:
Visions Of Johanna
Mr. Tambourine Man
Love Minus Zero/No Limit
If Not For You
All Along The Watchtower
Shelter From The Storm
Changing Of The Guards
Queen Jane Approximately
Mississippi
Like A Rolling Stone
Definitely depends on your voice and style, but I’d be excited to see someone do those.
I love the line:
🎶 Distant ships sail into the mist
🎶 You were born with a snake in both of your fists
🎶 While a hurricane was blowing 🎶
If that isn’t poetry, then I don’t know what is.
Play Murder most fowl twice
Listening now. 1 minute in. Oh my god.
You Ain’t Goin Nowhere
That’s fun to sing and play. Ooooh-eee, ride me high.
I played this at an open mic once. It was well received, but there was a really drunk guy who started dancing in front and singing along.
It was well received, *for* there was a really drunk guy who started dancing in front and singing along ;)
Thanks for correcting my typo.
Tangled Up In Blue is incredibly easy as long as you can remember the lyrics
Don’t think twice , your gonna make me lonesome when you go
I’ve done this. Many times. The issue is that what we like as Bob aficionados is not what the general audience likes. I would stick to songs with a chorus, and maybe shorten the version.
Love Minus Zero No Limit
The ones you are comfortable with and have a good version of.
And to the black folks he was just a crazy dude No one doubted he was being rude
Tight Connection to My Heart is super fun to play, and also was recently featured in a musical. I also really enjoying playing Man in the Long Black Coat, Trying' to Get to Heaven.
You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go is a gorgeous song
Probably songs that you can perform and relate to the best
Hurricane!
No balls!
With the hard R?
I want to do last thoughts on woody guthrie sometime
isis and black diamond bay
One More Cup of Coffee
I had success with buckets of rain at an open mic
'it takes a lot to laugh' can be done in G or A (capo 2) and if you have a neck harmonica, all he does is blow the piss out of the highest note
Quinn the Eskimo, All Along the Watchtower, You Ain't Going Nowhere
^[Sokka-Haiku](https://www.reddit.com/r/SokkaHaikuBot/comments/15kyv9r/what_is_a_sokka_haiku/) ^by ^Innisfree812: *Quinn the Eskimo,* *All Along the Watchtower,* *You Ain't Going Nowhere* --- ^Remember ^that ^one ^time ^Sokka ^accidentally ^used ^an ^extra ^syllable ^in ^that ^Haiku ^Battle ^in ^Ba ^Sing ^Se? ^That ^was ^a ^Sokka ^Haiku ^and ^you ^just ^made ^one.
Dylan’s nicking this for his forthcoming book of haikus
Could also be a medley, or song cycle
Changing of the Guards
Clothesline Saga
Actually any Dylan song is good! I play Knocking on Heaven's Door, Don't think twice,Desolation Row....
Love is just a four letter word
My go to is Don’t Think Twice It’s Alright - quick, not overly Bob, easy lyrics, simple sweet melody.
Eternal Circle, Man in the Long Black Coat
2 short ones :)
Buckets of Rain
The Man in Me is my karaoke go-to
Highway 61 Revisited and Subterranean Homesick Blues are fun. If you’re looking for easy and well known, then you want Knockin‘ on Heaven’s Door.
Girl From North Country Freewheeling version!
Shelter From The Storm
E B A E 'Twas in another lifetime, one of toil and blood E B A When blackness was a virtue and the road was full of mud E B A I came in from the wilderness, a creature void of form. E B A E "Come in," she said, "I'll give you shelter from the storm." B A E E B A E
Tune to open D, slap a capo on at 2 a let er rip in open E. A nice, full sound for one guitar
“Eternal Circle”
Baby Blue is my go to. Glad to see it's not too ubiquitous.
Any songs played at an open mic should be crowd pleasers or songs that are well known. Dylan can be so polarizing in the first place. So if you're gonna play Dylan play one of the big hits. Most people who come to watch an open mic aren't looking for a dive into the "deep cuts" of an artist who's *Back Pages* go really deep and who might be a turn-off from the get go for half the people there. Having said all that: Like A Rolling Stone Just Like A Woman Don't Think Twice It's Alright Knockin' On Heaven's Door All Along The Watchtower
Conversely I would suggest OP stays well away from the 'geatest hits' and plays something obscure that most people would not recognise or know was written by Dylan.
My go-to Dylan tunes in the open mic days were "Tangled Up In Blue," and "The Man In Me." Not quite big hits, but not super obscure either.
I’ll be your baby tonight
Absolutely Sweet Marie, One of Us Must Know (Sooner or Later)
Whatever you like, you can't go wrong with Dylan.
It’s quite ambitious, but if you can master Subterranean Homesick Blues it’ll go down a treat
Wig Wam
Song to Woody might go over well - "I'm seein' your world of people and things/ Your paupers and peasants and princes and kings."
Most of the Time Going Going Gone
Mississippi
Not necessarily the best for you as a performer, nor is it an objective list of crowd pleasers, but as a performer myself, something like this is what I’d attempt as an acoustic set: Visions Of Johanna Mr. Tambourine Man Love Minus Zero/No Limit If Not For You All Along The Watchtower Shelter From The Storm Changing Of The Guards Queen Jane Approximately Mississippi Like A Rolling Stone Definitely depends on your voice and style, but I’d be excited to see someone do those.
Positively 4th Street!
Jokerman
I love the line: 🎶 Distant ships sail into the mist 🎶 You were born with a snake in both of your fists 🎶 While a hurricane was blowing 🎶 If that isn’t poetry, then I don’t know what is.
Jokerman, Soon After Midnight , In the Summertime
Tough Mama!
Jokerman
Brownsville Girl
Queen Jane approximately
I’ve had good success with Tangled Up in Blue, Mr. Tambourine Man, and Blowin’ in the Wind