It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry
| "It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry" | ||||
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| Song by Bob Dylan from the album Highway 61 Revisited | ||||
| Released | August 30, 1965 | |||
| Recorded | July 29, 1965 at Columbia Studios, New York City | |||
| Genre | Blues rock | |||
| Length | 3:25 (Mono) / 4:09 (Stereo) | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Writer(s) | Bob Dylan | |||
| Producer(s) | Bob Johnston | |||
| Highway 61 Revisited track listing | ||||
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| Audio sample | ||||
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| 9 tracks |
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"It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry" is a song written by Bob Dylan, that was originally released on his seminal album Highway 61 Revisited. It was recorded on July 29, 1965. The song was also included on an early, European Dylan compilation album entitled Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits 2.
An earlier, alternate version of the song has appeared, in different takes, beginning with the release of one take on The Bootleg Series Volumes 1–3 (Rare & Unreleased) 1961–1991 in 1991.
"It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry" has been covered by numerous artists, including The Grateful Dead, Super Session featuring Al Kooper, Mike Bloomfield and Steven Stills, The Allman Brothers Band, Marianne Faithfull, Jerry Garcia, Stephen Stills, Ian Matthews, Leon Russell, Little Feat, Chris Smither, Taj Mahal, Steve Earle, Levon Helm, Toto, Blue Cheer & Bun E. Carlos.
The version of the song on Highway 61 Revisited is an acoustic/electric blues song, one of three blues songs on the album (the others being "From a Buick 6" and "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues"). It is made up of lines taken from older blues songs combined with Dylan's own lyrics. Rather than the aggression of some of the other songs Dylan wrote during at this time, "It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry" reflects world-weary resignation. The imagery is sexual, and the song can be interpreted as an allegory of someone who is sexually frustrated. Dylan would return to similar images and suggestions in later songs, such as "I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine" and "Señor (Tales of Yankee Power)".
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