Bruce Springsteen has consistently cited Bob Dylan as a significant influence on his music, referring to Dylan's 1965 single ‘Like A Rolling Stone’ as a pivotal moment in his life. Bob Dylan, known for his enigmatic nature, has tended to downplay such accolades, yet a song from the late 80s appears to incorporate elements inspired by Springsteen.
During that time, Bob Dylan was part of the Travelling Wilburys, a supergroup that included George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty, and Roy Orbison. Their debut album is an enjoyable listen, with some tracks showcasing collective joy, while others feel more individualistic.
‘Tweeter and the Monkey Man’ was seemingly crafted by Bob Dylan, who created it spontaneously in the studio before embarking on a tour. The resulting song highlights the band’s talents—George Harrison’s dobro part is particularly outstanding, and session musician Jim Horn contributes a remarkable saxophone section.
The lyrics depict a dark crime narrative set in New Jersey, featuring various characters interacting—one line reads:
The undercover cop was found face-down in a field / The Monkey Man was on the river bridge using Tweeter as a shield.
Fans with keen eyes quickly spotted that the lyric sheet contained numerous references to Bruce Springsteen song titles—‘Stolen Car’, ‘Mansion on the Hill’, ‘Thunder Road’, ‘State Trooper’, ‘Factory’, and ‘The River’ are all included. So, could this be seen as a form of mockery...?
Tom Petty dismissed this long-standing fan theory in a 2013 interview with Rolling Stone. “Yeah, it was not meant to mock [Springsteen] at all,” he stated.
“It started with Bob Dylan saying, ‘I want to write a song about a guy named Tweeter. And it needs somebody else.’ I suggested, ‘The Monkey Man’. He replied, ‘Perfect, Tweeter and the Monkey Man.’ Then he said, ‘Okay, I want to write the story and I want to set it in New Jersey.’ I was like, ‘Okay, New Jersey.’ He then said, ‘Yeah, we could use references to Bruce Springsteen titles.’ He clearly intended it as flattery. We weren’t trying to disrespect anyone, and there’s not a lot of it in there anyway.”
Bob Dylan has never addressed the song’s connections to Bruce Springsteen, but it’s evident he is an admirer—back in 2009, police in New Jersey discovered him walking in the rain, trying to find the house where The Boss grew up. That shows a true sign of dedication!
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Bruce Springsteen has consistently recognized Bob Dylan as a major influence on his music, describing the iconic 1965 track 'Like A Rolling Stone' as a