Goodbye Jimmy Reed

Goodbye Jimmy Reed is the 6th track from Bob Dylan's 39th studio album Rough and Rowdy Ways. It is a tribute to influential bluesman Jimmy Reed, and it takes the form of a common rhythm & blues song like "False Prophet", earlier on the record. It features the first harmonica playing by Dylan since a long time ago. It was featured on 44th President Barack Obama's Summer 2020 Playlist.

Background
The song has lyrics relating to worshipping the blues and bluesmen that influenced the genre, such as Jimmy Reed. It makes several references to The Bible and to blues songs, and makes a claim that all religions are the same and the only true one is the Blues. It also says that you don't need to be amazing at guitar to play the Blues.

Music
Dylan has made songs in this form before, such as 1966's "Leopard Skin Pill-Box Hat" and the 1975 Rolling Thunder Revue version of "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall". It follows basic blues chords, with dominant sevenths and arpeggio riffs. Matt Chamberlain plays drums and also Charlie Sexton on guitar.

The song is in A Blues Major.

Personnel

 * Bob Dylan – vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica
 * Charlie Sexton – guitar
 * Tony Garnier – bass
 * Matt Chamberlain – drums
 * Benmont Tench – Hammond organ