As reported in many places, the people of HMV Canada have removed all “Bob Dylan product” from their shelves, in response to the folk/protest/rock icon’s exclusive deal with Starbucks to sell the Live At The Gaslight 1962 CD. It’s not the first time the chain has reacted in this way. As the BBC reports, “the chain has previously boycotted CDs by Alanis Morissette and The Rolling Stones to complain at exclusive deals.”

And so: a eulogy. Obviously the boycott by HMV Canada represents the end of what was once a promising career by the harmonica-blowing kid from Hibbing, Minnesota. It’s been a nice run, but it’s all over now, baby blue. There have been some wonderful highlights along the way. Who can forget that 1966 tour with the Hawks? Judas and everything. And Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door was a helluva song. Live Aid was weird but memorable. The whole Gospel thing. Sheesh, it all went by so fast.

HMV Canada must inevitably prevail and “roll on”, as the Stanley Brothers might say. If people aren’t willing to trek to their convenient store locations in British Columbia, Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan, then they’re just going to have to do without that peculiar pleasure known as “music.”

Foolish indeed was Bob whats-his-name to ever consider messing with the laws of selling music, as laid down by the board and shareholders of HMV Canada.

Me? I’m hopping on a plane and hoping I can snag the last copy of Down In The Groove before it’s gone forever.

The woman that I love she got a hook in her nose
her eyebrows meet, she wears second hand clothes
She speaks with a stutter and she walks with a hop
I don’t know why I love her but I just can’t stop

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