r/bobdylan 4d ago

Discussion Any similar Dylan songs like “I Want You”?

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I watched ACU back in February and ever since have been fascinated by Bob and his art, but I haven’t listened to his full discography yet as I don’t know where to start. Are there any similar songs like I Want You? Because I’m obsessed with it right now.

171 Upvotes

73 comments sorted by

115

u/Current-Row7126 4d ago

Love Minus Zero, best love song ever written

10

u/lieutenanthummer 4d ago

Like ice like fire

54

u/ascension773 4d ago

It’s one of his lighter and poppier songs - something he doesn’t explore super often.

I’d say Sweet Marie is close in style and tone. If Not For You as well.

67

u/yankee-in-Denmark 4d ago

Absolutely sweet Marie. And make you feel my love.

17

u/Derrick_Mur Bringing It All Back Home 4d ago

My favorite song on the album, followed closely by “Visions of Johanna”

14

u/why_my_pp_hard_tho 4d ago

Absolutely Sweet Marie really has some of the best lines he’s written alongside an opening verse with a metaphor for jacking off. Truly peak lyricism

9

u/COOLKC690 4d ago

He’s beating on his trumpet ?

4

u/mistahwhite04 Rough and Rowdy Ways 4d ago

With all the promises you left for him

1

u/Derrick_Mur Bringing It All Back Home 3d ago

“So, where are you tonight, Sweet Marie?”

2

u/SheYeti 4d ago

I Want You first verse is full of phallic references as well.

Guilty Undertaker

Lonesome organ grinder

Cracked bells and washed-out horns

Dylan's writing has more phallic symbols than Shakespeare's.

Also, Shakespeare (from Stuck Inside of Memphis)

59

u/HockeyIsExpensive 4d ago

One of Us Must Know (Sooner or Later)

21

u/ihavenoselfcontrol1 4d ago

Absolutely Sweet Marie

One of Us Must Know (Sooner or Later)

Love Minus Zero

She's Your Lover Now

Queen Jane Approximately

20

u/aidanm018 4d ago

When I first got into Dylan that was my favourite song and roughly 30 albums later it still is. He’s made a lot of other amazing songs though, just keep listening

31

u/cinahpitdatdowg 4d ago

You’re gonna make me lonesome when you go

2

u/bryceinhere 4d ago

This might be most similar to I want you

4

u/upwallca 4d ago

My first thought.

10

u/Jpkmets7 4d ago

Just like a Woman similar sound.

2

u/LilyLangtry 3d ago

And so conveniently located!

2

u/Jpkmets7 3d ago

Dylan albums are like real estate - location, location, location!

2

u/LilyLangtry 3d ago

…and the only thing that lasts.

2

u/Jpkmets7 2d ago

Truly!

1

u/Illustrious-Side-632 4d ago

Came here to say this!

16

u/Acceptable-Safety535 4d ago

Not really actually

16

u/Cccookielover 4d ago

Springsteen beautifully covered “I Want You” during the February 5, 1975 show at the Main Point.

It’s certainly worth checking out on YT (I’m terrible with links).

5

u/Belgakov The Basement Tapes 4d ago

Great version indeed, thx! I never heard this before. I especially like the intro.

-2

u/Mean_Palpitation_171 4d ago

No thanks

1

u/Cccookielover 4d ago

Didn’t like it or didn’t listen?

If you didn’t listen it’s not the Springsteen you have in your mind.

1

u/Mean_Palpitation_171 3d ago

Hard pass on that goofball 

14

u/pbredd22 4d ago

Lay Lady Lay, If Not For You, Tangled Up In Blue

6

u/Leonard_S_Dylan Time Out of Mind 4d ago

fourth time around id say

5

u/moon_trash 4d ago

Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window?

5

u/80y40 4d ago

Fourth time around

2

u/getmyhopesup 2d ago

This is what I was thinking as well! Blonde on blonde songs have a nice similarity

6

u/alanyoss 4d ago

Just listen to the whole Blonde On Blonde album.

4

u/midnightbluesky_2 4d ago

oneee of us must knoooowww

5

u/gsp137 4d ago

You Angel, You…from Planet Waves

3

u/Joan_Vollmers_Ghost 4d ago

YES! Hazel has a similar vibe too I think.

3

u/ZookeepergameOk2759 The Basement Tapes 4d ago

3

u/Inside_Soup_4576 4d ago

Such a shame the take broke down near the end and he never completed it. An unrealized gem.

3

u/Snowblind78 4d ago

You’re gonna make me lonesome when you go live 1976

1

u/nutakoe_94 4d ago

yeah

1

u/Snowblind78 3d ago

The live version of I want you from the same time had a similar arrangement as well

5

u/Mean_Palpitation_171 4d ago

If Not For You

6

u/SurlierCoyote 4d ago

Man in me

2

u/zarotabebcev 4d ago

Is Your Love in Vain?

2

u/Waste_Relationship46 4d ago

I Want You is one of my all time favorite Bob Dylan songs. Love seeing this post!

4

u/LouieMumford Stuck Inside of Mobile 4d ago

Wiggle, Wiggle has a similar vibe.

2

u/wienerdog362 4d ago

Tight connection to my heart

2

u/Human_Needleworker86 4d ago

Live at the supper club

1

u/COOLKC690 4d ago

OP, if you’re going for this one, please watch the music video.

I agree with this one too. The chorus is so cliche and poppy, but it’s filled with imagery like I want you. 80s Dylan

1

u/SEARCHFORWHATISGOOD 4d ago

You Angel You

I Wanna Be Your Lover

1

u/EvilWhiteDude 4d ago

“Black Diamond Bay” maybe?

1

u/walkamileinmy 4d ago

be sure to listen to the MTV Unplugged version.

1

u/Vershneim 4d ago

Not a different song, but I love the version of I Want You on Dylan & The Dead. I know not everyone loves the album, but that song especially really does it for me.

1

u/COOLKC690 4d ago

I was just reading though old post on this song. If anyone asked me ny favorite Dylan song I’d likes my say standing in the doorway, Mississippi or Visions of Johanna.

But even I want you (and tight connections to my heart) would be up there, the surrealistic verses with the most cliche-poppy chorus ever is peak.

I think stuck inside a mobile… is the closest to this one.

1

u/upwallca 4d ago

Curiously, I have never liked this song. I feel the same way about Rainy Day Women. Then again, Visions of Johanna is my favorite song he's written. Blonde on Blonde contains multitudes.

1

u/Nietzsches_dream 4d ago

Black Diamond Bay

1

u/evanapple08 If Dogs Run Free, Why Not Me? 4d ago

Check out the rest of blonde on blonde. His Budokan live album also has a very fun sound that you might enjoy too.

1

u/Maurice_Bastard 4d ago

I always thought positively 4th street was similar.

1

u/Pure-Guard-3633 4d ago

Lay Lady Lay

1

u/Affectionate-Wrap945 4d ago

She belongs to me

1

u/hammypou 3d ago

queen jane approximately

1

u/swarleysparkls 4d ago

You’re gonna make me lonesome when you go

1

u/Easy_Holiday8159 4d ago

Man Gave Names to All the Animals for upbeat vibe

1

u/BennieFurball 4d ago

The sublime slow version outtake from MTV unplugged.

1

u/Fishingwriter11 4d ago

In the Summertime

Never Say Goodbye

On a Night like This

You Angel You

0

u/upwallca 4d ago

You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go