Since my introduction to it, Bob Dylan's "Jokerman" has been a jam for me. I recall discovering it Summer 2011 following an endorsement from Coldplay's Chris Martin. In an issue dedicated to Dylan, Martin was asked to name his favorite Dylan track. Martin named this song citing its Biblical lyrical range and inclusion of several noteworthy musicians on the track, amongst them former Stone Mick Taylor. Always a fan of Martin's own music, I reasoned that if it was good enough for him, it could potentially be good enough for me.
But before I begin, I would like to first define what a "jam" is to me. Quite simply, it is a song that I listen to no the situation I find myself in. I turn to it and turn it on because for me it leads me to smile. It amuses me in all the best ways possible. It just makes me happy.
In the case of "Jokerman"I am filled with the creativity and intentionality behind it. I anticipate the next lyric Dylan sings with one his last passable voices, his aged 80's cry. It came in the what would later be revealed as the middle part of his career, a decade that began with religious conviction and ended with the founding of his "Never Ending Tour."
"Jokerman" is heard as in response to his three religious albums he released leading up to Infidels, the album housing "Jokerman." Still painting with a lyrical palate rich in religious imagery, this time Dylan uses it not testify to the salvation offered by a prophet, but to create a character is explained through a composite all the stories found in the good book. As I listen, I aim to identify all of them and process what their significance is in this story Dylan is telling, all before the next one appears.
Throughout this process, I am treated to a relaxed landscape of sound. A snare drum taps in beat, coming to the front of the sound, and joining Dylan's voice for a second. Meanwhile in the background, an ambient organs plays with guitars, rhythm, lead, and bass alike, all holding their own and contributing to the sound of the song.
It is a song I continue to return to when I am in need of something I can sing along to and smile.
