“Went to See the Gypsy” is a song by Bob Dylan from his 1970 album “New Morning.” It’s a song characterized by its storytelling style and narrative, which makes it relatively more straightforward compared to some of Dylan’s more cryptic and abstract compositions.
The identity of the “Gypsy” in Bob Dylan’s song “Went to See the Gypsy” is unknown and has been the subject of much speculation. Some believe that the song is about a meeting between Dylan and Elvis Presley, while others believe that it is about a fictional character.
There is some evidence to suggest that the song is about Elvis Presley. The line “he smiled when he saw me coming” has been interpreted as a reference to Presley’s famous smile. Additionally, the song mentions a “big hotel”, which may be a reference to the International Hotel in Las Vegas, where Presley had a long-running residency in the late 1960s.
Went to see the gypsy
Stayin' in a big hotel
He smiled when he saw me coming
And he said, "Well, well, well"
His room was dark and crowded
Lights were low and dim
"How are you?" he said to me
I said it back to him
The narrator describes going to the lobby, possibly of a hotel or some other venue, to make a phone call. While in the lobby, the narrator encounters a “pretty dancing girl” who enthusiastically encourages them to go back and see the gypsy.
The dancing girl’s words suggest that the gypsy has some special abilities or powers. She mentions that the gypsy can “move you from the rear,” which might imply a sense of transformation or change from a position of obscurity or difficulty. The line “drive you from your fear” suggests that the gypsy can help the narrator overcome their fears or anxieties.
The mention of Las Vegas might be a reference to Elvis Presley, as the song is often interpreted as being about Dylan’s visit to see Elvis in Las Vegas. Elvis was often associated with Las Vegas, and the reference could be a way of alluding to the legendary status of both the gypsy and Elvis Presley.
I went back to see the gypsy
It was nearly early dawn
The gypsy's door was open wide
But the gypsy was gone
And that pretty dancing girl
She could not be found
So I watched that sun come rising
From that little Minnesota town
Earlier in the song, the narrator expresses excitement and anticipation about going to see the gypsy, suggesting that the gypsy might have something special to offer. This could be interpreted as a reference to Bob Dylan’s own visit to see Elvis Presley, who was often referred to as “The King” and held an almost mythical status in the world of music.
The fact that the gypsy is gone when the narrator arrives and that the “pretty dancing girl” is missing might symbolize the idea that meeting the gypsy, or in this case, Elvis, didn’t fulfill the narrator’s expectations or hopes. It could reflect a sense of emptiness or disillusionment following the encounter.
In a 2009 interview with Rolling Stone, Dylan denied that the song was about Elvis Presley. He said, “I never met Elvis, because I didn’t want to meet Elvis.”
However, Dylan has also said that he was a fan of Presley, and that he was inspired by Presley’s music. It is possible that the song is a fictionalized account of a meeting between Dylan and Presley that never actually happened.
CANSU DEMİR
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