I Shall Be Released

Listen while you read:  from The Last Waltz

They say everything can be replaced
They say every distance is not near
So I remember every face
Of every man who put me here

I see my light come shining
From the west down to the east
Any day now, any day now
I shall be released

They say every man needs protection
They say that every man must fall
Yet, I swear I see my reflection
Somewhere so high above this wall

I see my light come shining
From the west down to the east
Any day now, any day now
I shall be released

Now, yonder stands a man in this lonely crowd
A man who swears he's not to blame
All day long, I hear him shouting so loud
Just crying out that he was framed

I see my light come shining
From the west down to the east
Any day now, any day now
I shall be released

~  Bob Dylan

Forty-one years ago, on November 25, 1976, The Band played their farewell concert at San Francisco's Winterland. Two years later, The Last Waltz, a documentary film of the concert by Martin Scorsese, was released. I have watched this film, arguably one of the best rock movies ever, more times than I can count. The link above will treat you to the live performance of this song, the closing number (other than the encores) of the night.

After sixteen years on the road, The Band decided to give it up. This was mostly Robbie Robertson's idea. Although there was a later reincarnation of The Band without Robertson, it was never quite the same. With Richard Manuel's suicide and the subsequent deaths of Rick Danko and Levon Helm, only Garth Hudson and Robertson remain. For a (perhaps biased) account of The Band's journey, read Levon Helm's This Wheel's on Fire. In it, he addresses Robertson's micro-managing of The Last Waltz, largely responsible for the estrangement of Helm and Robertson. One of Helm's main complaints was Robertson's dismissive attitude toward Richard Manuel. In the song linked above, you can hear Manuel's gorgeous voice but not see his face. But you see lots of Robertson singing, although legend has it that Robertson's mike was always turned off during live performances, as he had a hard time carrying a tune. Ego is a powerful motivator.

But back to the song. Throughout the concert, there were performances by several guest artists. For the closing number, several joined in on "I Shall Be Released." Can you identify them all? Look for Bob Dylan, Ringo Starr, Ronnie Wood, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Neil Diamond, Ronnie Hawkins, and Van Morrison.

When the movie came out in 1978, it was being featured at a small theatre in a nearby town. My guy and I joined only a few other couples in the theatre audience. It wasn't long after the film started that half of them got up and left the theatre. I guess they thought The Last Waltz was some sentimental love story, not a rock and roll movie.

A sentimental love story. Well, I guess it actually is.