You know, I'm as big a Lightfoot fan as any of you, and I am also a Bob Dylan fan but in a different way. I had never seen this clip and I watched it knowing what some of you had said.
I totally disagree with those of you who thought Dylan was being disrespectful, or even "not too classy". Dylan, like Lightfoot, is a brilliant songwriter, but neither is a great speechmaker, and both of them are somewhat uncomfortable in that role. Performing their songs comes naturally; speaking from the stage does not. I am sure that Dylan meant it entirely as joke, and that Lightfoot took it that way. In fact, it was probably as good a joke as he could have come up with, and award ceremonies need some humor.
So let's not take Bob to task. He made the trip to say those few words to honor Lightfoot. THAT says it all.
|