Who killed Davey Moore – Bob Dylan (1963)
Who killed Davey Moore
Why an’ what’s the reason for?
“Not I,” says the referee
“Don’t point your finger at me
I could’ve stopped it in the eighth
An’ maybe kept him from his fate
But the crowd would’ve booed, I’m sure
At not gettin’ their money’s worth
It’s too bad he had to go
But there was a pressure on me too, you know
It wasn’t me that made him fall
No, you can’t blame me at all”
Who killed Davey Moore
Why an’ what’s the reason for?
“Not us,” says the angry crowd
Whose screams filled the arena loud
“It’s too bad he died that night
But we just like to see a fight
We didn’t mean for him t’ meet his death
We just meant to see some sweat
There ain’t nothing wrong in that
It wasn’t us that made him fall
No, you can’t blame us at all”
Who killed Davey Moore
Why an’ what’s the reason for?
“Not me,” says his manager
Puffing on a big cigar
“It’s hard to say, it’s hard to tell
I always thought that he was well
It’s too bad for his wife an’ kids he’s dead
But if he was sick, he should’ve said
It wasn’t me that made him fall
No, you can’t blame me at all”
Who killed Davey Moore
Why an’ what’s the reason for?
“Not me,” says the gambling man
With his ticket stub still in his hand
“It wasn’t me that knocked him down
My hands never touched him none
I didn’t commit no ugly sin
Anyway, I put money on him to win
It wasn’t me that made him fall
No, you can’t blame me at all”
Who killed Davey Moore
Why an’ what’s the reason for?
“Not me,” says the boxing writer
Pounding print on his old typewriter
Sayin’, “Boxing ain’t to blame
There’s just as much danger in a football game”
Sayin’, “Fistfighting is here to stay
It’s just the old American way
It wasn’t me that made him fall
No, you can’t blame me at all”
Who killed Davey Moore
Why an’ what’s the reason for?
“Not me,” says the man whose fists
Laid him low in a cloud of mist
Who came here from Cuba’s door
Where boxing ain’t allowed no more
“I hit him, yes, it’s true
But that’s what I am paid to do
Don’t say ‘murder,’ don’t say ‘kill’
It was destiny, it was God’s will”
Who killed Davey Moore
Why an’ what’s the reason for?
David S. “Davey” Moore ( 1November 1933 – 25 Maart 1963) was een Amerikaans bokser.
Hij stierf op 25 Maart 1963 als gevolg van de verwondingen die hij opliep tijdens de kamp tegen Sugar Ramos.
Het gevecht tegen de Mexicaan Sugar Ramos was eerst gepland in juli 1962 in het Dodger Stadium, maar een hevige tyfoon-achtige regenbui over LA. Besliste er anders over. Het gevecht werd uitgesteld naar 21 Maart 1963.
De kamp werd uitgezonden op de nationale televisie. De sfeer in het stadion was elektrisch, het geluid van de conga drums vulden de atmosfeer en de algemene houding tegenover Davey Moore was vijandig. De vele Latinos kozen de zijde van Sugar Ramos.
In de tiende ronde belandde een krachtige rechtse tegen het hoofd van Moore die achterover viel. Hij viel op het onderste touw dat waarschijnlijk zijn hersenstam beschadigde. Hij verloor het gevecht op Knock-out, maar was toch nog in staat om een helder interview te geven voordat hij de ring verliet.
In de kleedkamer viel hij in coma. Hij zou er nooit meer uit ontwaken.
Bob Dylan schreef “Who killed Davey Moore” over deze gebeurtenis. Ook Phil Ochs schreef een “topical song” over hetzelfde feit.
De inspiratie voor Dylan’s song komt uit de folk traditie.
In de kleedkamer viel hij in coma. Hij zou er nooit meer uit ontwaken.
Bob Dylan schreef “Who killed Davey Moore” over deze gebeurtenis. Ook Phil Ochs schreef een “topical song” over hetzelfde feit.
De inspiratie voor Dylan’s song komt uit de folk traditie.
Hij “ontleent” de gedachte en de struktuur vande song aan “”Who Killed Cock Robin” ( Roud Folk Song Index nummer 494).
“Who Killed Cock Robin” is een zgn “children’s song” die terug gaat op eeuwenoude traditie. De oorsprong van de song gaat terug tot in 1508, Het aftelrijmpje wordt als archetype gebruikt in vele “murderballads” .
Dylan kende het waarschijnlijk in de uitvoering van John Jacob Niles die het opnam in 1962.
Ik voeg er ook de versie van Peggy Seeger bij, ook uit 1962.
Dylan’s song werd pas officieel uitgebracht op “The Bootleg Series Volumes 1–3 (Rare & Unreleased) 1961–1991″ in 1991.
Ter vergelijking is hier Phil Ochs’ song.
Davey Moore – Phil Ochs
“Who Killed Cock Robin” is een zgn “children’s song” die terug gaat op eeuwenoude traditie. De oorsprong van de song gaat terug tot in 1508, Het aftelrijmpje wordt als archetype gebruikt in vele “murderballads” .
Dylan kende het waarschijnlijk in de uitvoering van John Jacob Niles die het opnam in 1962.
Ik voeg er ook de versie van Peggy Seeger bij, ook uit 1962.
Dylan’s song werd pas officieel uitgebracht op “The Bootleg Series Volumes 1–3 (Rare & Unreleased) 1961–1991″ in 1991.
Ter vergelijking is hier Phil Ochs’ song.
Davey Moore – Phil Ochs
It was out to California young Davey Moore did go,
to meet with Sugar Ramos and trade him blow for blow
He left his home in Springfield, his wife and children five;
the spring was fast approaching, it was good to be alive.
His wife, she begged and pleaded, “You have to leave this game.
Is it worth the bloodshed and is it worth the pain?”
But Davey could not hear above the cheering crowd
He was a champion, and champions are proud.
Hang his gloves upon the wall, shine his trophies bright clear,
another man will fall before we dry our tears
For the fighters must destroy as the poets must sing,
as the hungry crowd must gather for the blood upon the ring.
And thousands gave a roar when Davey Moore walked in,
Another man to beat, another purse to win
And all along the ringside, a sight beyond compare
the money-chasing vultures were waiting for their share,
He stood there in his corner and he waited for the bell;
the signal of the struggle of two men facin’ hell;
and when the bell was sounded, the blows began to rain,
And blows will lead to hate — hate drives men insane.
Hang his gloves upon the wall, shine his trophies bright clear,
another man will fall before we dry our tears
For the fighters must destroy as the poets must sing,
as the hungry crowd must gather for the blood upon the ring.
The fists were flying fast and hard, the sweat was pouring down,
And Davey Moore grew weaker with ev’ry passin’ round.
His legs began to wobble and his arms began to strain,
He fell upon the canvas floor, a fog around his brain.
At last the fight was over, young Davey fought no more,
He lost the final battle behind a doctor’s door.
And back at the arena, the screaming crowd is gone,
and death is waiting ringside, for the next fight to come on.
Hang his gloves upon the wall, shine his trophies bright clear,
another man will fall before we dry our tears
For the fighters must destroy as the poets must sing,
as the hungry crowd must gather for the blood upon the ring.
to meet with Sugar Ramos and trade him blow for blow
He left his home in Springfield, his wife and children five;
the spring was fast approaching, it was good to be alive.
His wife, she begged and pleaded, “You have to leave this game.
Is it worth the bloodshed and is it worth the pain?”
But Davey could not hear above the cheering crowd
He was a champion, and champions are proud.
Hang his gloves upon the wall, shine his trophies bright clear,
another man will fall before we dry our tears
For the fighters must destroy as the poets must sing,
as the hungry crowd must gather for the blood upon the ring.
And thousands gave a roar when Davey Moore walked in,
Another man to beat, another purse to win
And all along the ringside, a sight beyond compare
the money-chasing vultures were waiting for their share,
He stood there in his corner and he waited for the bell;
the signal of the struggle of two men facin’ hell;
and when the bell was sounded, the blows began to rain,
And blows will lead to hate — hate drives men insane.
Hang his gloves upon the wall, shine his trophies bright clear,
another man will fall before we dry our tears
For the fighters must destroy as the poets must sing,
as the hungry crowd must gather for the blood upon the ring.
The fists were flying fast and hard, the sweat was pouring down,
And Davey Moore grew weaker with ev’ry passin’ round.
His legs began to wobble and his arms began to strain,
He fell upon the canvas floor, a fog around his brain.
At last the fight was over, young Davey fought no more,
He lost the final battle behind a doctor’s door.
And back at the arena, the screaming crowd is gone,
and death is waiting ringside, for the next fight to come on.
Hang his gloves upon the wall, shine his trophies bright clear,
another man will fall before we dry our tears
For the fighters must destroy as the poets must sing,
as the hungry crowd must gather for the blood upon the ring.
Hier zijn dus :
John Jacob Niles – Who killed Cock Robin ?
John Jacob Niles – Who killed Cock Robin ?
Peggy Seeger – Who killed Cock Robin ?
Bob Dylan – Who killed Davey Moore ?
Phil Ochs - Davey Moore
Het verhaal van Cock Robin door Walt Disney :
