Bob Dylan, the legendary folk singer and writer, responsible for such hits as Blowin’ In The Wind, The Times They Are A’changin’, Rainy Day Women and more, was walking around the Jersey shore town of Long Branch the other evening in the driving rain, just whiling away the hours looking at houses until time to go on stage with Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp at the Lakewood Blueclaws baseball stadium, when a 24 year old female police officer, called by a resident who saw him in her backyard and thought he looked suspicious, asked him his name. The name Bob Dylan meant nothing to her, nor did it for a backup 25 year old male officer. Without ID, Dylan talked the police into taking him to the hotel where the tour was staying, where he was identified to the satisfaction of the police officers. My problem with this is not that young police officers did not know who a disheveled, rain-soaked 68 year old folk singer was, but that he was asked for ID because the police said he was acting erratically. That alone should have convinced them he was telling the truth. How else would you expect Bob Dylan to act if not erratically?

 

 

I lived with them on Montague Street

He said to responding police

In a basement down the stairs

I will admit to some caprice

But puzzled someone cares

It’s pouring rain, the policeman said

You’re wandering about

You seem to have it in your head

That we your word do doubt

You say you are Bob Dylan who

Is with a touring band

Along with John and Willie too

All known throughout the land

I’ve heard the name Bob Dylan as

A boy I am afraid

And I recall my mother has

His records that she played

And you look nothing at all like

The album cover pics

And why would Dylan take a hike

In these New Jersey sticks?

I’ll sing a song, Bob Dylan said

To prove to you I’m real

All right, get in, and watch your head

The cop said, it’s a deal

And in the car Bob Dylan sang

About a man who sinned

With windows down the clear notes rang

A-blowin’ in the wind

And then he sang one for the cops

He said, this one’s for you

And fair among the falling drops

Came Tangled Up In Blue