Sarah Jane (1973) – Bob Dylan

The above album ‘Dylan’ (also known as ‘Fool Such as I‘ for its European release) was made up from outtakes he recorded for previous albums including today’s featured track Sarah Jane. It was released by Colombia Records in 1973 with no input from Dylan following the artist’s departure from Columbia for Asylum Records. It was the only Dylan album not released on CD in the US market, hence why I paid a pretty penny for its European CD release ‘Fool Such as I‘. My Mother has it in a cardboard box along with almost all my other Dylan collectables including over 25 still-sealed LPs, autographed (certified authentic) photo signing, still-sealed 24 karot gold disc of Blonde on Blonde and many promotion only ‘not for sale’ single CDs.

The ‘throwaway’ Dylan ’73 record including the song Sarah Jane was panned by the critics and public alike. Check out the Time’s scathing attack on today’s song:

And though “Sarah Jane” is the only noncover song on the album, we bet the songwriter wishes he could pass it off as someone else’s composition.

I couldn’t be more in disagreement with the Time’s beguiling and scandalous appraisal of Sarah Jane. They called it a ‘non cover’, but it’s derived from a steamboat song Rock about my Saro Jane which was sung by travelling entertainers sometime around the turn of the 19th/20th century.
I adore Sarah Jane as well as another from the record which I reviewed in April last year called Lily of the West. These enigmatic, hidden gems tend to elude even the mainstream approval of Dylan fans, but why?
Sarah Jane may seem disposable at first glance with lines like “Sarah Jane, Sarah Jane, ain’t nothing to gain”, but it is a wicked playful melody; somewhat delivered in laid-back, almost nonchalant way. Sarah Jane has a charm in its unpretentious nature which gives it so much appeal and is supported by an improv, but rich choral arrangement from a bygone era. It always makes me grin from ear to ear.

[Verse 1]
I got a wife and five little children
I’m going to take a trip on the big McMillan
With Saro Jane (Sarah Jane)
Saro Jane (Sarah Jane)
I have nothing to do
But to set down and sing
And rock about my Saro Jane

[Verse 2]
The boiler busted and the whistle squall
The captain has gone through the hole-in-the-wall
Oh Saro Jane (Sarah Jane)
Saro Jane (Sarah Jane)
Ain’t nothing to do
But to set down and sing
And rock about my Saro Jane

[Verse 3]
The engine give a crack and the whistle gave a squall
The engineer gone to the hole-in-the-wall
Saro Jane (Sarah Jane)
Saro Jane (Sarah Jane)
Ain’t nothing to do
But to set down and sing
And rock about my Saro Jane

[Verse 4]
Yankee built boats to shoot them Rebels
My gun’s steady going to hold it level
Saro Jane (Sarah Jane)
Saro Jane (Sarah Jane)
Ain’t nothing to do
But to set down and sing
And rock about my Saro Jane

[repeat Verse 1]

References:
1. Dylan (1973 album) – Wikipedia
2. Sarah Jane: the origin of Dylan’s song and why he recorded it. – Untold Dylan

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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