What’s my favorite Dylan song?

There’s probably no musician alive today, whose music I’ve followed as closely, as Bob Dylan’s.

Not only have I bought and listened to most of his albums, read articles and books about him, including his memoir Chronicles: Volume One, watched numerous music videos of him playing, but I’ve also seen him perform live.

That being said, I would not consider myself to be a Dylanologist.

Needless to say, over his long career Dylan has written and performed numerous memorable songs, ones that have appealed to and in some cases defined different generations. Some of my favorites include,  “Like a Rolling Stone,” “Lay, Lady, Lay, ” “Hurricane,” “Mississippi,” or “Gotta Serve Somebody,” but I keep on coming back to “Don’t Fall Apart on Me Tonight.”

Written in 1982 and appearing on his album Infidels, this melancholic song has been covered by other famous musicians like Aaron Neville, Bettye LaVette, and Chrissie Hynde.

It’s hard for me to put into words why I like “Don’t Fall Apart on Me Tonight,” so much. For those unfamiliar with the song, the lyrics depict a boyfriend or husband pleading with his girlfriend or wife to not abandon him and their relationship. He asks her to stay strong and give their love another chance during a difficult time. The lyrics capture a deep sense of vulnerability, desperation, and the fear of losing love. The argument that the boyfriend/husband presents appears logical for the context, and the words are chosen with both economy and precision.

There are a handful of things about this song that appeal to me.

To begin with I’m sure that watching the music video of Dylan playing “Don’t Fall Apart on me tonight,” live with well-known talented musicians in a studio helped.

The song also capably combines blues, rock, folk rock, reggae and country music sounds.

“‘Don’t Fall Apart on Me Tonight’ clearly benefits from the talented guitar performances of Mark Knopfler, formerly of Dire Straits, and Mick Taylor, formerly of the Rolling Stones. The track also features accomplished reggae musicians Robbie Shakespeare on bass guitar and Sly Dunbar on percussion.

But what makes the song memorable to me is Dylan’s ability to capture the universal nature of this scenario, highlighting both the importance of tenacity and the value of second chances in relationships. In a world, where personal connections are often fleeting, sustaining meaningful relationships during times of emotional stress can feel like it requires superhuman powers. Sometimes, this means temporarily letting down your guard and hearing out the other person, even if, in the end, it’s best to abandon the relationship.