Last Update: 04/05/2026 at 2:50 PM EST
Brownsville Girl Earns Rare Praise
Coverage from Far Out Magazine, Greghollingshead, and others
Articles
6
Latest Article
11/25
Active Days
4536
Executive Summary
Dylan's Brownsville Girl is reassessed as a cinematic epic from a troubled era, praised by Lou Reed, Leonard Cohen and other musicians
- Brownsville Girl is described as one of Dylan's most cinematic and imagistic songs
- Lou Reed and Leonard Cohen both singled out the track for high praise
- The song was co-written with Sam Shepard during the Rolling Thunder era
- Its narrative centers on memory, romantic loss and aging fame
- Multiple writers contrast the released version with the earlier New Danville Girl
- Commentary notes the chorus, backing vocals and horns split longtime Dylan fans
- Several reviews frame the song as a standout on the widely criticized Knocked Out Loaded
Quick Facts
- What: Reassessment of Brownsville Girl as a major Dylan epic
- Where: On the 1986 album Knocked Out Loaded and related writings
- Why: Its vivid storytelling and cinematic scope set it apart
- Who: Bob Dylan and Sam Shepard, praised by Lou Reed and Leonard Cohen
- When: Primarily about the 1986 song and later retrospective praise
Coverage Timeline: 4536 Days
Featured Article
Far Out Magazine profiles Brownsville Girl on recwbooHfwV0hLII7, highlighting praise from Lou Reed and Leonard Cohen for Dylan’s 1986 song.
Additional Articles
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
In this essay, Greg Hollingshead examines Bob Dylan's 1986 song Brownsville Girl from Knocked Out Loaded, contrasting it with the earlier recording New Danville Girl.
On 2014-06-28, Long and Wasted Year published a blog essay analyzing Bob Dylan’s 1986 song Brownsville Girl from Knocked Out Loaded.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
On chrisgregory.org, an analytical essay explores Bob Dylan's 1986 song Brownsville Girl as a cinematic Western narrative of memory and identity.
In 2021, Cult Following published a retrospective review of Bob Dylan's 1986 album Knocked Out Loaded, reflecting on its role in Dylan's later resurgence.
⭐⭐⭐
On 2013-07-03, a Countdown Kid blog published a track-by-track review of Bob Dylan's 1986 album Knocked Out Loaded on its website.