The piano accompaniment and vocals evoke a similar mood if not the same key.
"Murder Most Foul"--A?
"Disease of Conceit"--D?
(Could I get a little help from Port Townsend on this?)
Here is the link to the opening bars of both songs.
Dylan recorded "Disease of Conceit" at the Studio, New Orleans in March, 1989 as part of the "Oh Mercy' album. He wrote in his memoir Chronicles, that he was influenced by the actions of Jimmy Swaggart, the televangelist who was defrocked by the Assemblies of God because of sex scandal involving a prostitute.
In the massive 704 page book, Bob Dylan: All The Songs, the authors write, "Tony Hall's prominent bass and Willie Green's almost non-existent drums give the piece an inner strength comparable to a gospel song. A funeral march of sorts, it could have been recorded with a New Orleans brass funeral band."
Today the song resonates in a different way as we are in the grip of a different, more material form of disease. This verse is particularly gripping.
There’s a whole lot of hearts breaking tonight
From the disease of conceit
Whole lot of hearts shaking tonight
From the disease of conceit
Steps into your room
Eats your soul
Over your senses
You have no control
Ain’t nothing too discreet
About the disease of conceit
This verse addresses the psychological toll that social distancing is taking on me. As well as the frightening array of 'what ifs' that I am contending with.
Dylan recorded "Disease of Conceit" at the Studio, New Orleans in March, 1989 as part of the "Oh Mercy' album. He wrote in his memoir Chronicles, that he was influenced by the actions of Jimmy Swaggart, the televangelist who was defrocked by the Assemblies of God because of sex scandal involving a prostitute.
In the massive 704 page book, Bob Dylan: All The Songs, the authors write, "Tony Hall's prominent bass and Willie Green's almost non-existent drums give the piece an inner strength comparable to a gospel song. A funeral march of sorts, it could have been recorded with a New Orleans brass funeral band."
Today the song resonates in a different way as we are in the grip of a different, more material form of disease. This verse is particularly gripping.
There’s a whole lot of hearts breaking tonight
From the disease of conceit
Whole lot of hearts shaking tonight
From the disease of conceit
Steps into your room
Eats your soul
Over your senses
You have no control
Ain’t nothing too discreet
About the disease of conceit
This verse addresses the psychological toll that social distancing is taking on me. As well as the frightening array of 'what ifs' that I am contending with.
The 'disease of conceit' is also the complacency in which many of us took for granted our relationship with the natural world. Although epidemiologists have been predicting a possible pandemic, I put that in the category of 'what I am supposed to do about it.'
My lack of preparedness has not been personally costly (yet?). The current administration's failure to follow the National Security Council's plan to address pandemics will likely haunt our collective futures.
This dark song offers no consolation.
Give ya delusions of grandeur
And a evil eye
Give you the idea that
You’re too good to die
Then they bury you from your head to your feet
From the disease of conceit
My own consolation comes from the love and connection that my family and friends continue to show each other in these harrowing times.
My lack of preparedness has not been personally costly (yet?). The current administration's failure to follow the National Security Council's plan to address pandemics will likely haunt our collective futures.
This dark song offers no consolation.
Give ya delusions of grandeur
And a evil eye
Give you the idea that
You’re too good to die
Then they bury you from your head to your feet
From the disease of conceit
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