TRACK TALK #288 Temporary Like Achilles

TEMPORARY LIKE ACHILLES
ALBUM : Blonde On Blonde (1966)
Recorded : 9 Mars 1966
Released : 16 Mai 1966

Aucune performance live.



Lyrics
Standing on your window, honey
Yes, I’ve been here before
Feeling so harmless
I’m looking at your second door
How come you don’t send me no regards?
You know I want your lovin’
Honey, why are you so hard?

Kneeling ’neath your ceiling
Yes, I guess I’ll be here for a while
I’m tryin’ to read your portrait, but
I’m helpless, like a rich man’s child
How come you send someone out to have me barred?
You know I want your lovin’
Honey, why are you so hard?

Like a poor fool in his prime
Yes, I know you can hear me walk
But is your heart made out of stone, or is it lime
Or is it just solid rock?

Well, I rush into your hallway
Lean against your velvet door
I watch upon your scorpion
Who crawls across your circus floor
Just what do you think you have to guard?
You know I want your lovin’
Honey, but you’re so hard

Achilles is in your alleyway
He don’t want me here, he does brag
He’s pointing to the sky
And he’s hungry, like a man in drag
How come you get someone like him to be your guard?
You know I want your lovin’
Honey, but you’re so hard

Exactement une chanson de 3ème face de Blonde On Blonde.
La face cachée parce que la moins évidente. Cachée entre le premier disque (faces 1/2 avec leurs "monstres" Visions of Johanna, I Want You, Just Like a Woman) et la grande Sad-Eyed Lady Of The Lowlands. Celle qu'on zappe quand on n'a pas le temps de tout écouter.
Et puis un jour, on se rend compte que c'est la plus belle, que le moment discret mais parfait de cet album est la séquence Temporary Like Achilles / Absolutely Sweet Marie / 4th Time Around.

C'est joliment dit. Et je suis d'accord, c'est la partie de l'album qui se mérite et qui se savoure encore mieux avec le temps.

La version alternative de ce morceau sur le "Bootleg Vol.12" est délicieuse, Dylan y chante superbement bien.