Bob Dylan Played ‘Not Dark Yet’ for First Time in Seven Years, and Totally Reimagined It
Bob Dylan performed “Not Dark Yet” live for the first time in seven years at a Düsseldorf concert on 27 October, giving the song a notably different sound. The rearrangement added a light reggae feel and made its usually sombre lyrics seem more optimistic, showing how Dylan continues to reshape songs from his 1997 album Time Out of Mind.
The performance lasted four minutes and 30 seconds, about two minutes less than the studio version, while retaining all the verses. Dylan has also recently introduced new arrangements of “Trying to Get to Heaven” and “Million Miles”; he has previously criticised the original album’s rhythmic sameness and producer Daniel Lanois’ swampy sound. His European tour continues until 8 December, with a London date at Royal Festival Hall.
In short
- Dylan revived “Not Dark Yet” after seven years.
- The new version adds a light reggae touch.
- His European tour runs until 8 December.
Explained simply
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter whose songs often explore ageing, loss and change. “Not Dark Yet” is a song from his 1997 album Time Out of Mind, a record made with producer Daniel Lanois.
Dylan has continued to perform songs from the album in new arrangements. He has said he disliked aspects of the original record’s sound, including its steady rhythms and what he called its “swampy” production.