"License to Kill" - Cover by Ted

[Ted]

License to Kill

Written by Bob Dylan
Released 1983

Ted: Guitar, Guitar synth, Bass, Vocals, Drum Arrangement

Recorded on Micro BR
Audacity tweaks: Normalizing, Trimming, High-Pass Filter

Man thinks 'cause he rules the earth he can do with it as he please
And if things don't change soon, he will
Oh, man has invented his doom
First step was touching the moon

Now, there's a woman on my block
She just sit there as the night grows still
She say who gonna take away his license to kill?

Now, they take him and they teach him and they groom him for life
And they set him on a path where he's bound to get ill
Then they bury him with stars
Sell his body like they do used cars

Now, there's a woman on my block
She just sit there facin' the hill
She say who gonna take away his license to kill?

Now, he's hell-bent for destruction, he's afraid and confused
And his brain has been mismanaged with great skill
All he believes are his eyes
And his eyes, they just tell him lies

But there's a woman on my block
Sitting there in a cold chill
She say who gonna take away his license to kill?

Ya may be a noisemaker, spirit maker
Heartbreaker, backbreaker
Leave no stone unturned
May be an actor in a plot
That might be all that you got
'Til your error you clearly learn

Now he worships at an altar of a stagnant pool
And when he sees his reflection, he's fulfilled
Oh, man is opposed to fair play
He wants it all and he wants it his way

Now, there's a woman on my block
She just sit there as the night grows still
She say who gonna take away his license to kill?

There are so many great songs from 1983. But I wanted one that I could kick out in one sitting (like some of you seem to do so effortlessly). That was last weekend, so the one-sitting goal was not achieved.  This afternoon I went into "fuck it" mode and determined to get it done by dinner time. I made it!

[thetworegs]

A belter of a cover Ted great vocal

[Bluesberry]

Damn this rocks ........fragile yet harrowing........great to hear one from you Ted....you are still using a microBR?    Incredible sound here from the wee silver box..........

[StephenM]

yeah, this is smokin hot stuff... you rock Ted... big time... sounds amazing... I was reaching for my volume knob... or should I say the keyboard strikes...

anyway love this.. vocals sound great.. drums rock and the mix is interesting as all heck...organ works for me anytime..
guitar smokes with the bass... bravo man

[Farrell Jackson]

This is an exceedingly well done Dylan cover, Ted! I like the way you upped the tempo and used a distorted guitar to give it more of a punkish vibe. The guitar synth fills the organ sound good. Cool vocals, guitar, drums and bass. You rocked it!

[Ted]

I like the way you upped the tempo and used a distorted guitar to give it more of a punkish vibe.

There was a not-really-punk-ish version of this song done when Dylan appeared on Late Night with David Letterman in 1984 - he was backed members of a punk band called the Plugz. They performed three songs from Infidels.

I also just discovered that Elvis Costello did a cover of this in 2012.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6nMtanifsU

I'm somewhat satisfied that I found the secret punk riff hiding in the chorus – that even the Plugz missed.

you are still using a microBR?

Until you pry it from my cold, dead hands.

[Zoltan]

I had never paid no mind to this song. I had to check the original to see if i'd done wrong by neglegting it. But no. I was right. I have no time for the original, but for this i do. Yes, Ted. You're really worthy of your moniker.

Punked up Dylan. This is too good.

[StephenM]

I had never paid no mind to this song. I had to check the original to see if i'd done wrong by neglegting it. But no. I was right. I have no time for the original, but for this i do. Yes, Ted. You're really worthy of your moniker.

Punked up Dylan. This is too good.

yeah, Dylan never did it for me either... but this does... this does alot... I really love the vocals on this... they remind me of sort of Aldo Nova, sort of Tom Petty...but really they are very unique...very enjoyable... and the guitars they just rock, the whole song smokes.

[Zoltan]

I think that in a some subconcious way Ted inspired me to do the dirty on Duran Duran

[T.C. Elliott]

Dang, what a rocking take on the song. I love those distorted guitars. You've taken a ballad-like take and turned it up a few notches. Honestly, I think your take fits the lyric better.

The phrasing in the verses reminds me slightly of 'people have the power' by Patti Smith. (I only realize that because I covered this song a few months ago.)