So yesterday I posted The Veronicas’ new version of the song “Born Bob Dylan.”

I didn’t know that a more soulful version of the song by its author Susan Cagle, who performs as Susan Justice, had come out on the album Eat Dirt in 2013.

What I don’t understand is why, although Cagle wrote the song, on the version by The Veronicas it’s credited to the two Origlisasso sisters (The Veronicas) and producer Tobias (Toby) Gad, produced and played various instruments on Eat Dirt, and who has produced songs for The Veronicas including their version of “Born Bob Dylan”.

Cagle/Justice has an interesting story which you can get a sense of here.

Here is the song, as performed by Susan Justice & PS22 Chorus:

Here she talks about the song:

Correct lyrics to “Born Bob Dylan”:

Verse: C – D – Em
If I don’t say anything it’s wrong
if I said it, it wouldn’t come out right
It’s been keeping me up all night

Half my life I’ve been told to shut up
so how am I gonna open up
wish you could just read my mind

Pre-chorus:
If I shared all of me would you run away
if I sugar coated what I had to say
in poetry would it make you stay

Chorus:
I wish I was born Bob Dylan
Had all the words to speak my feelings
I wish I stood up like Rosa Parks
and followed my heart
unafraid of the truth
even if I stood alone
I didn’t know how it was gonna go
even if the water was cold I’d take a deep breath
and get it off my chest
and hope for the best

Verse 2:
They say either way you win
if it’s mutual why hold it in
and it’s not meant to be
and you tell the truth it will set you free

but all their wisdom doesn’t help me now
I’m scared and I gotta find out
how to speak my mind
without metaphors and prose and rhymes
and still make you mine

Pre chorus 2:
I hope you know what I mean when I’m acting mean
cuz I don’t say what I mean when I’m caught in-between
and I’m afraid
the real you is eluding me

Chorus:
1 x D – Am – C – G
2 x D – Em – C – G
1 x D – Em – C
I wish I was born Bob Dylan
Had all the words to speak my feelings
I wish I stood up like Rosa Parks
and followed my heart
unafraid of the truth
even if I stood alone
I didn’t know how it was gonna go
even if the water was cold I’d take a deep breath
and get it off my chest

Bridge:
And hope you will catch
me when I fall
and love me back
when I show you my all
Fill in the blanks
if I’m not making sense
be patient with me

Chorus:
1 x D – Am – C – G
2 x D – Em – C – G
1 x D – Em – C
I wish I was born Bob Dylan
Had all the words to speak my feelings
I wish I stood up like Rosa Parks
and followed my heart
unafraid of the truth
even if I stood alone
I didn’t know how it was gonna go
even if the water was cold I’d take a deep breath
and get it off my chest
and hope for the best

Even if I stood alone
didn’t know how it was gonna go
gotta get it off my chest
and hope for the best

if I don’t say anything it’s wrong if I said it it wouldn’t come out right

—

[I just published my rock ‘n’ roll novel, True Love Scars.” Rolling Stone has a great review of my book in a recent issue. Read it here. There’s info about True Love Scars here.]