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Bob Dylan releases epic new song, 'Murder Most Foul'

Honoree Bob Dylan appears onstage at the 25th anniversary MusiCares 2015 Person Of The Year Gala honoring Bob Dylan at the Los Angeles Convention Center on February 6, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. The annual benefit raises critical funds for MusiCares' Emergency Financial Assistance and Addiction Recovery programs.
Honoree Bob Dylan appears onstage at the 25th anniversary MusiCares 2015 Person Of The Year Gala honoring Bob Dylan at the Los Angeles Convention Center on February 6, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. The annual benefit raises critical funds for MusiCares' Emergency Financial Assistance and Addiction Recovery programs.Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

March 27, 2020

Bob Dylan surprised fans late Thursday night with the release of the epic "Murder Most Foul," a long, delicate song about the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. In a short post on his website, Dylan provided little information about the song's origin, and wished his fans well: "This is an unreleased song we recorded a while back that you might find interesting. Stay safe, stay observant, and may God be with you." The post includes a formal portrait of President Kennedy. Stylistically, it evokes Tempest (2012) or even Modern Times (2006).

The song unfolds slowly over a delicate instrumental backing of violin, piano and hushed percussion. Dylan's vocal is rich and expressive as he veers between describing the assassination, the unfolding of the counterculture, and a roll call of musicians, movie lyrics and other pop culture references.

At almost 17 minutes, "Murder Most Foul" is Dylan's longest song. The lyrics are sometimes playful, especially in its final minutes, but overall this is Dylan at his most incisive and cutting: "What's new pussycat? What'd I say? / I said the soul of a nation been torn away / And it's beginning to go into a slow decay / And that it's 36 hours past Judgment Day." It's worth many repeated listens and will occupy any Dylanologist holed up at home.

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Bob Dylan - official site

Bob Dylan performs.
Bob Dylan gestures as he performs on stage during the 21st edition of the Vieilles Charrues music festival on July 22, 2012 in Carhaix-Plouguer, western France.
Fred Tanneau | AFP/Getty Images