Monday, December 3, 2007
Oxford Town
Coincidentally enough, a Bob Dylan song came up in my iTunes almost immediately after I got home. That within itself is not entirely coincidental, as I listen to a lot of Dylan, but this was a song I've only listened to a couple of times and have never paid particular attention to - Oxford Town. Oxford Town is off of the 1963 album, The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan, which is just one reason why I found the lyrics particularly meaningful.
Oxford Town
Oxford Town, Oxford Town
Ev'rybody's got their heads bowed down
The sun don't shine above the ground
Ain't a-goin' down to Oxford Town
He went down to Oxford Town
Guns and clubs followed him down
All because his face was brown
Better get away from Oxford Town
Oxford Town around the bend
He come in to the door, he couldn't get in
All because of the color of his skin
What do you think about that, my frien'?
Me and my gal, my gal's son
We got met with a tear gas bomb
I don't even know why we come
Goin' back where we come from
Oxford Town in the afternoon
Ev'rybody singin' a sorrowful tune
Two men died 'neath the Mississippi moon
Somebody better investigate soon
Oxford Town, Oxford Town
Ev'rybody's got their heads bowed down
The sun don't shine above the ground
Ain't a-goin' down to Oxford Town
I can't imagine that Dylan's reflection on segregation and racism was widely accepted at this point in time. 1963 was still a volatile time in the Civil Rights movement. A quick search led me to Oxford Town's true meaning, as well. According to Wikipedia, "[Oxford Town was] Dylan's sardonic view of the unfolding events at the University of Mississippi. U.S. Air Force veteran James Meredith was the first black student to enroll at the University of Mississippi, located a mile from Oxford, Mississippi and 75 miles south of Memphis, Tennessee. When Meredith first tried to attend classes at the school, a number of Mississippians pledged to keep the university segregated, including Mississippi's own governor. Ultimately, the University of Mississippi had to be integrated with the help of U.S. federal troops."
I can't help but wonder how the mainstream media of the time (presumably white and somewhat prejudiced) felt about Dylan's decision to fight for an African-American cause... ¶ posted by L.O. Ratliff at 8:07 PM •
Oxford Town
Oxford Town, Oxford Town
Ev'rybody's got their heads bowed down
The sun don't shine above the ground
Ain't a-goin' down to Oxford Town
He went down to Oxford Town
Guns and clubs followed him down
All because his face was brown
Better get away from Oxford Town
Oxford Town around the bend
He come in to the door, he couldn't get in
All because of the color of his skin
What do you think about that, my frien'?
Me and my gal, my gal's son
We got met with a tear gas bomb
I don't even know why we come
Goin' back where we come from
Oxford Town in the afternoon
Ev'rybody singin' a sorrowful tune
Two men died 'neath the Mississippi moon
Somebody better investigate soon
Oxford Town, Oxford Town
Ev'rybody's got their heads bowed down
The sun don't shine above the ground
Ain't a-goin' down to Oxford Town
I can't imagine that Dylan's reflection on segregation and racism was widely accepted at this point in time. 1963 was still a volatile time in the Civil Rights movement. A quick search led me to Oxford Town's true meaning, as well. According to Wikipedia, "[Oxford Town was] Dylan's sardonic view of the unfolding events at the University of Mississippi. U.S. Air Force veteran James Meredith was the first black student to enroll at the University of Mississippi, located a mile from Oxford, Mississippi and 75 miles south of Memphis, Tennessee. When Meredith first tried to attend classes at the school, a number of Mississippians pledged to keep the university segregated, including Mississippi's own governor. Ultimately, the University of Mississippi had to be integrated with the help of U.S. federal troops."
I can't help but wonder how the mainstream media of the time (presumably white and somewhat prejudiced) felt about Dylan's decision to fight for an African-American cause... ¶ posted by L.O. Ratliff at 8:07 PM •