Don't Think Twice
Abbie Gardner's latest release is a double single of Dylan covers. Remember when vinyl singles had an A-side and a B-side? That's the concept here. Officially released to the public on June 13th. This just in... the title track was the #1 most played recording on the FAI Folk Radio Charts for May 2025! Whoo hoo!
Don't Think Twice, It's Alright
This Dylan song has always intrigued me. I love how the melody and hook line "Don't think twice, it's alright" can lull you into feeling everything is fine. Meanwhile, the rest of the verse tells a very different story. I intentionally recorded it very sparsely, almost as a duet between the dobro and the voice, to reinforce that feeling of conversation between the singer and the person they're singing to. That small bit of hope and vulnerability peaks through with the line, "I wish there was something you could or say to try to make me change my mind and stay," but is quickly followed by the dismissive "don't think twice it's alright." Later on there's almost anger in "goodbye's too good a word," but again we're handed the uneasy reassurance... "don't think twice, it's alright." A seemingly simple song with so many layers!
Happy Birthday Bob.
Masters of War
There are SO many Bob Dylan songs to choose from. You'd probably never guess that I would choose this one. I wanted to balance out the melodic sweetness of "Don't Think Twice" with something more gritty and less well-known. The lyrics and aggressive energy helped me find an outlet for my feelings around all the political chaos and class-division that's currently happening in the United States. It's not a new story, but it bears telling. I took some liberties in my arrangement, speeding up certain verses and dragging out others, as well as using a lot of dynamics to help support the message. My voice is more gritty here, the dobro more wailing, and there's percussion and bass to support the movement through the many verses. I was tempted to leave out the last verse, because I can't imagine watching anyone die with hatred in my heart, but ultimately I stayed true to Dylan's vision and kept it in.
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