Stephen Colbert Offers A Taste Of Song Parody Bob Dylan Shot Down

Late Show host Stephen Colbert gave Conan O'Brien and the rest of America a taste of what he believes to be an essential parody song for these troubling times.

Colbert joked with O'Brien during a recent quarantine check-in, saying he is "furious" over Bob Dylan's reluctance to approve a parody of 1965's "Subterranean Homesick Blues" put together by a Late Show writer.

"Dylan said in no uncertain terms, 'You may not do that,' neutron bomb of a lawsuit," Colbert explained. "I just don't think that's nice. How old is that song? He's got all the juice he's gonna get out of that old stone! Come on, let the rest of us have a crack at it."

Dylan recently released an 17-minute epic song about the assassination of JFK called "Murder Most Foul." But Colbert argues that the "Subterranean" parody is the song American "needs" right now.

Colbert then proceeded to read a few choice lines from the parody:

We're all in the basement, wishin' for some medicine
I'm isolatin', recommended by the government
The man in the cheap gloves, Grub Hub day job
Says he's got a bad cough, wants to get a test swab

He added that the parody is "damn fine," and he continued to another pair of lines.

I don't want no virus sales, you better Purell
The Trump don't work, 'cause the Fauci makes him grouchy

For what it's worth, O'Brien disagreed, suggesting Colbert parody a more contemporary hit.

Watch the Colbert/O'Brien exchange above. Listen to Dylan's original below.

Photo: Getty Images


Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content