Bob Dylan - Isis

Genre : Clip vidéo musical liveAnnée : 1975 (chanson) 1976 (clip)Durée : 6min (chanson initiale, 7min)La critique de ClashDoherty :Petite déception de ne pas pouvoir vous faire partager la version studio originale de cette chanson, et de devoir, par la force des choses (YouTube ayant viré les clips), vous proposer une simple version live moins forte... Malgré cela, voici Isis, sans doute ma chanson préférée de Bob Dylan, issue de mon album préféré de Dylan, Desire, datant de 1975, album enregistré pendant la période Rolling Thunder Revue de Dylan, avec des musiciens de grand talent (Scarlett Rivera, EmmyLou Harris, Rob Stoner, Howard Wyeth et sur scène, Mick Ronson, Joan Baez ou Roger McGuinn) et l'aide du parolier canadien Jacques Levy. Le clip est issu du film Renaldo And Clara, réalisé par Bob Dylan, film de plus de 4 heures mélangeant concerts et vie privée du Barde. Version live, et nettement plus courte, de Isis, chanson envoûtante et jouée ici sur un tempo beaucoup plus rapide (la chanson dure logiquement 7 minutes, elle est raccourcie ici à 6 minutes). Une chanson sublimée par le violon de Scarlett Rivera, tandis que Dylan, au four et au moulin (harmonica, mais il joue aussi du piano, sur la version studio), nous offre des paroles aussi énigmatiques que sublimes faisant allusion à l'Egypte, aux pyramides, à Isis, et parlant tout simplement d'amour. La version live ici présente est, il faut bien l'avouer, remarquable. Dylan était alors dans une période très étrange, se fardant le visage sur scène comme un Monsieur Loyal doublé d'un Harlequin. Décors un peu 'cirque itinérant', ambiance foraine, la Rolling Thunder Revue est la période la plus étrange de Dylan avec sa période chrétienne qui aura lieu dans le début des années 80. Desire, quand à lui, est un album très long (55 minutes sur un simple vinyle, rarissime) est totalement magnifique. Outre Isis, il offre la merveille Oh, Sister, le poignant et plein de remords Sara dédié à sa femme (future ex-femme) et manière, pour Dylan, de se faire pardonner ses montées de bile de Idiot Wind (album précédent), et l'album offre aussi le long et puissant Hurricane et le très hispanisant Romance In Durango. Servi par des musiciens de grand talent et un art total de la composition, Desire, sous sa pochettez montrant un Dylan Bohème, est une des oeuvres maîtresses du Barde, et Isis en est indéniablement, avec Sara et Hurricane, le sommet absolu. Je regrette vraiment que la version studio ait disparu de YouTube. Si jamais elle revient, soyez sûrs que je la proposerai sur cet article ! Note : 20/20 I married Isis on the fifth day of May,But I could not hold on to her very long.So I cut off my hair and I rode straight awayFor the wild unknown country where I could not go wrong.I came to a high place of darkness and light.The dividing line ran through the center of town.I hitched up my pony to a post on the rise,Went in to a laundry to wash my clothes down.A man in the corner approached me for a match.I knew right away he was not ordinary.He said, "Are you lookin' for somethin' easy to catch?"I said, "I got no money." He said, "That ain't necessary."We set out that night for the cold in the North.I gave him my blanket, he gave me his word.I said, "Where are we goin'?" He said we'd be back by the fourth.I said, "That's the best news that I've ever heard."I was thinkin' about turquoise, I was thinkin' about gold,I was thinkin' about diamonds and the world's biggest necklace.As we rode through the canyons, through the devilish cold,I was thinkin' about Isis, how she thought I was so reckless.How she told me that one day we would meet up again,And things would be different the next time we wed,If I only could hang on and just be her friend.I still can't remember all the best things she said.We came to the pyramids all embedded in ice.He said, "There's a body I'm tryin' to find.If I carry it out it'll bring a good price."'Twas then that I knew what he had on his mind.The wind it was howlin' and the snow was outrageous.We chopped through the night and we chopped through the dawn.When he died I was hopin' that it wasn't contagious,But I made up my mind that I had to go on.I broke into the tomb, but the casket was empty.There was no jewels, no nothin', I felt I'd been had.When I saw that my partner was just bein' friendly,When I took up his offer I must-a been mad.I picked up his body and I dragged him inside,Threw him down in the hole and I put back the cover.I said a quick prayer and I felt satisfied.Then I rode back to find Isis just to tell her I love her.She was there in the meadow where the creek used to rise.Blinded by sleep and in need of a bed,I came in from the East with the sun in my eyes.I cursed her one time then I rode on ahead.She said, "Where ya been?" I said, "No place special."She said, "You look different." I said, "Well, I guess."She said, "You been gone." I said, "That's only natural."She said, "You gonna stay." I said, "If you want me to, yes."Isis, oh, Isis, you mystical child.What drives me to you is what drives me insane.I still can remember the way that you smiledOn the fifth day of May in the drizzlin' rain.