"Mozambique" is a song written by Bob Dylan and Jacques Levy that was originally released on Dylan's 1976 album Desire. It was also released as a single and reached number 54 on the Billboard Hot 100.
| "Mozambique" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Bob Dylan | ||||
| from the album Desire | ||||
| B-side | "Oh, Sister" | |||
| Released | February 17, 1976 | |||
| Recorded | July 30, 1975 | |||
| Studio | Columbia Studios, New York City | |||
| Genre | Folk rock | |||
| Length | 3:00 | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) | Don DeVito | |||
| Bob Dylan singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Desire track listing | ||||
9 tracks
| ||||
| Official audio | ||||
| "Mozambique" on YouTube | ||||
Background
editAt the time of the song's release, the titular country of Mozambique had just emerged from a ten-year insurgency war against Portugal which led to Mozambique's independence.[1][2] Mozambique had gained independence on June 25, 1975, only about a month before the song was recorded.[3] As a result, some supporters wanted to see the song as lending support to the newly independent country.[1] However, the lyrics of the song don't support such an interpretation, being slight and treating the country as merely a place for a romantic getaway in the sun, apart from a fleeting reference to "people living free".[1] This amused some of Dylan's fans, who did understand the satire.[2]
Analysis
editThe melody received more praise than the lyrics. Robert Shelton describes the tune as "playful."[4] Oliver Trager and John Nogowski both describe the melody as "great" and particularly praise the violin playing of Scarlet Rivera.[1][5]
Record World said that "The sound is different with Emmylou Harris singing along over a twisting beat, but the story is pure Dylan and that's enough to make it worth a listen."[6] Trager describes "Mozambique" as "a light love song with lighter political overtones."[1] Allmusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine calls it "effervescent" and "Dylan at his breeziest."[7] Paul Williams considers "Mozambique" to be one of several songs on Desire with "wonderful, inventive, pleasure-giving" music which nonetheless fails to reach the intensity and unity of the other songs because the lyrics are "a little too vague, too clever" and "too distanced."[8] Dylan biographer Clinton Heylin considers the song to be a "ditty dredged up from the bottom of the barrel," "ghastly" and "the weakest song on Desire."[2][9]
"Mozambique" was also released as a single as a follow-up to the Top 40 hit "Hurricane" and it reached #54 on the Billboard Hot 100.[10] Heylin suggests that Dylan may have released it as a single over songs fans might have preferred—particularly "Sara"—to spite fans who criticized the song for its slight lyrics trivializing the conflict in Mozambique.[2] Cash Box said of it that it is "an exotic, lush and exciting tune to hear" and that "Dylan is in fine form, spinning out his tale of 'magic in a magical land,' and playing superb rhythm guitar."[11]
The song also appeared on the compilation album Masterpieces.[12] A live performance was included in the television special Hard Rain but not on the associated album.[1][8]
Cover version
editJimmy Buffett recorded a cover version that was released on his posthumous album Equal Strain on All Parts on November 3, 2023. A video for the song, featuring footage of Buffett and Emmylou Harris singing live in the studio, was released in advance of the album on YouTube on October 13, 2023.[13]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f Trager, O. (2004). Keys to the Rain. Billboard Books. p. 436. ISBN 0823079740.
- ^ a b c d Heylin, C. (2010). Still on the Road. Chicago Review Press. p. 83. ISBN 9781556528446.
- ^ "Independence Day". officeholidays.com. Retrieved 2017-07-25.
- ^ Shelton, R. (1986). No Direction Home. Da Capo Press. p. 466. ISBN 0306807823.
- ^ Nogowski, J. (2008). Bob Dylan: A Descriptive, Critical Discography and Filmography (2nd ed.). McFarland. p. 75. ISBN 9780786435180.
- ^ "Single Picks" (PDF). Record World. February 28, 1976. p. 12. Retrieved 2023-03-08.
- ^ Erlewine, S.T. "Desire". Allmusic. Retrieved 2012-09-05.
- ^ a b Williams, P. (1994). Bob Dylan Performing Artist: 1974-1986. Omnibus Press. pp. 45, 47, 88. ISBN 0711935556.
- ^ Heylin, C. (1995). Bob Dylan: The Recording Sessions 1960-1994. St. Martin's Griffin. p. 113. ISBN 0312150679.
- ^ "Desire Awards". Allmusic. Retrieved 2012-09-05.
- ^ "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. February 28, 1976. p. 25. Retrieved 2021-12-11.
- ^ "Mozambique". Allmusic. Retrieved 2012-09-05.
- ^ Blistein, Jon (2023-10-13). "Jimmy Buffett Enlisted Emmylou Harris, and a Steelpan Drum, for His Cover of Bob Dylan's 'Mozambique'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2023-10-13.