Bob Dylan's "Hurricane" is a song that tells the story of Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, a middleweight boxer who was wrongfully convicted of murder in 1966 and spent almost 20 years in prison before being released in 1985. Dylan's lyrics capture the injustice and racism that Carter faced, as well as the strength and determination that he showed in fighting for his freedom.
The song begins with a description of Carter's early life and his rise to fame as a boxer. Dylan sings, "Pistol shots ring out in the barroom night/ Enter Patty Valentine from the upper hall/ She sees the bartender in a pool of blood/ Cries out, 'My God, they killed them all!'" This sets the stage for the crime that Carter was accused of committing and the violence that would become central to his story.
As the song progresses, Dylan delves into the details of Carter's trial and the flaws in the case against him. He sings, "The trial was bad enough, but it was just a sad affair/ All the while that Rubin sat in jail/ Hurricane Carter never knew the truth." The lyrics suggest that Carter was a victim of a flawed and biased justice system, one that was more interested in securing a conviction than in finding the truth.
Despite the many challenges that Carter faced, Dylan's lyrics also celebrate his resilience and determination. He sings, "Rubin could take a man out with just one punch/ But he never did like to talk about it/ He just smiled and he turned away/ And went back to his cell." These lines suggest that Carter was not only a formidable boxer, but also a man of quiet strength and dignity.
Ultimately, Dylan's "Hurricane" is a powerful and poignant tribute to Rubin Carter and the struggles he faced. Through its evocative lyrics and haunting melodies, the song captures the injustice and racism that Carter faced, as well as the determination and resilience that he showed in fighting for his freedom. It is a testament to the enduring power of music to tell stories, to raise awareness, and to inspire change.
BOB DYLAN
Dm C To see him obviously framed Dm C Couldn't help make him feel ashamed to live in a land Em Am F C G Am F Am F Where justice is a game Am F Now all the criminal in their coats and their ties Am F Are free to drink martinis and watch the sun rise Am F While Rubin sits like Buddha in a ten foot cell Am F And innocent man in a living hell C F That's the story of the Hurricane C F But it won't be over till they clear his name Dm C And give him back the time he's done Dm C Put in a prison cell but one time he could've been Em Am F C G Am F Am F The champion of the world See also: Foo Fighters - My Hero Bob Dylan - Don't think twice 4 Non Blondes - What's Up America - Sister Golden Hair America - Horse With No Name Foo Fighters - Times Like These Other versions: Leon Everette - Hurricane Mindy Smith - Hurricane Something Corporate - Hurricane Jimmy Needham - Hurricane Needtobreathe - Hurricane Panic at the disco - Hurricane. Bello and Bradley and they both baldly lied And the newspapers, they all went along for the ride How can the life of such a man Be in the palm of some fool's hand?. She sees the bartender in a pool of blood, Cries out, "My God, they killed them all! It was Dylan's brilliance in encapsulating a mood, how it breaks through in his unique vocal tone that truly makes this song. Those men had children, and people who loved them. I'm not sure how much of the lyrical content is true. However, I forgot about that one line, and all of a sudden up on the screen displays the line; "And to the white folks he was just a crazy n.
Hurricane
Three bodies lyin' there does Patty see And another man named Bello, movin' around mysteriously. Now, maybe Casey Anthony can get away with lying to police and then getting away with murder not really, I know, the prosecution just blew the big one but if witnesses are lying AND being instructed to lie by the cops. No one doubted that he pulled the trigger. But then they took him to the jailhouse Where they try to turn a man into a mouse. Pistol shots ring out in the barroom night Enter Patty Valentine from the upper hall She sees the bartender in a pool of blood Cries out, "My God, they've killed them all! The jury included two blacks and the prosecutor was a member of the NAACP. He had a documented history of violence and recounted to one reporter how he wanted to go to the Harlem riots and "get me some of them cops". He lived a life of unempeachable integrity according to endless accounts of people who knew him and worked with him.
