Thunder on the Mountain

Album: Modern Times (2006)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Bob Dylan mentions Alicia Keys in this song. Keys is a former fellow-resident of Dylan's at Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan. She heard the news of his referencing her from John Mayer, but didn't believe him until he showed up with the CD.
  • In Rolling Stone magazine, Dylan said of Keys: "I remember seeing her on the Grammys. I think I was on the show with her, I didn't meet her or anything. But I said to myself, There's nothing about that girl I don't like."
  • Keys told the Mail on Sunday her reaction when she heard that Dylan had written a song about her: "I was shocked when I heard about that. I think somebody was talking about me to him, and I was in his subconscious mind. After he wrote that song, I started feeling like maybe we did meet - but I know we haven't. I'm trying to think of a comeback line for one of my songs. The problem is, nothing good rhymes with Dylan. And Zimmerman is worse."

Comments: 2

  • George from Vancouver, CanadaInteresting; I never thought Dylan would've gone for electric. . .
  • Kevin from Reading , Pa"Thunder on the Mountain" uses the same melody as Chuck Berry's "Let it Rock." Of course, whereas Chuck got in and out in three verses, Bob uses about eight or ten seemingly unrelated verses to stretch this agreeable rock/shuffle out to about six minutes.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

JJ Burnel of The Stranglers

JJ Burnel of The StranglersSongwriter Interviews

JJ talks about The Stranglers' signature sound - keyboard and bass - which isn't your typical strain of punk rock.

John Doe of X

John Doe of XSongwriter Interviews

With his X-wife Exene, John fronts the band X and writes their songs.

Glen Burtnik

Glen BurtnikSongwriter Interviews

On Glen's résumé: hit songwriter, Facebook dominator, and member of Styx.

Dino Cazares of Fear Factory

Dino Cazares of Fear FactorySongwriter Interviews

The guitarist/songwriter explains how he came up with his signature sound, and deconstructs some classic Fear Factory songs.

George Harrison

George HarrisonFact or Fiction

Did Eric Clapton really steal George's wife? What's the George Harrison-Monty Python connection? Set the record straight with our Fact or Fiction quiz.

Steely Dan

Steely DanFact or Fiction

Did they really trade their guitarist to The Doobie Brothers? Are they named after something naughty? And what's up with the band name?