Key developments
Jan Barten cover revives a rare Dylan deep cut
In a June 1 bob-dylan.org.uk post, Jochen Markhorst spotlights Breda-based cover artist Jan Barten and guest vocalist Fons Havermans on a recent take on To Be Alone With You. The piece frames the version as a more passionate, polished rereading of Dylan's 1969 Nashville Skyline song, which the article says is seldom covered.
Why it matters
It surfaces a new cover-community signal around one of Dylan's least-interpreted songs.
Sources & driving stories
BOB-DYLAN · Jochen Markhorst
bob-dylan coverageShadow Kingdom rewrite drives live resurgence
The same post says Dylan's 2021 Shadow Kingdom version turned To Be Alone With You into a darker, murder-tinged monologue. Markhorst says the song has since appeared on setlists 300 times, roughly twice as often as in the prior fifty years combined.
Why it matters
It quantifies how one reinterpretation materially changed the song's live life.
Sources & driving stories
BOB-DYLAN · Jochen Markhorst
bob-dylan coverageWorth noting
WORTH NOTING
1970 Earl Scruggs pitch resurfaced
The article cites Dylan's 17 May 1970 attempt to sell the song to Earl Scruggs, including a Bootleg Series Vol. 15 clip and a documentary scene that was left out of the final film.
Still unclear
OPEN QUESTION
Will the Shadow Kingdom version stay in rotation?
The article's 300-performance tally suggests Dylan may now prefer the reworked arrangement, but it is unclear whether he will keep using it as the default live version.
OPEN QUESTION
Can more covers follow Jan Barten?
Markhorst says the song has been covered only rarely, so this version may test whether a deep cut can attract broader reinterpretation.