“When I Paint My Masterpiece” is a 1971 song written by Bob Dylan. It was first released by The Band, who covered the song on their album Cahoots. Dylan himself recorded the song in the March 1971 sessions that were produced by Leon Russell. From these sessions came the “Watching the River Flow” single and this track. Both appeared later in the year on Bob Dylan’s Greatest Hits Vol. II. (An outtake of the song, from the same March sessions, was released in 2013 on The Bootleg Series Vol. 10: Another Self Portrait (1969–1971).)
Dylan and The Band performed the song together live, in the early hours of January 1, 1972, at a New Year’s Eve concert by The Band; a recording was released as a bonus track on the 2001 CD reissue of The Band’s live album Rock of Ages.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IP_mg3RJ1wg
2930 War Memorial Auditorium Plymouth, Massachusetts 31 October 19751. When I Paint My MasterpieceSecond Rolling Thunder Revue concert. Bob Dylan (vocal, guitar), Bob Neuwirth (guitar), T-bone J. Henry Burnett (guitar), Roger McGuinn (guitar), Steven Soles (guitar), Mick Ronson (guitar), David Mansfield (steel guitar, violin, mandolin ,dobro), Rob Stoner (bass), Howie Wyeth (piano, drums), Luther Rix (drums, percussion), Ronee Blakeley (vocal). 1 Bob Neuwirth (shared vocal). The Rolling Thunder Revue,Plymouth 31.10.75. 1 released in the movie RENALDO AND CLARA, 25 January 1978 (long version) and late 1978 (short version). Larry Sloman: On The Road With Bob Dylan. Bantam Books 1978, page 74, Helter Skelter Publishing 2002, page 81. Les Kokay: Songs of the Underground. Rolling Thunder Revue. Private publication 2000, pages 10-11. Stereo PA recording. Mono audience recording, 85 minutes.
Oh, the streets of Rome are filled with rubble
Ancient footprints are everywhere
You can almost think that you’re seein’ double
On a cold, dark night on the Spanish Stairs
Got to hurry on back to my hotel room
Where I’ve got me a date with Botticelli’s niece
She promised that she’d be right there with me
When I paint my masterpiece
Oh, the hours I’ve spent inside the Coliseum
Dodging lions and wastin’ time
Oh, those mighty kings of the jungle, I could hardly stand to see ’em
Yes, it sure has been a long, hard climb
Train wheels runnin’ through the back of my memory
When I ran on the hilltop following a pack of wild geese
Someday, everything is gonna be smooth like a rhapsody
When I paint my masterpiece
Sailin’ round the world in a dirty gondola
Oh, to be back in the land of Coca-Cola!
I left Rome and landed in Brussels
On a plane ride so bumpy that I almost cried
Clergymen in uniform and young girls pullin’ muscles
Everyone was there to greet me when I stepped inside
Newspapermen eating candy
Had to be held down by big police
Someday, everything is gonna be diff’rent
When I paint my masterpiece
sources : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/When_I_Paint_My_Masterpiece
https://www.bjorner.com/DSN02910%201975%20Rolling%20Thunder%20Revue.htm#DSN02930
Any info on where this 1975 performance come from?
2930 War Memorial Auditorium
Plymouth, Massachusetts
31 October 19751. When I Paint My MasterpieceSecond Rolling Thunder Revue concert.
Bob Dylan (vocal, guitar), Bob Neuwirth (guitar), T-bone J. Henry Burnett (guitar), Roger McGuinn (guitar), Steven Soles (guitar), Mick Ronson (guitar), David Mansfield (steel guitar, violin, mandolin ,dobro), Rob Stoner (bass), Howie Wyeth (piano, drums), Luther Rix (drums, percussion), Ronee Blakeley (vocal).
1 Bob Neuwirth (shared vocal).
The Rolling Thunder Revue,Plymouth 31.10.75.
1 released in the movie RENALDO AND CLARA, 25 January 1978 (long version) and late 1978 (short version).
Larry Sloman: On The Road With Bob Dylan. Bantam Books 1978, page 74, Helter Skelter Publishing 2002, page 81.
Les Kokay: Songs of the Underground. Rolling Thunder Revue. Private publication 2000, pages 10-11.
Stereo PA recording.
Mono audience recording, 85 minutes.
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