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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009
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Bob Dylan: Teen Plagiarist

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(Newser) – Was the young Bob Dylan a plagiarist? A piece that Christie’s auction house has been touting as Dylan’s first known poem turns out to be the lyrics to a country song by the late Hank Snow, Reuters reports. A 16-year-old Dylan submitted the pilfered verses, which tell the sad tale of an ill-fated dog, to his Jewish camp’s newsletter.

The newsletter’s editor, a fellow camper, saved the handwritten page, which is signed with Dylan’s given name, Bobby Zimmerman; he’s selling it to raise money for the camp. Christie’s says it’s going ahead with the auction anyway. “This still remains among the earliest known handwritten lyrics of Bob Dylan,” it reasoned. The piece was originally expected to fetch $10,000-$15,000.

This undated photo provided by Christie's shows the second page of a poem, penned by Bob Dylan as a teenager about a little dog who met a tragic end.
This undated photo provided by Christie's shows the second page of a poem, penned by Bob Dylan as a teenager about a little dog who met a tragic end.   (AP Photo)
This undated photo provided by Christie's shows the first page of a poem, penned by Bob Dylan as a teenager about a little dog who met a tragic end.
This undated photo provided by Christie's shows the first page of a poem, penned by Bob Dylan as a teenager about a little dog who met a tragic end.   (AP Photo)
In this undated photo, provided by Sony BMG, shows musician Bob Dylan.
In this undated photo, provided by Sony BMG, shows musician Bob Dylan.   (AP Photo)
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The Hank Snow tune in question.   (oldcountrytunes)

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But I’ll meet my precious buddy up in the sky
By a tiny narrow grave
Where the willows sadly wave. - From "Little Buddy," the Bob Dylan "poem" revealed to be a revised
Hank Snow song

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4 comments
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ethical_person
May 20, 09 2:37 PM CDT
Hilarious! He was a typical teenager who didn't think of the future -- he just wanted his camp mates to like him. Teens, take note -- what you do now can come back to bite you in the a**! Reply
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+6
anchower
May 20, 09 3:19 PM CDT
Bob Dylan: Adult False Idol. Reply
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+1
IN RESPONSE:
NutsInNY
May 20, 09 3:31 PM CDT
Indeed, this is the gotcha moment that will expose Bob Dylan as an impostor and put the final nail in the coffin of his shoddy career. (PS: I wrote "Lilly, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts" -- Dylan stole that from me. Michael Jackson's "Beat It" too -- mine also.)
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+1
nick
May 20, 09 3:22 PM CDT
Yes, indeed. Plagiarism can be a bad thing if you get caught. Reply
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An earlier story touting the 'poem'
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entertainment • music • plagiarism • Bob Dylan • Christie's • poetry • folk • lyrics • Jay-ZTV • Hank Snow

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