To me Tears of Rage always seemed one of the most haunting and lamenting songs Bob and The Band had recorded. It captures in both the sorrowful lyric and mournful melody – a deep sense of betrayal, disillusionment, and mourning over lost ideals. During the time this song was written and first recorded (1967), America was in a state of turmoil and rapid change. There seems a sense here that America, once guided by noble principles, had fallen under the spell of charlatans who preach unity and justice while advancing their own agendas. The song could also be registering the pain of betrayal felt by many of America’s Vietnam war veterans.
We carried you in our arms on Independence Day
And now you’d throw us all aside and put us on our way
It also could be seen as a critique of a society increasingly obsessed with material wealth. The post-war economic boom and the rise of credit culture in America enabled people to acquire possessions more easily, but at what cost?
And now the heart is filled with gold as if it was a purse
Oh, but what kind of love is this which goes from bad to worse?
According to the Wikipedia article below: In an interview promoting the release of the complete Basement Tapes, Dylan cited the dropping of China’s first hydrogen bomb as an impetus for the song. Dylan further said: I looked for ideas and the TV would be on with “As the World Turns” and “Dark Shadows”. Any old thing would create a beginning to a song. These songs weren’t meant to be recorded by anybody. I just felt like writing”.
Tears of Rage with lyrics written by Bob Dylan and music by Richard Manuel was not released until 1975 on The Basement Tapes album.
Before his death, Robbie Robertson related what actually happened on a Facebook post. “When Bob Dylan typed out the words to ‘Tears of Rage,’ he handed it to Richard Manuel and said ‘See if you can do something with this.’ Richard nailed the perfect melody and chords to go with those heart-wrenching lyrics. He played it for Bob, who thought it sounded just right”
In 1968, the Band recorded it for their debut album Music from Big Pink. According to his official website, Dylan has played the song 81 times in concert total between 1989 and 2008. He also rehearsed the song for the Rolling Thunder Revue in 1975 but did not play it on the tour proper.
We carried you in our arms on Independence Day
And now you’d throw us all aside and put us on our way
Oh, what dear daughter ‘neath the sun would treat a father so
To wait upon him hand and foot, yet always answer no?
Tears of rage, tears of grief
Why am I always the one who must be the thief?
Come to me now, you know we’re so alone
And life is brief
It was all pointed out the way to go and scratched your name in sand
Though you just thought that it was nothing more than a place for you to stand
Now I want you to know that while you were watched, discovered that there was no one true
That I myself really thought
It was just a childish thing to do
It was all very, very painless when you ran out to receive
All that false instruction which we never could believe
And now the heart is filled with gold as if it was a purse
Oh, but what kind of love is this which goes from bad to worse?
References:
1. Tears of Rage – Bob Dylan
2. For the Sake of the Song: Bob Dylan & The Band “Tears of Rage” (Bootleg Version) – Americana – UK
