In 1995, after 16 years away from public life, I reentered with an East Coast tour opening Bob Dylan. After the death of my husband, the poet-activist Allen Ginsberg encouraged me to perform again. He had appealed to Bob, asking him to help me ease back onto the stage. After the first few jobs I was given the Bob Dylan lyric book and invited to choose a song that we could perform together. I spent a sleepless night going over the many songs I loved, and decided by daybreak on the song Dark Eyes. I chose it because of its beauty, and out of a degree of modesty. He seemed surprised but pleased with my choice and each night, within his set, I joined him to sing the song.
I sang the verses, which had a William Blake aspect, and we sang the chorus together. I am not a good harmonizer but he didn’t seem to mind; he was considerate and patient. In the course of that tour I regained my footing and my confidence. I can say, though at the time I felt a spectrum of emotions, from excitement to sorrow, those fleeting moments singing Dark Eyes with him remain among my most cherished memories.
And so we conclude Bob Month with this little film, captured in Philadelphia. Within it is a history of caring for Bob and his work, from an awkward teenage girl to the person I am today, grateful that he walks among us.
Wow. Tomorrow marks 10 years since a drunken man at the wheel and speed and steel killed my daughter that had just turned 25. Normally this month is brutal because it holds her birthday, mother's day and her death. I have had moments of tears. When I talk about it my throat can get tight and it's hard. I can write about it with less pain. But watching you in the video with the way you are looking and Mr. Dylan, there seems to be a little bit of insecurity that is being drowned out by joy and hope. I think it was an amazing thing for you to have paused to raise kids and then to do it without your husband and then to push through that ethers of mourning and looky here! You are performing and an award winning book author and death has lost its sting and you are alive and have survived! Woooooo hooooo! Can I get an amen? And tomorrow on that 10th anniversary of my child's death, I'll be up to the same. ❤️
Certainly has elements of William Blake's London poem. Apparently Bob played Dark Eyes only eight times live, seven of them with Patti during the 1995 tour! Would love to hear them sing it together now!!!