Bob Dylan Revives a Rare Folk Ballad After 34 Years
In a surprise move, legendary musician Bob Dylan took the stage in Killarney, Ireland, and performed a traditional folk ballad that has been absent from his setlists for over three decades. The song in question is "The Lakes of Pontchartrain," a classic American tune with ties to New Orleans.
According to sources close to the tour, this performance marked Dylan's first public rendition of the song since its debut on June 7, 1988, at the launch of his Never Ending Tour in Concord, California. The last time he played it was on July 6, 1991, in Nashua, New Hampshire.
Dylan has long been known for his ability to surprise audiences with unexpected covers and deep cuts from his own catalog. In recent years, he has had a notable streak of performing local favorites, including a 2023 run where he covered Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters, John Mellencamp, Leonard Cohen, and many others.
This latest move has fans speculating about the possibility of Dylan recording an album of these unexpected covers, but nothing has been officially announced. The setlist for his upcoming shows in Killarney and Dublin is still largely unknown, with a focus on playing hits from his more recent "Rough and Rowdy Ways" album.
While some may be disappointed that this particular song wasn't performed – Dylan's live shows often feature a vast majority of the music from 1967 to 1997 – fans are rejoicing at the opportunity to hear a rare treat.
In a surprise move, legendary musician Bob Dylan took the stage in Killarney, Ireland, and performed a traditional folk ballad that has been absent from his setlists for over three decades. The song in question is "The Lakes of Pontchartrain," a classic American tune with ties to New Orleans.
According to sources close to the tour, this performance marked Dylan's first public rendition of the song since its debut on June 7, 1988, at the launch of his Never Ending Tour in Concord, California. The last time he played it was on July 6, 1991, in Nashua, New Hampshire.
Dylan has long been known for his ability to surprise audiences with unexpected covers and deep cuts from his own catalog. In recent years, he has had a notable streak of performing local favorites, including a 2023 run where he covered Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters, John Mellencamp, Leonard Cohen, and many others.
This latest move has fans speculating about the possibility of Dylan recording an album of these unexpected covers, but nothing has been officially announced. The setlist for his upcoming shows in Killarney and Dublin is still largely unknown, with a focus on playing hits from his more recent "Rough and Rowdy Ways" album.
While some may be disappointed that this particular song wasn't performed – Dylan's live shows often feature a vast majority of the music from 1967 to 1997 – fans are rejoicing at the opportunity to hear a rare treat.
just heard about bob dylan playing "the lakes of pontchartrain" for the first time in ages and i'm FREAKING OUT!! 
it's like he's still got that magic touch, you know? I mean, we all love his newer stuff, but there's something special about hearing a deep cut from 34 years ago. it's like he's still speaking to us through those old songs 
and i'm totally here for the possibility of him doing more covers like this! 
fingers crossed he drops an album soon 
I'm telling you, there's more to this than meets the eye. Bob Dylan just happens to revive "The Lakes of Pontchartrain" after all these years... what if it's not just about nostalgia or reconnecting with his roots? What if this is some kind of ploy to tap into our collective consciousness and awaken us to something deeper? I mean, have you seen the lyrics? They're like a blueprint for understanding the complexities of human emotions. It's like he's trying to say something specific... but what? 
I'm just happy to see him keep things fresh and interesting for us lucky fans! 
I'm kinda bummed he didn't play more of his older stuff, but it's still awesome that he's bringin' out some deep cuts! "The Lakes of Pontchartrain" is like, such a cool song, you know? I love how he took a risk and did this cover - shows he's still all about keepin' things fresh. Maybe we'll get lucky and he does end up puttin' one of these rare covers on a new album 
after all these years! I mean, who doesn't love a good folk ballad, right? It's like he's taking us on a journey back in time, you know? The fact that it's been 34 years since his last public performance just makes it even more special. And can you imagine an album of these deep cuts? That would be epic! I'd totally buy it 
Fingers crossed, dude!
... I mean, can you believe it's been 34 years since he last played it? It feels like just yesterday he was performing all these classic tunes at the '67 Newport Folk Festival. I remember listening to this song back in '88 and being blown away by his raw energy on stage – that performance marked a whole new era for Dylan, you know? Now, as an oldie but goodie, it's great to see him bring out the classics once again