When the Ship Comes In

1964 song by Bob Dylan

"When the Ship Comes In"

Song by Bob Dylan
from the album  The Times They Are a-Changin'
Released| January 13, 1964
Recorded| October 23, 1963
Genre| Folk
Length| 3:18
Label| Columbia
Songwriter(s)| Bob Dylan
Producer(s)| Tom Wilson

"When the Ship Comes In" is a folk music song by Bob Dylan, released on his third album, The Times They Are a-Changin', in 1964.

## Background and composition

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Joan Baez states in the 2005 documentary film No Direction Home that the song was inspired by a hotel clerk who refused to allow Dylan a room due to his "unwashed" appearance (he was not famous outside of the folk movement at this time). The song then grew into a sprawling epic allegory about vanquishing the oppressive "powers that be." Another inspiration was the Bertolt Brecht/Kurt Weill song, "Pirate Jenny".[1]

According to biographer Clinton Heylin, "When the Ship Comes In" was written in August 1963 "in a fit of pique, in a hotel room, after his unkempt appearance had led an impertinent hotel clerk to refuse him admission until his companion, Joan Baez, had vouched for his good character". Heylin speculates that "Jenny's Song" from Brecht and Weill's Threepenny Opera was also an inspiration: "As Pirate Jenny dreams of the destruction of all her enemies by a mysterious ship, so Dylan envisages the neophobes being swept aside in 'the hour when the ship comes in'." Dylan's former girlfriend Suze Rotolo recalls that her "interest in Brecht was certainly an influence on him. I was working for the Circle in the Square Theater and he came to listen all the time. He was very affected by the song that Lotte Lenya's known for, 'Pirate Jenny'."[1]

The lyrics and meter are remarkably similar to the first six stanzas of the Egyptian Great Hymn to the Aten[2] written around 1500 BC, which celebrates the rising sun. The lyrics include Biblical references, such as the drowning of Pharaoh and his people in the Red Sea and the defeat of Goliath. Some of the lyrics are said to have been inspired by Dylan Thomas' poem "Fernhill" (Bob Dylan took his stagename from this Welsh poet). [3]

## Live performances

[edit]

Shortly after Dylan wrote the song, he and Baez performed it together at the March on Washington on August 28, 1963, as heard on Dylan's Live 1962-1966: Rare Performances From The Copyright Collections album (2018). Dylan later performed the song at Carnegie Hall on October 26, 1963; this performance was included on The Bootleg Series Vol. 7: No Direction Home: The Soundtrack (2005).[4]

Dylan performed the song during Live Aid on July 13, 1985, accompanied by Keith Richards and Ron Wood of the Rolling Stones.[5]

The song was performed by the Clancy Brothers at The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration, at Madison Square Garden in New York City on October 16, 1992.

## Cover versions

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Peter, Paul and Mary released "When the Ship Comes In" as a single in 1965. Billboard described this version as an "exciting rouser from the pen of Bob Dylan with an outstanding performance by the trio."[6] Cash Box described it as "a rhythmic, fast-moving bluesy ditty on warm-hearted somewhat euphoric theme."[7] Record World called it "a moving Bob Dylan song" and that there is "joy, joy, joy in [the trio's] voices."[8]

In 1972, Arlo Guthrie covered the song for the album Hobo's Lullaby, with an organ backing Guthrie. The Pogues covered it on their 1996 album Pogue Mahone, as an upbeat Irish-trad tune with Spider Stacy on vocals.

## References

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1. ^ a b Heylin, Clinton (2000). Bob Dylan: Behind the Shades Revisited. pp. 124–125\. ISBN 978-0060525699.124-125&rft.date=2000&rft.isbn=978-0060525699&rft.au=Heylin,+Clinton&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:When+the+Ship+Comes+In" class="Z3988">
2. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2023-03-07. Retrieved 2024-03-16.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
3. ^ Ferguson, Angela. "Bob Dylan 'took name' from iconic Welsh poet". BBC News. Archived from the original on 20 January 2025. Retrieved 20 January 2025.
4. ^ "The Bootleg Series, Vol 7: No Direction Home | The Official Bob Dylan Site". www.bobdylan.com. Retrieved 2021-01-03.
5. ^ "Bob Dylan Live Aid Concert Programme". www.bobdylan-comewritersandcritics.com. Archived from the original on 2020-10-22. Retrieved 2021-01-03.
6. ^ "Singles Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. May 1, 1965. p. 47\. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-03-07. Retrieved 2021-03-15.
7. ^ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. May 1, 1965. p. 8\. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2020-08-09. Retrieved 2022-01-12.
8. ^ "Singles Reviews" (PDF). Record World. May 1, 1965. p. 7\. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2023-07-23. Retrieved 2023-07-21.

## External links

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* Lyrics on BobDylan.com

Bob Dylan related articles

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Bob Dylan

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Studio albums|

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* Before the Flood
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|

Archival|

* Live 1961–2000: Thirty-Nine Years of Great Concert Performances
* Live at The Gaslight 1962
* Live at Carnegie Hall 1963
* In Concert – Brandeis University 1963
* The 1966 Live Recordings
* Bob Dylan – The Rolling Thunder Revue: The 1975 Live Recordings
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Compilations|

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|

Themed|

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Box sets|

* Biograph
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* The 50th Anniversary Collection 1964
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The Bootleg Series|

* Volumes 1–3 (Rare & Unreleased) 1961–1991
* Vol. 4: The Royal Albert Hall Concert
* Vol. 5: Bob Dylan Live 1975, The Rolling Thunder Revue
* Vol. 6: Bob Dylan Live 1964, Concert at Philharmonic Hall
* Vol. 7: No Direction Home: The Soundtrack
* Vol. 8: Tell Tale Signs: Rare and Unreleased 1989–2006
* Vol. 9: The Witmark Demos: 1962–1964
* Vol. 10: Another Self Portrait (1969–1971)
* Vol. 11: The Basement Tapes Complete
* Vol. 12: The Cutting Edge 1965–1966
* Vol. 13: Trouble No More 1979–1981
* Vol. 14: More Blood, More Tracks
* Vol. 15: Travelin' Thru, 1967–1969
* Vol. 16: Springtime in New York 1980–1985
* Vol. 17: Fragments – Time Out of Mind Sessions (1996–1997)

Bootlegs|

* From Newport to the Ancient Empty Street in L.A.
* Great White Wonder
* List of Basement Tapes songs
* 1967
* 1975

Concert tours|

* England Tour (1965)
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* Isle of Wight Festival (1969)
* Tour with the Band (1974)
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Films|

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* soundtrack
* 65 Revisited
* The Other Side of the Mirror: Bob Dylan Live at the Newport Folk Festival 1963–1965
* Trouble No More – A Musical Film
* Rolling Thunder Revue
* Shadow Kingdom
* A Complete Unknown (soundtrack)

Writings|

* Tarantula
* Writings and Drawings
* Chronicles: Volume One
* The Philosophy of Modern Song

Books about Dylan|

* The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia
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* Down the Highway: The Life of Bob Dylan
* The Cambridge Companion to Bob Dylan
* Bob Dylan: Mixing Up the Medicine

Family|

* Sara Dylan (first wife)
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* Jesse Dylan (son)
* Jakob Dylan (son)

Related|

* Recording Sessions
* The Band
* Traveling Wilburys
* Electric Dylan controversy
* Artists who have covered Dylan songs
* Joan Baez
* Suze Rotolo
* Helena Springs
* The Telegraph magazine
* Festival
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* Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid
* Hearts of Fire
* Highway 61 Interactive
* Theme Time Radio Hour
* Gotta Serve Somebody: The Gospel Songs of Bob Dylan
* Chimes of Freedom (album)
* The Lost Notebooks of Hank Williams
* Lost on the River: The New Basement Tapes
* Bob Dylan Center

* Category

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Bob Dylan songs by album (1960s)

Bob Dylan|

* "You're No Good"
* "Talkin' New York"
* "In My Time of Dyin'"
* "Man of Constant Sorrow"
* "Fixin' to Die"
* "Pretty Peggy-O"
* "Gospel Plow"
* "Baby, Let Me Follow You Down"
* "House of the Risin' Sun"
* "Freight Train Blues"
* "Song to Woody"
* "See That My Grave Is Kept Clean"
* "Highway 51"

The Freewheelin'
Bob Dylan|

* "Blowin' in the Wind"
* "Girl from the North Country"
* "Masters of War"
* "Down the Highway"
* "Bob Dylan's Blues"
* "A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall"
* "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right"
* "Bob Dylan's Dream"
* "Oxford Town"
* "Talkin' World War III Blues"
* "Corrina, Corrina"
* "Honey, Just Allow Me One More Chance"
* "I Shall Be Free"

The Times They
Are a-Changin'|

* "The Times They Are a-Changin'"
* "Ballad of Hollis Brown"
* "With God on Our Side"
* "One Too Many Mornings"
* "North Country Blues"
* "Only a Pawn in Their Game"
* "Boots of Spanish Leather"
* "When the Ship Comes In"
* "The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll"
* "Restless Farewell"

Another Side of
Bob Dylan|

* "All I Really Want to Do"
* "Black Crow Blues"
* "Spanish Harlem Incident"
* "Chimes of Freedom"
* "I Shall Be Free No. 10"
* "To Ramona"
* "Motorpsycho Nitemare"
* "My Back Pages"
* "I Don't Believe You (She Acts Like We Never Have Met)"
* "Ballad in Plain D"
* "It Ain't Me Babe"

Bringing It All
Back Home|

* "Subterranean Homesick Blues"
* "She Belongs to Me"
* "Maggie's Farm"
* "Love Minus Zero/No Limit"
* "Outlaw Blues"
* "On the Road Again"
* "Bob Dylan's 115th Dream"
* "Mr. Tambourine Man"
* "Gates of Eden"
* "It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)"
* "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue"

Highway 61
Revisited|

* "Like a Rolling Stone"
* "Tombstone Blues"
* "It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry"
* "From a Buick 6"
* "Ballad of a Thin Man"
* "Queen Jane Approximately"
* "Highway 61 Revisited"
* "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues"
* "Desolation Row"

Blonde on
Blonde|

* "Rainy Day Women #12 & 35"
* "Pledging My Time"
* "Visions of Johanna"
* "One of Us Must Know (Sooner or Later)"
* "I Want You"
* "Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again"
* "Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat"
* "Just Like a Woman"
* "Most Likely You Go Your Way and I'll Go Mine"
* "Temporary Like Achilles"
* "Absolutely Sweet Marie"
* "4th Time Around"
* "Obviously 5 Believers"
* "Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands"

John Wesley
Harding|

* "John Wesley Harding"
* "As I Went Out One Morning"
* "I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine"
* "All Along the Watchtower"
* "The Ballad of Frankie Lee and Judas Priest"
* "Drifter's Escape"
* "Dear Landlord"
* "I Am a Lonesome Hobo"
* "I Pity the Poor Immigrant"
* "The Wicked Messenger"
* "Down Along the Cove"
* "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight"

Nashville
Skyline|

* "Girl from the North Country"
* "To Be Alone with You"
* "I Threw It All Away"
* "Lay Lady Lay"
* "Tonight I'll Be Staying Here with You"

Other|

* "Talkin' Bear Mountain Picnic Massacre Blues"
* "Mixed-Up Confusion"
* "Positively 4th Street"
* "Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window?"
* "If You Gotta Go, Go Now"

Lists|

* Songs written by Dylan

* v
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Peter, Paul and Mary

* Peter Yarrow
* Paul Stookey
* Mary Travers

Studio albums|

* Peter, Paul and Mary
* Moving
* In the Wind
* A Song Will Rise
* See What Tomorrow Brings
* The Peter, Paul and Mary Album
* Album 1700
* Late Again
* Peter, Paul and Mommy
* No Easy Walk to Freedom
* In These Times

Compilation albums|

* The Best of Peter, Paul and Mary: Ten Years Together
* Songs of Conscience and Concern

Live albums|

* In Concert
* Peter, Paul & Mommy, Too

Singles|

* "Lemon Tree"
* "If I Had a Hammer"
* "Puff, the Magic Dragon"
* "500 Miles"
* "Blowin' in the Wind"
* "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right"
* "Stewball"
* "Tell It on the Mountain"
* "The Times They Are a-Changin'"
* "When the Ship Comes In"
* "San Francisco Bay Blues"
* "Early Morning Rain"
* "I Dig Rock and Roll Music"
* "Too Much of Nothing"
* "Day Is Done"
* "Leaving on a Jet Plane"

Other songs|

* "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?"
* "And When I Die"
* "Boa Constrictor"
* "El Salvador"
* "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face"
* "This Land Is Your Land"
* "Light One Candle"

Related articles|

* Discography
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