Old Dirt Road
| "Old Dirt Road" | |
|---|---|
| Song |
"Old Dirt Road" is a song written by John Lennon and Harry Nilsson, first released on Lennon's 1974 album Walls and Bridges.[1] Nilsson later recorded the song on his 1980 album Flash Harry.
Contents
Lyrics & music
Lennon and Nilsson wrote "Old Dirt Road" while Lennon was working with Nilsson producing Nilsson's Pussy Cats album.[2][3] Lennon had written the first verse, when he was interrupted by some business people, and asked Nilsson to provide an "Americanism."[3] Nilsson provided a line, which Lennon incorporated into the song.[3] Nilsson then continued writing part of the song.[3]
"Old Dirt Road" uses the road as a metaphor for a point of stability in an unstable world and a life subject to variability.[4] In the line originally provided by Nilsson, life is described as "trying to shovel smoke with a pitchfork in the wind."[3][4] Even though the road is apparently stable, it too is at risk from the possibility of a mudslide.[4] The singer advises the listener to just "keep on keepin' on."[4] The lyrics incorporate a reference to Bob Nolan's song "Cool Water," where someone on the old dirt road suggests that the only thing needed is "cool, clear water."[4] According to authors Ben Urish and Ken Bielen, the lyrics don't "make much literal sense but somehow sound right on an intuitive level."[4] Music critic Johnny Rogan finds the mood of the song to be "stoical rather than despairing" and describes the lyrics as laissez-faire.[5]
The song is in the form of a ballad, with some country music influence.[4][5] Jesse Ed Davis' guitar contributes to the country atmosphere.[5] Musically, it reproduces some of the sound from Lennon's Imagine album in employing dual pianos, one played by Lennon and one played by Nicky Hopkins.[5] Urish and Bielen describe the music as "mournful and relaxed."[4] John Blaney claims that it captures "an atmosphere of listless intoxication."[3] Music journalist Paul du Noyer believes that Charlie Patton's "Ain't Goin' Down That Dirt Road" may have been an influence on the song.[2]
Critical reception
Lennon biographer Geoffery Giuliano describes "Old Dirt Road" as a "throwaway."[6] Allmusic critic Richard Ginell does not rate the song highly either.[7] However, Allmusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine describes it as "an enjoyable pop song."[8] Johnny Rogan praises the "interesting imagery" of the lyrics, particularly the line about shovelling smoke.[5]
Lennon himself dismissed the song as "just a song" and that he and Nilsson wrote it because they were drunk and nothing better to do.[2] However, music journalist Paul du Noyer believes that Lennon under-rated the song, as he did with several other songs of this period.[2] Author John Blaney agrees with du Noyer, believing that Lennon under-rated the song because it was written during a difficult period in Lennon's life, when he was separated from Yoko Ono and doing a lot of drinking and consuming drugs with Nilsson.[3]
Other versions
A very early sketch of the song was included on Lennon's album Menlove Ave. and a more developed version, including acoustic guitar was included on John Lennon Anthology.[3] The country music feel of the song is more pronounced on the Menlove Ave. version, as Jesse Ed Davis' guitar part is heard on its own.[5] The Menlove Ave. version also makes more transparent the influence of chain gang songs on the "cool, clear water" line.[5] The Anthology version differs from the Walls and Bridges version in the bridge and the ending, and also lacks the overdubs that were added to the Walls and Bridges version.[9]
Covers
Harry Nilsson, who co-wrote the lyrics with Lennon and performed on Lennon's version,[2] also recorded his own version of the song for his 1980 album Flash Harry, on which Lennon's former bandmate Ringo Starr plays drums.[4][7][9][10] According to Allmusic critic Richard Ginell, Nilsson's version is similar to Lennon's, albeit Nilsson sings it "in a somewhat strangled voice."[7] Chip Mandinger and Mark Easter agree that Nilsson's version is similar to Lennon's.[9]
Personnel
The musicians who performed on the original recording were as follows:[3][11]
- John Lennon – vocals, piano
- Harry Nilsson – backing vocals[2]
- Nicky Hopkins – piano
- Jesse Ed Davis – electric guitar
- Ken Ascher – electric piano
- Klaus Voormann – bass
- Arthur Jenkins – percussion
- Jim Keltner – drums
References
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