Audio: Bob Dylan Records ‘Most Likely You Go Your Way (And I’ll Go Mine),’ ‘Temporary Like Achilles’ – March 9, 1966

March 9, 2015MusicMichael Goldberg

Original inner spread for Blonde On Blonde.

Forty-nine years ago, at Columbia Music Row Studios in Nashville, Bob Dylan, some of Nashville’s top session musicians, who along with Al Kooper and Robbie Robertson worked on Blonde On Blonde, recorded two songs: “Most Likely You Go Your Way (And I’ll Go Mine)” and “Temporary Like Achilles.”

The second song, “Temporary Like Achilles,” had evolved from a song called “Medicine Sunday,” also known as “Midnight Train,” that Dylan and the Hawks cut at the first of the Blonde On Blonde sessions at Columbia Studio A in New York on October 5, 1965. A portion of the song can be heard below.

Dylan was arguably at his creative peak while writing and recording Blonde On Blonde. He was supremely confident of his abilities, writing songs while touring and when he wasn’t in the studio recording.

Most of the songs on Blonde On Blonde are, at least to some degree, about relationships, some of which, like the one in “Most Likely You Go Your Way (And I’ll Go Mine)” went seriously wrong. All of the lyrics to that song are superb, but this verse is classic:

You say you’re sorry
For tellin’ stories
That you know I believe are true
You say ya got some
Other kinda lover
And yes, I believe you do
You say my kisses are not like his
But this time I’m not gonna tell you why that is
I’m just gonna let you pass
Yes, and I’ll go last
Then time will tell who fell
And who’s been left behind
When you go your way and I go mine

The relationship described in “Temporary Like Achilles” is just as bad, with many great lines. This one, in particular, nails it:

But is your heart made out of stone, or is it lime
Or is it just solid rock?

Listen to both songs below, as well as a portion of “Medicine Sunday.”

“Most Likely You Go Your Way (And I’ll Go Mine)”:

First song is a 1974 live version of “Most Likely You Go Your Way (And I’ll Go Mine)” from the Dylan/The Band tour:

Official video (this is a weird one). According to Wikipedia, “Mark Ronson reworked and remixed the song in promotion for Dylan’s 2007 compilation Dylan.”:

“Temporary Like Achilles”:

“Medicine Sunday”:

“Most Likely You Go Your Way (And I’ll Go Mine)” lyrics:

You say you love me
And you’re thinkin’ of me
But you know you could be wrong
You say you told me
That you wanna hold me
But you know you’re not that strong
I just can’t do what I done before
I just can’t beg you anymore
I’m gonna let you pass
And I’ll go last
Then time will tell just who fell
And who’s been left behind
When you go your way and I go mine

You say you disturb me
And you don’t deserve me
But you know sometimes you lie
You say you’re shakin’
And you’re always achin’
But you know how hard you try
Sometimes it gets so hard to care
It can’t be this way ev’rywhere
And I’m gonna let you pass
Yes, and I’ll go last
Then time will tell just who fell
And who’s been left behind
When you go your way and I go mine

The judge, he holds a grudge
He’s gonna call on you
But he’s badly built
And he walks on stilts
Watch out he don’t fall on you

“Temporary Like Achilles” lyrics:

Standing on your window, honey
Yes, I’ve been here before
Feeling so harmless
I’m looking at your second door
How come you don’t send me no regards?
You know I want your lovin’
Honey, why are you so hard?

Kneeling ’neath your ceiling
Yes, I guess I’ll be here for a while
I’m tryin’ to read your portrait, but
I’m helpless, like a rich man’s child
How come you send someone out to have me barred?
You know I want your lovin’
Honey, why are you so hard?

Like a poor fool in his prime
Yes, I know you can hear me walk
But is your heart made out of stone, or is it lime
Or is it just solid rock?

Well, I rush into your hallway
Lean against your velvet door
I watch upon your scorpion
Who crawls across your circus floor
Just what do you think you have to guard?
You know I want your lovin’
Honey, but you’re so hard

Achilles is in your alleyway
He don’t want me here, he does brag
He’s pointing to the sky
And he’s hungry, like a man in drag
How come you get someone like him to be your guard?
You know I want your lovin’
Honey, but you’re so hard

-– A Days of the Crazy-Wild blog post: sounds, visuals and/or news –-
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[I published my novel, True Love Scars, in August of 2014.” Rolling Stone has a great review of my book. Read it here. And Doom & Gloom From The Tomb ran this review which I dig. There’s info about True Love Scars here.]