The 1976 Bob Dylan anthem Jeff Tweedy says only comes along “once every 10 years”
Jeff Tweedy has praised Bob Dylan’s “Hurricane” as a rare performance, saying its combination of song, delivery and intensity comes along only once every ten years. His remarks underline the track’s lasting influence and the force of Dylan’s work beyond his celebrated 1960s output.
Released on the 1976 album *Desire*, “Hurricane” was written with Jacques Levy and tells the story of boxer Rubin “Hurricane” Carter, who was wrongfully imprisoned after a racist trial. Tweedy singled out Scarlet Rivera’s violin and Dylan’s urgent vocal delivery, comparing the song’s intensity with the first Sex Pistols record.
In short
- Jeff Tweedy calls “Hurricane” a once-in-a-decade performance.
- The song appeared on Bob Dylan’s 1976 album *Desire*.
- Its lyrics address Rubin Carter’s wrongful imprisonment and racism.
Explained simply
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter whose best-known work includes politically charged songs from the 1960s. In the 1970s, he worked with theatre director and songwriter Jacques Levy on the album *Desire*, which was released in 1976.
“Hurricane” tells the story of Rubin “Hurricane” Carter, a Black American boxer convicted of murder after a trial widely criticised for racial bias. Carter spent years in prison before his conviction was overturned. The song brought attention to his case, while also becoming known for Dylan’s urgent singing and Scarlet Rivera’s violin.