It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry
Encyclopedia
"It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry" is a song written by Bob Dylan
that was originally released on his seminal album Highway 61 Revisited
, and also included on the compilation album Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits 2
that was released in Europe. An alternate version of the song appears on The Bootleg Series Vol. 1-3. "It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry" has been covered by numerous artists, including The Allman Brothers Band
, Marianne Faithfull
, Jerry Garcia
, The Grateful Dead, Stephen Stills
, Ian Matthews
, Leon Russell
, Little Feat
, Chris Smither
, Taj Mahal
and Toto
.
" and "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues
"). It is made up of lines taken from older blues songs combined with Dylan's own lyrics. Rather than the aggression of some of the other songs Dylan wrote during at this time, "It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry" reflects world-weary resignation. The imagery is sexual, and the song can be interpreted as an allegory of someone who is sexually frustrated. Dylan would return to similar images and suggestions in later songs, such as "I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine
" and "Señor (Tales of Yankee Power)".
Musically, the song has a lazy tempo driven by lazy-slap drumming with a shuffling beat and slight emphasis on the offbeat from session drummer Bobby Gregg. There is also a barrelhouse piano part played by Paul Griffin
, a raunchy bass
part played by Harvey Brooks
, an electric guitar part played by Mike Bloomfield
and an unusual harmonica
part. This version was recorded on July 29, 1965, the same day that Dylan also recorded "Positively 4th Street
" and "Tombstone Blues". Dylan played this version live as part of his set in the 1971 Concert for Bangladesh. Another live version of the song was released on the CD The Bootleg Series Vol. 5: Bob Dylan Live 1975, The Rolling Thunder Revue
.
The alternate version originally went by the title "Phantom Engineer". This version has a more upbeat tempo and four lines of different lyrics. It was recorded on June 16, 1965, the same day as "Like a Rolling Stone
". This version was played as part of Dylan's controversial electric set, backed by members of the The Paul Butterfield Blues Band and Al Kooper, at the Newport Folk Festival
on July 25, 1965, after "Maggie's Farm
". After being heckled during the electric set, and especially during "It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry", by fans who wanted Dylan to play acoustic folk music, Dylan returned to play acoustic versions of "Mr. Tambourine Man
" and "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue
". The Newport performance of "It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry" features outrageous jamming by guitarist Bloomfield and organist Al Kooper
. Kooper preferred the alternate version to the version that was included on Highway 61 Revisited.
borrowed a line from the song as the title of their debut album Can't Buy a Thrill
. In a 2005 poll of artists reported in Mojo
, "It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry" was listed as the #87 all time Bob Dylan song.
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
that was originally released on his seminal album Highway 61 Revisited
Highway 61 Revisited
Highway 61 Revisited is the sixth studio album by singer-songwriter Bob Dylan. It was released in August 1965 by Columbia Records. On his previous album, Bringing It All Back Home, Dylan devoted Side One of the album to songs accompanied by an electric rock band, and Side Two to solo acoustic numbers...
, and also included on the compilation album Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits 2
Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits
Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits is the eighth album released by Bob Dylan on Columbia Records, original catalogue number KCS 9643. It contains every Top 40 single Dylan enjoyed through 1967. It peaked at #10 on the pop album chart in the United States, and went to #3 on the album chart in the United...
that was released in Europe. An alternate version of the song appears on The Bootleg Series Vol. 1-3. "It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry" has been covered by numerous artists, including The Allman Brothers Band
The Allman Brothers Band
The Allman Brothers Band is an American rock/blues band once based in Macon, Georgia. The band was formed in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1969 by brothers Duane Allman and Gregg Allman , who were supported by Dickey Betts , Berry Oakley , Butch Trucks , and Jai Johanny "Jaimoe"...
, Marianne Faithfull
Marianne Faithfull
Marianne Evelyn Faithfull is an award-winning English singer, songwriter and actress whose career has spanned five decades....
, Jerry Garcia
Jerry Garcia
Jerome John "Jerry" Garcia was an American musician best known for his lead guitar work, singing and songwriting with the band the Grateful Dead...
, The Grateful Dead, Stephen Stills
Stephen Stills
Stephen Arthur Stills is an American guitarist and singer/songwriter best known for his work with Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills & Nash . He has performed on a professional level in several other bands as well as maintaining a solo career at the same time...
, Ian Matthews
Iain Matthews
Iain Matthews is an English musician and songwriter. He was born Iain Matthew McDonald, in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, England. He was known in the 1960s first as Ian McDonald, then as the 1960s progressed, as Ian Matthews...
, Leon Russell
Leon Russell
Claude Russell Bridges , known professionally as Leon Russell, is an American musician and songwriter, who has recorded as a session musician, sideman, and maintained a solo career in music....
, Little Feat
Little Feat
Little Feat is an American rock band formed by singer-songwriter, lead vocalist and guitarist Lowell George and keyboardist Bill Payne in 1969 in Los Angeles....
, Chris Smither
Chris Smither
Chris Smither is an American folk/blues singer, guitarist, and songwriter. His music draws deeply from the blues, American folk music, modern poets and philosophers.-Early life, influences and education:...
, Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal (musician)
Henry Saint Clair Fredericks , who uses the stage name Taj Mahal, is an American Grammy Award winning blues musician. He incorporates elements of world music into his music...
and Toto
Toto (band)
Toto is an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1977. The group currently consists of Joseph Williams , David Paich , Steve Porcaro , Steve Lukather , Mike Porcaro , and Simon Phillips . Toto is known for a musical style that combines elements of pop, rock, soul, funk, progressive rock, hard...
.
Music and lyrics
The version of the song on Highway 61 Revisited is an acoustic/electric blues song, one of three blues songs on the album (the others being "From a Buick 6From a Buick 6
"From a Buick 6" is a song by Bob Dylan from his album Highway 61 Revisited, which was also released as a single on the B-side of Positively 4th Street...
" and "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues
Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues
"Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues" is a song written and performed by Bob Dylan. It was originally recorded on August 2, 1965 and released on the album Highway 61 Revisited. The song was later released on the compilation album Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits Vol...
"). It is made up of lines taken from older blues songs combined with Dylan's own lyrics. Rather than the aggression of some of the other songs Dylan wrote during at this time, "It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry" reflects world-weary resignation. The imagery is sexual, and the song can be interpreted as an allegory of someone who is sexually frustrated. Dylan would return to similar images and suggestions in later songs, such as "I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine
I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine
"I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine" is a song by Bob Dylan that was originally released on his 1967 album John Wesley Harding. It was recorded at the first John Wesley Harding session on October 17, 1967. It has been covered by many artists, including Joan Baez, Vic Chesnutt, John Doe, Thea Gilmore,...
" and "Señor (Tales of Yankee Power)".
Musically, the song has a lazy tempo driven by lazy-slap drumming with a shuffling beat and slight emphasis on the offbeat from session drummer Bobby Gregg. There is also a barrelhouse piano part played by Paul Griffin
Paul Griffin (musician)
Paul Griffin was an American session musician and pianist, who recorded with hundreds of artists from the late 1950s to the 1990s...
, a raunchy bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
part played by Harvey Brooks
Harvey Brooks
Harvey Brooks is an American bassist. He has played in many styles of music...
, an electric guitar part played by Mike Bloomfield
Mike Bloomfield
Michael Bernard "Mike" Bloomfield was an American musician, guitarist, and composer, born in Chicago, Illinois, who became one of the first popular music superstars of the 1960s to earn his reputation almost entirely on his instrumental prowess, since he rarely sang before 1969–70...
and an unusual harmonica
Harmonica
The harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
part. This version was recorded on July 29, 1965, the same day that Dylan also recorded "Positively 4th Street
Positively 4th Street
"Positively 4th Street" is a song written and performed by Bob Dylan, first recorded by Dylan in New York City on July 29, 1965. It was released as a single by Columbia Records on September 7, 1965, reaching #1 on Canada's RPM chart, #7 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, and #8 on the UK Singles Chart...
" and "Tombstone Blues". Dylan played this version live as part of his set in the 1971 Concert for Bangladesh. Another live version of the song was released on the CD The Bootleg Series Vol. 5: Bob Dylan Live 1975, The Rolling Thunder Revue
The Bootleg Series Vol. 5: Bob Dylan Live 1975, The Rolling Thunder Revue
The Bootleg Series Vol. 5: Bob Dylan Live 1975, The Rolling Thunder Revue is a live album by Bob Dylan released by Columbia Records in 2002. It documents the Rolling Thunder Revue, led by Bob Dylan prior to the release of the album Desire...
.
The alternate version originally went by the title "Phantom Engineer". This version has a more upbeat tempo and four lines of different lyrics. It was recorded on June 16, 1965, the same day as "Like a Rolling Stone
Like a Rolling Stone
"Like a Rolling Stone" is a 1965 song by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan. Its confrontational lyrics originate in an extended piece of verse Dylan wrote in June 1965, when he returned exhausted from a grueling tour of England...
". This version was played as part of Dylan's controversial electric set, backed by members of the The Paul Butterfield Blues Band and Al Kooper, at the Newport Folk Festival
Newport Folk Festival
The Newport Folk Festival is an American annual folk-oriented music festival in Newport, Rhode Island, which began in 1959 as a counterpart to the previously established Newport Jazz Festival...
on July 25, 1965, after "Maggie's Farm
Maggie's Farm
"Maggie's Farm" is a song written by Bob Dylan, recorded on January 15, 1965, and released on the album Bringing It All Back Home on March 22 of that year...
". After being heckled during the electric set, and especially during "It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry", by fans who wanted Dylan to play acoustic folk music, Dylan returned to play acoustic versions of "Mr. Tambourine Man
Mr. Tambourine Man
"Mr. Tambourine Man" is a song written and performed by Bob Dylan, which was released on his 1965 album Bringing It All Back Home. The Byrds also recorded a version of the song that was released as their first single on Columbia Records, reaching number 1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 chart and...
" and "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue
It's All Over Now, Baby Blue
"It's All Over Now, Baby Blue" is a song written and performed by Bob Dylan and featured on his Bringing It All Back Home album, released on March 22, 1965 by Columbia Records . The song was originally recorded on January 15, 1965 with Dylan's acoustic guitar and harmonica and William E. Lee's bass...
". The Newport performance of "It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry" features outrageous jamming by guitarist Bloomfield and organist Al Kooper
Al Kooper
Al Kooper is an American songwriter, record producer and musician, known for organizing Blood, Sweat & Tears , providing studio support for Bob Dylan when he went electric in 1965, and also bringing together guitarists Mike Bloomfield and Stephen Stills to...
. Kooper preferred the alternate version to the version that was included on Highway 61 Revisited.
Other
Steely DanSteely Dan
Steely Dan is an American rock band; its core members are Donald Fagen and Walter Becker. The band's popularity peaked in the late 1970s, with the release of seven albums blending elements of jazz, rock, funk, R&B, and pop...
borrowed a line from the song as the title of their debut album Can't Buy a Thrill
Can't Buy a Thrill
Can't Buy a Thrill is the first album by Steely Dan. Originally released in 1972, the album was a huge success. It went gold, and then platinum, peaking at #17 on the charts. In 2003, the album was ranked number 238 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time...
. In a 2005 poll of artists reported in Mojo
Mojo (magazine)
MOJO is a popular music magazine published initially by Emap, and since January 2008 by Bauer, monthly in the United Kingdom. Following the success of the magazine Q, publishers Emap were looking for a title which would cater for the burgeoning interest in classic rock music...
, "It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry" was listed as the #87 all time Bob Dylan song.