The Dickey Betts song that Bob Dylan wanted to write
A few days ago He passed away at the age of 80 the guitarist co-founder of Allman Brothers Band Dickey Bettsan artist who impressed many musicians of his generation with his technical skills on the instrument, but also his talent in songwriting.
Among those who were also inspired by Betts' work Bob Dylan. Dickey Betts spoke about her relationship with Dylan in an interview with Ray Padgett for the book 'Pledging My Time: Conversations With Bob Dylan Band Members'. The two first met in the 1970s, when Betts spent a couple of days with Dylan and
Robbie Robertson Of The Band. From there their relationship had a certain continuity so much so that they played together several times over the years. Among the most significant performances is “Ramblin' Man” during a concert of Bob Dylan in 1995 in Tampa, Florida, Betts' home state.
“Ramblin' Man”
is a song written by Betts included in the fifth album of
Allman Brothers Band
from 1973
“Brothers and
Sisters”
. When Dickey, whose real name was Richard, asked Dylan how much he knew about the song, he was pleasantly surprised by the legendary Duluth musician's answer. Says Betts: “One time, Bob wanted to do 'Ramblin' Man,' I told him, 'If you say that, you don't know the words.' He said, 'I know all the words to 'Ramblin' Man.' I should have written that song.” I said, 'OK, let's see. You don't know, make up some shit and it'll be fine.' Then we sang “Ramblin' Man.” He sang every word exactly the way I wrote it.” Betts then continued his story, unable to contain a certain surprise: “I mean, he knew them! And he sang it better than it's ever been sung before. He talked and sang at the same time, it was fantastic.”
Bob Dylan
gift
Dickey Betts
citing it in his epic and river
“Murder Most Foul”
song included in the 2020 album
“Rough and Rowdy Ways”
(
read the review here
). This is the passage that concerns him: “Play Oscar Peterson, play Stan Getz/Play 'Blue Sky,' play Dickey Betts.”
Betts told Padgett, “Oh, it was such an honor. All my friends said, 'Did you hear that Bob Dylan mentioned you in a song?' I was like, 'Don't tell me.' I heard the song. I was really embarrassed. I was like, 'Well, he just used me because he rhymes with Getz.' People said to me, 'Bullshit,' but I was still very embarrassed because it was a very flattering thing to be mentioned in a song by Bob Dylan.”