Like an Edie Sedgwick

Went down a rabbit hole to find out if Bob Dylan wrote "Positively 4th Street" about John Lennon. It's been said he wrote "4th Time Around," but which one is right? The answer is both. Both songs are about John in one way or the other. Then what about Edie Sedgewick, who people assumed "Positively 4th Street" had actually been written about.

Well . . .

Have you ever read the lyrics for "Like a Rolling Stone" . . .?

Like a Rolling Stone

Bob Dylan

Once upon a time you dressed so fine Threw the bums a dime in your prime, didn't you? People'd call, say, "Beware doll, you're bound to fall" You thought they were all kiddin' you

You used to laugh about That everybody there was hangin' out Now you don't talk so loud Now you don't seem so proud About having to be scrounging around Scrounging around for your next meal

How does it feel? How does it feel? To be without a home Like a complete unknown Like a rolling stone

You've gone to the finest school all right, Miss Lonely But you know you only used to get juiced in it Nobody has ever taught you how to live on the street Now you find out, you're gonna have to get used to it

You used to it, never compromise With the mystery tramp, but now you realize

He's not selling any alibis And say, "Would you like to make your next deal?"

How does it feel? How does it feel? To be without a home Like a complete unknown Like a rolling stone

Oh, princess on a steeple and all the pretty people They're all drinkin', thinkin' that they got it made Exchanging all precious gifts and things But you'd better take your diamond ring down and pawn it babe

You used to be so amused At Napoleon in rags and the language that he used Go to him now, he calls you, you can't refuse When you ain't got nothing, you got nothing to lose You're invisible now, you got no secrets to conceal

How does it feel? How does it feel? To be without a home With no direction home Rolling stone

In my opinion the song is clearly about Edie, who went from a rich upbringing to homelessness, drug use and institutionalization before ultimately passing away. The muse of Warhol, she was a gem thrown into the gutter. Damn, she was young. It was rumored that she and Dylan had a brief romance, and that she had been pregnant with his child. Sadly, she lost the baby which probably became the element to end her sad, tumultuous existence. Bob is merciless here ripping into the poor little rich girl; his Gemini sword comes out to play and destroy. You get the idea that perhaps too this was a last-ditch effort to save her--he went for the jugular--blame, shame. He hated Warhol and all the sycophants who treated him like a God, and others like shit--many of them high on meth and heroin.

It's a great song--to listen to. No one would want it directed at them. But I do think it was about Edie and "Positively 4th Street" about John Lennon.

Thoughts?

If you want to read more about this era and John Lennon and Bob Dylan, then check out Nothing to Get Hung About.