On the soundtrack of the new Curtis Hanson film, “Lucky You”, is a brand new song by Bob Dylan, called Huck’s Tune. You can get it via iTunes, or by buying the CD (which also has a couple of George Jones tunes), or some other way maybe. “Lucky You” stars Eric Bana as a poker player and Drew Barrymore as his love interest in “the high stakes world of Las Vegas.”

The song is sung by Dylan in his intimate close-to-the-microphone-whisper, and is a kind of slow country-waltz, with Bob playing organ, by the sounds of it. I think a lot of people hearing it are probably saying, “What the hell — he can write this kind of song in his sleep.” And maybe he can. But I’m not sure there’s anyone else who could write it while wide awake.

My take on the lyric is as follows:

Huck’s Tune

Well I wandered alone through a desert of stone,
And I dreamt of my future wife
My sword’s in my hand and I’m next in command
In this version of death called life

My plate and my cup are right straight up
I took a rose from the hand of a child
When I kiss your lips the honey drips
I’m going to have to put you down for a while

Every day we meet on any old street
And you’re in your girlish prime
The short and the tall are coming to the ball
I go there all the time

Behind every tree there’s something to see
The river is wider than a mile
I tried you twice, you can’t be nice
I’m going to have to put you down for a while

Here come the nurse with money in her purse
Here come the ladies and men
You push it all in and you’ve no chance to win
You play ’em on down to the end

I’m layin’ in the sand, gettin’ a sunshine tan
Movin’ long, ridin’ in style
From my toes to my head, you knock me dead
I’m going to have to put you down for a while

I count the years and I shed no tears
I’m blinded to what might have been
Nature’s voice makes my heart rejoice
Play me the wild song of the wind

I found hopeless love in the room above
When the sun and the weather were mild
You’re as fine as wine, I ain’t handing you no line
I’m going to have to put you down for a while

All the merry little elves can go hang themselves
My faith is as cold as can be
I’m stacked high to the roof and I’m not without proof
If you don’t believe me come see

You think I’m blue, I think so too
In my words you’ll find no guile
The game’s gotten old, the deck’s gone cold
I’m going to have to put you down for a while

It being the new parlor game, many people will be looking to see where he ripped off various phrases from. I’ve just noticed this one:

The river is wider than a mile

The song Moon River, by Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer, goes thusly:

Moon River, wider than a mile,
I’m crossing you in style some day.
Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker,
wherever you’re going I’m going your way.
Two drifters off to see the world.
There’s such a lot of world to see.
We’re after the same rainbow’s end–
waiting ’round the bend,
my huckleberry friend,
Moon River and me.

Only that’s not a rip-off of-course; it’s a reference, and a highly resonant one at that.

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