I Don’t Believe You (She Acts Like We Never Have Met) (Live 1966) – Bob Dylan

This song was originally released in 1964 on his fourth studio album Another Side of Bob Dylan, but the version below is from the legendary Manchester Free Trade Hall 1966 concert. This bootleg records one of the most momentous occasions in contemporary music history. Akin to the second half featuring the Band – I Don’t Believe You (She Acts Like We Never Have Met) is chaotically spectacular. The concert culminates in the famous ‘Judas‘ accusation by a fan just prior to Dylan launching into Like a Rolling Stone. I wrote recently about Edward Norton’s comments of Dylan’s impact on the music scene in his youth in which he highlights the magnitude of this concert moment.

I can’t understand, she let go of my hand
And left me here facing the wall
I’d sure like to know why she’d go
But I can’t get close to her at all

Though we kissed through the wild blazing nighttime
She said she would never forget
But now morning’s clear, it’s like I ain’t here
She acts like we never met

This is the second song to appear here from the concert, but I imagine all the songs from the second half will feature here. This was Dylan simply redefining the music playing field as it were, but many folk purists and critics weren’t ready for it. After Bob went electric, he morphed his older numbers into this punk-rock sound, and it is why Edward Norton said words to the effect that ‘Dylan was the original punk-rocker‘. Dylan’s general demeanor, aggressive approach to rock and just the loudness of it is cognizant with a ‘punk-rock’ brand.

This music may be off-putting to some especially if they are not accustomed to it. Dylan repetitively wails his harmonica like a man possessed and howls in pain as Garth Hudson’s organ swirls. It’s just Dylan venting musically about being rejected. I think initially my ears found ‘I Don’t Believe You‘ a little bit jarring, but the more I hear it and inculcate its significance, the more I am fascinated. This is simply my favourite live record by anyone. Dylan played today’s song 363 times live between 1964 and 2013.

References:
1. I Don’t Believe You – Wikipedia

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“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand