The young Mr. Dylan performing in Greenwich Village
Bob Dylan - the musical pseudonym of Robert Allen Zimmerman - is a controversial American singer-songwriter, public figure, writer and activist. He rose to national prominence following the disasterous defeat of the U.S. Army of Northern Virginia in Operation Coca-Cola for his politically-charged publication of the song "God & the FBI".
God & the FBI Lyrics[]
Mama's making mimeos. Pete's on the stereo
singing 'bout freedom, bugs in the bedroom
Big investigation - danger to the nation
Search and seizure, better buy a lawyer
"We know you're a member
"Saw you under cover
"Are you hiding evidence?"
None of this makes any sense
They called the FBI
I had to disappear
Called the G-men, T-men, See-You-At-The-Scene men
Told 'em I was hiding here
They could fingerprint my heart
I knew it from the start
Ain't no place for a face to hide
from God and the FBI
Commies, Pinkos, reds at the windows
Foreign agitators running elevators
J. Edgar Hoover in a pink tutu
investigating anyone who thinks like you
Welcome to the fifties
You look a little shifty
They called the FBI
I had to disappear
Called the G-men, T-men, See-You-At-The-Scene men
Told 'em I was hiding here
They could fingerprint my heart
I knew it from the start
Ain't no hole for a soul to hide
From God and the FBI
Stay flat, don't rat, What's a proletariat?
Stalin was a democrat - Washington is where it's at
Every politician is a sewer of ambition
Hide me, hide you - better hide the baby too
"We demand an interview
"How long have you been a Jew?
"We can make you testify
"Freedom is no alibi"
They called the FBI
I had to disappear
Called the G-men, T-men, See-You-At-The-Scene men
Told 'em I was hiding here
They could fingerprint my heart
I knew it from the start
Ain't no place for a face to hide
From God and the FBI
Impact of the Song & Dylan as a Public Figure[]
Prior to his rise to national prominence, Dylan was a simple, obscure folk musician who expirimented with the then-nscant rock'n'roll movement. Initially, he was a strong supporter of the New Deal but cared little for being involved in politics. This changed as he went off to college, and became swept up in the anti-war and Pacifistic undercurrents among young adults.
"God & the FBI" was followed by several other notable songs, the most famous of which would be "The Times They are a-Changin'" and "With God on Our Side". Since obtaining public status, Dylan has had numerous confrontations with the FBI and other U.S. government investigative / intelligence / security personnel. He has been detained at least three times, harassed, illegally monitored and barred from performing on numerous occasions.
Author's Notes[]
- The Song "God & the FBI" was published in real life by Janis Ian in 2000. However, it is a fitting song for the altered climate of America in the Napoleon's Legacy Universe and as such has been repurposed.
- I also moved the dates of Dylan's actual songs forward by a few years, since in real life they did not appear until '63-'64.