You’re more important than all the silly machinery

Another MOJO, another cracking issue [MOJO 330]. Really loved the piece on Blind Willie McTell, one of my favourite Dylan songs. I once saw Martin Simpson perform the song, in tandem with the old trad song St James’ Infirmary. He later explained that he believed Dylan had written the song while he was staying in St James’ Hotel in London and thinking about the song St James’ Infirmary. Simpson sets it out in the notes on his album

Vagrant Stanzas, where he records his version. Dylan himself would have known Blind Willie McTell had recorded a version of the song

(The Dying Crapshooter’s Blues).