When is a cover song better than the original? Only you can decide. This week Lambchop takes on Bob Dylan’s “You’re A Big Girl Now.” MAGNET’s Edward Fairchild pulls the pin. Take cover!
“You’re A Big Girl Now” originally appeared on Bob Dylan’s Blood On The Tracks. Historically, the record had been interpreted as being about Dylan’s 1977 divorce; however in his autobiography, Chronicles Volume One, Dylan played the revisionist, stating the album was misinterpreted by critics and was actually based on some short stories by Anton Chekhov. This doesn’t really seem plausible, given the emotional density of the album, not to mention this is coming from a guy who’s been performing under various pseudonyms for 50 years. But why would he lie about it after all this time? Why does Dylan do anything? Lambchop’s Kurt Wagner plays the tune by himself on an acoustic guitar in a Paris hotel room. This sparse rendition splays the song wide open, baring the tenderness and making it seem even more unlikely this was all about some cold and dusty Russian literature.
The Cover:
The Original:
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One Comment
Ummm…wow!! Hats off to Kurt Wagner. This has been one of my go-to songs emotionally forever, a razorblade of heartpouring, and Kurt just adds to the legacy. There’s a lot of gravity added when an artist of Wagner’s pedigree tackles the song, as he’s no stranger to sophisticated and heartwrenching lyrics and songs himself. I’ve heard countless shitty, histrionic versions of this song (my own 6 beer versions being among them), and it’s nice to hear You’re a Big Girl Now getting a fresh approach and such a high level of committment.