Song Title: Pretty Saro

Main Message: Themes of lost love, longing, memory, and the bittersweet passage of time, expressed through a traditional folk narrative.

Lyrics & Emotion Analysis: The lyrics, a classic folk ballad, describe a speaker’s deep affection for a woman named Pretty Saro, lamenting their separation and the pain of unfulfilled love. Dylan’s delivery is tender and world-weary, imbuing the traditional words with a profound sense of personal melancholy and reflective nostalgia, emphasizing the enduring nature of love and loss.

Production Analysis: The production is sparse and intimate, featuring Dylan’s raw vocals accompanied primarily by acoustic guitar. This stripped-back arrangement highlights the song’s traditional roots and Dylan’s emotive performance, characteristic of the ‘Time Out of Mind’ sessions’ focus on authentic, unpolished soundscapes, even for a folk ballad.

Contextual Background: Recorded during the prolific ‘Time Out of Mind’ sessions (1996-1997), this traditional folk song showcases Dylan’s deep connection to his musical roots amidst a period of exploring electric blues. Its release in ‘The Bootleg Series Vol. 17’ provides a rare glimpse into his creative process and the breadth of material considered for his acclaimed album, offering a contrast to the album’s darker, more electric sound.

MV Information: Official music video for a previously unreleased track from Bob Dylan’s ‘The Bootleg Series Vol. 17: Fragments – Time Out of Mind Sessions (1996-1997)’. The video features archival footage and visual elements complementing the song’s melancholic mood.

Artist/Group: Bob Dylan

Genre: Folk, Traditional Folk

Language: English

Release Date: 2023-11-01

Composer/Lyricist: Traditional

Awards: None for this specific track or music video.