Johnny Rivers - Positively 4Th Street Lyrics

Beautiful song. Sounds very much like Bob Dylan.

Johnny Rivers na melhor fase de sua brilhante carreira. Ótimo!

🦋This song is so involved & unique I grew up listening to his music through my Mama she knew good music when she heard it🦋

A MASTERPIECE FROM JOHNNY RIVERS LOVE THIS

Song had a lot of meaning after being provoked into a schoolyard fight and friends stood by laughing . Especially the words paralyzed having been low bridged by these guys . Now theres been anger and forgiveness and it has taken on different meaning say of empathy for the young and stupid. The song says a lot actually about perspective taking , standing in the shoes of others and not having a flash temper however justified .

The love of my life turned me on to this album back in the early 70s. Love you still, Ray Schnarrs.

Great song and yeah what a drag it is to see you.

To me, this album is a masterpiece. This song, his cover of "A Whiter Shade of Pale" and the entire album are absolutely exquisite. Like many of the other comments, I don't know why Johnny's not in the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame.

THIS HAS TO BE MY ALL TIME FAVORITE JOHNNY RIVERS SONG.I LOVE ANYTHING HE SINGS BUT THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT THIS THATS SO UNFORGETABLE!!BUT THEN SO IS MR.RIVERS. LU

This is a good cover because it really effectively adds to the ''shit-eating grin'' of this song's appeal.

One of the best versions of a Dylan song . Different than Bob's but that's great. Great production . Bravo

The best song by Johnny Rivers off his best album. My favourite 60s Album.

Not nearly as good as the Living Voices

I was late to this one, but it's my favorite cover of this one. Rivers was a great singer.

How is Johnny Rivers not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?

Why is Trump in the White House?

@baliscotsurf Good question.

Vast crowds of incredibly stupid people

Song made no sense to me.

Who in the hell is keeping this guy out of the Rock an Roll Hall of Fame?

First visit! My thanks Mr.D.!

I love Dylan, but Johnny puts the depth into this song. Truly a classic

Underappreciated!

"Of all the versions of my recorded songs, the Johnny Rivers one was my favorite. It was obvious that we were from the same side of town, had been read the same citations, came from the same musical family and were cut from the same cloth. When I listened to Johnny’s version of “Positively 4th Street,” I liked his version better than mine. I listened to it over and over again. Most of the cover versions of my songs seemed to take them out into left field somewhere, but Rivers’s version had the mandate down — the attitude and melodic sense to complete and surpass even the feeling that I had put into it. It shouldn’t have surprised me, though. He had done the same thing with “Maybellene” and “Memphis,” two Chuck Berry songs. When I heard Johnny sing my song, it was obvious that life had the same external grip on him as it did on me." Bob Dylan - The chronicles

that same quote brought me here

He sure nailed this great Dylan composition.

I used to know someone who owned this on CD. The whole CD was awesome, but this song was my favourite.

"I wish that for just one time you could stand inside my shoes, and just for that one moment, I could be *you!* Yes, I wish that for just one time you could stand inside my shoes, You'd know what a drag it to *see* you!" Powerful lyrics. Every time I listen, I cry like a baby.

Bob Dylan brought me here. Calls this is favorite cover of any of his songs, much prefers it to his own version.

What the Hell!!! I came here for Secret Agent man!!!

Aw!!! Johnny Rivers at his best. He was and always will be an exceptional talent. Long live Johnny's music.

This was Bob Dylan's favorite version of this song.

BOB DYAN said that he loved and was his favorite version of POSITIVELY 4TH STREET by Johnny Rivers. BOB DYLAN said that in his book. Johnny Rivers must be very proud of that statement by DYLAN.

essa é uma das raridades em que uma 2a versao fica melhor do que a original

Just more of Johnny Rivers at his best. He sure did Bob Dylans song justice.

And then some. 🙂

No bad, very impressed

Talented!! Simply talented......did more great covers than anyone.

Great vintage music from a real professional. Johnny has this song down much better then Bob Dylan. Love Johnny,,s music and always have.

Very under rated album and singer. I bought this cassette in 69 and wore it out

Johnny's version of this great hit is the very best just like most of his songs. Peace and love to Mr. Rivers

Somehow I don't think I've heard this cover of Dylan's song, but I was just reading Chronicles Vol. One, by Bob Dylan and he mentions briefly his first trip to California to perform and meeting the artists who had recorded their own hits of his tunes. And he mentions out of that group, this was his favorite. So here I am to give it a listen, and loving it.

FANTASTIC!

I play this song with my band but with the Dylan arrangement. Hearing this we've learned how to play this one Awesome thanks for posting.

This album, in my estimation, is one of the best if not the best that came out of the 60's. I wore out my vinyl and am looking for a CD or a new vinyl copy.

I got my CD on ebay

Super talent--Johnny Rivers is the best!

Johnny flat out aced this song. There is no better version anywhere!

the BEST interpretation.

This sounds better on mono, not stereo

This is a masterpiece of what it's like to deal with a manipulative person. Some assume it was Dylans one-time friend(?) Phil Ochs.
Regardless, when ever I hear the song I think of that type of people in my past.

I cannot listen to this song (and I've been listening to it for 40+ years) without grinning from ear to ear. Dripping with sarcasm...a big screw you set to such happy music....:)

esse versão superou a original, inclusive o próprio Bob Dylan elogiou

yes but the point of making a cover is that its different i like both and The Byrds

I agree.

If there's a more under appreciated album from the late 1960's than Realization I don't know what it is.

couldn't agree more.. that Astral Weeks album by Morrison is a close 2nd

I so agree with you. Awesome music!

I love "Summer Rain" & "Look to Your Soul"

Mind Bender...agreed.

Dylan himself called this cover...THE BEST!

I'm reading "Bob Dylan All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Track" by Philippe Margotin, Jean-Michel Guesdon. They do have the quote by Dylan that he loved this version

ive only heard 2 covers but this is deffo the best :)

Johnny is the absolute best!

Saudades de ouvir J.Rivers,Elvis ,Bob Dylan,The Byrds,mitos de toda uma época!!!

Hard days of the Vietnan War... Many hearts crying after this humanitarian disaster...

Great singer, Johnny Rivers, great writer, Bob Dylan, great song!

cesar 3 👍

WOW: After reading the posts below, I must add something I  generally  keep to myself. I am a Dylan Fan, but this song sends to my outer limits. Being in the US Army during Viet Nam was a fuck up for all. This song relates to what the fucking US  effort did to the military: the 57,000 Killed in actions, the 500,000 PSTD to us. The government laughed throughout. I know Mr. Dylans lyrics concern something else, but THANK YOU  Johnny Rivers for this song. Like the military statement below, this song saved my ass. SP 5 , US  Army 1967-1970 .

Thank you for your service

god bless you. much gratitude for serving. thank you.

Your comment really moved me. Many thanks. I grew up during this period and still see the damage done.

I'm a huge fan of Bob that's why I have to admit: It's a hauntingly wonderful cover.
Super cool!

I agree. I also love Bob Dylan.

Dylan 's " Greatest Hits " version is the best . This comes in a far second. Can 't beat Dylan .

@Laraine Fox Dylan said he liked this version better than his own, but I more agree with you Laraine, Dylan's is better. On the other hand, in other songs I wonder if you actually can beat Dylan's vocals. "All along the Watchtower" many prefer Hendrix by far. Also, "Hard Rains Gonna Fall", best one to me is Leon Russell -- wow he really nails it!!

+Jude Barnes Joan Baez also did a great job on hard rain

Johnny Winters gave "Highway 61 Revisited" a solid amphetamine injection and loosed it upon an unsuspecting world, where it proceeded to, using the technical musical term, kick balls.

Rivers has a better voice

I have this on vinyl and cd  underappreciated album.  this song is about what people really are about. great song on this lp

If Dylan really had a voice instead of sounding like what one writer called sandpaper singing, he would sound like this. Dylan in his autobiography said he preferred this version to his own, and it's easy to understand why. Johnny had all the soul and the sincerity, but could really sing, too.

Scott Rowland nothing compares with Bob

I agree 109 percent. I love Bob quite obsessively.

Rivers sounds like a poser/acter playing a part. Dylan sounds like a person who actually lived it.

He's a great songwriter and a passable singer. But, like ice cream, people's taste in music is subjective.

There are some good songs written and sung by Bob Dylan. But there some songs written by Dylan that are better sung by other singers.

I still have my vinyl of "Realization" I had forgotten that this song was on it. I used to spend hours listening to that album. Johnny is the coolest!

A friend of mine had this on CD. The first time I heard this song, I cried. I don't know why I did.

Coolest! Man...

Now that song right there Is the Shit. Damn Im glad Dylan wrote It, But Im twice a glad Johnny did this Arangment Man he was and is great.

Jody Smith I agree. Bob Dylan is good songwriter, but not the best singer.

Jason Carpp, "Bob Dylan is good songwriter"?LMAO. Dylan is well beyond a good songwriter. He is arguably the greatest songwriter that ever lived and easily in the top 3. I love Johnny Rivers but he's not in my top 20 of the greatest singers that ever lived. There's just too many of those. Elvis, Frank, Brian Wilson, Glen Campbell, John, Paul, George, Roy Orbison, Ray Charles and on and on and that's not even including the female artists.

Really? Among my favourite songs by Bob Dylan sung by a female artist is "Changing of the Guards", a cover song by Patti Smith.

Semper Fi.....Gene Hesser!

This is *the* best version I've ever listened to of *"Positively 4th Street."* Bob Dylan is a good singer and songwriter, but this version has emotion to the song. It's like he's telling a group of people *"you were supposed to be my friend(s), and then you stab me in the back! Fuck you! What kind of friend does that to his friend?"*

Just an incredible album/cd. It is worth the price.Buy it!

I have always loved Johnny Rivers music.  My first boyfriend  introduced me to his music back in 1964.  Still love him for that.

I bought this album in 1968 or 1969 when I was in the Marine Corps. I have always been a Johnny Rivers fan but this album was an absolute gem! I love this man and his music! And, yes, I am 67 years old and his music still does it for me.

Gene I have been a fan since 1964.  I have 3 copies of this - one signed.
I love this guy and it is his BEST album.  He said one night was alot of work 
to get it just right - all of the great musicians, I love Joe Osborne and Hal Blaine on drums (I can pick him out on any song). Roger C. USAF 1968-1972,
Vietnam 1970-71 ... Combat Photographer outta Saigon 12 R.I.T.S. get on
that helicopter and get dropped off out somewhere in the middle of nowhere
to take pictures of the War ?

Thank you, gentlemen. I own two worn-down copies, and am glad there are some others who have this album in their hearts.

@Roger C I agree with you, this is not only Johnny Rivers best album but its my all time fav. And I thank you for your service, I salute you

Hey fellow Jarhead Gene. My older bro who was a grunt in Nam dropped off Rewind and a couple other albums. I was a Johnny fan for life from then. Although I was a music fan from a young age I always remember being able to play songs over and over on the record player and that was the real start of my music love. I'm gonna try to listen to this album when I can. I know this song is great.Thanks for your service.

He did Bob Dylan proud.

Dylan did him proud.

Hey JR FANS!!! I AM 80 & IT DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS!! WHO NEEDS THE NOT SO COOL R&R HALL any way.WE STILL.GOT OUR JOHNNY & THATS AS GOOD AS IT GETS!!!!

I heard that Dylan once said that he preferred Rivers version of this song to his own.

He talks about it in his autobiography. I was just reading it and that's what brought me here.

He even went as far as to say that this was his favorite recorded version of any of his songs. And me too Anders, it's quite a read.

@dairylandbogurt wasn't it Hendrix's "All Along The Watchtower" ?

Anders Gatten me too just now!

Dylan should prefer almost ANY version of his songs to his own (with the exception of "Like A Rolling Stone")

with respect to Vietnam, America made two mistakes and it both cases, it involved the French. At the end of WWII the French lost all of their rubber plantation holdings in southeast asia because of the Japanese and their being overrun by the germans. DeGaul demanded that the Americans help them re-acquire those holdings which involved the Michelin Tire Co. of France. Vietnam declared their independence after the Japanese had been defeated in Vietnam. Unfortunately, America allowed DeGaul and the French to re-acquire their Rubber plantation holdings and re-occupied Vietnam. Eventually, the French were defeated at Dienbienphu and had to surrender. Again, the U.S. came to the aide of the French and filled the void left by the French. Eventually, the French would criticize and refuse to support America in the Vietnam War. Something many americans will never forget. The same French who sided with Hitler and the Nazis in WWII.

That's one helluva review of this song! Way To Go!!!!!!!

I like this record a lot; it also reminds me of Dion's Wonder where I'm bound

no capta la esencia de la canción, Dylan se equivoca en sus comentarios de Chronicle volume one

Ok, maybe my fault. English is not my language, sorry. Y try to connect but sometimes I do mistakes..... Things happend.....but with comunication, everything is possible.... Love this soñg..... thanx.

Language barrier? I think maybe you misunderstood when you made your comment what the one you were referring to meant now that I look at it all. Sometimes we know only enough of another language to get ourselves in trouble and to miss the meaning entirely. So I removed my other comment as well.

Incredible.....a confussion and amount of "dislikes" in my account. I love this cover. I wrote an answer to someone who talks bad about this music..... A comentary from 2 years ago. But people thought that I wrote against this lovely song instead that bad comentary.... That´s live

;-) peace

Dylan said this was his favorite cover version of this song

Doesn't get any better than Johnny on this song by Bob Dylan. What a soothing voice he has.

yeah. he wrote this is his favourite cover. i listened to it twice and even though its still pretty cool, i dont really get why he chose this cover as his favourite. taste, i guess.

The 1960's would never have been complete without Johnny Rivers.

Vietnam some say ruined america which I sincerely hope the government will admit they never should've gotten involved because this country won't be in the jam they're in now. Thats my view of that and hopefully many folks that were against them for going should apoligize.

I was 16 that summer, and Dylan's songs were like mother's milk to my awakening intellectual side. I wasn't drafted; a girl broke my heart and I quit high school 2 weeks shy of graduation to join the Marines so I could go die in Vietnam. Fortunately (that's my completely subjective opinion) I didn't die in Vietnam. Now I am getting old, and it is thrilling to hear this music again. RonnieG, I hope things are going better for you now.

I was 18, in the summer of 1965, when Dylan's original was released. The lyrics & music have always taken me back to a time in my life when everyday was a good day, when it seemed I had it all and was content with my friends, my girl and my life. I guess you never quite realize what you have until you lose it. I was drafted a few years later, went off to Vietnam and came home to a country unable to see the difference between disliking a war and disliking those who had no choice but to serve.

One of the BEST covers of this tune - LOVE it, love Johnny!

we just do not hear this kind of stuff with today's artist's. what a shame. Johnny, is the best. His album is so ahead of years past and present. God Bless Johnny

Good old LP to be let playing... on and on and on and on...

You can hear true emotion in JR's songs...and he did a fab job on this Dylan gem...a true American musical Icon!....^/^

Realization was one of the best albums of the 60's. Johnny was always doing his own thing while the others chased convention.....he is one of the greats and someday he will get his due.

@javaman64 Johnny always amazes...Even the writers of the songs he's covered...Genius!

Dylans favorite cover of one of his tunes~ is it any wonder.

Thanks for putting this up, I have not heard this album for a loooooong time!