| "Temporary Like Achilles" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Bob Dylan | |
| from the album Blonde on Blonde | |
| Released | June 20, 1966 |
| Recorded | March 9, 1966 |
| Studio | Columbia A, Nashville, Tennessee |
| Genre | Blues |
| Length | 5:03 |
| Label | Columbia |
| Songwriter(s) | Bob Dylan |
| Producer(s) | Bob Johnston |
| Audio | |
| "Temporary Like Achilles" on YouTube | |
"Temporary Like Achilles" is a song by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan that was released on side three of his double album, Blonde on Blonde (1966).[a] The song was written by Dylan, and produced by Bob Johnston. It was recorded at Columbia Studio A, Nashville, Tennessee on March 9, 1966. The song is a blues number that incorporates elements of Dylan's incomplete "Medicine Sunday", which he had recorded with members of the Band in New York in October 1965. The song describes a narrator's frustration at being kept waiting by a woman that he wishes to be romantically involved with, who is guarded by "Achilles". Some critics have suggested that the song references the Iliad.
The song has received acclaim from critics for its lyrics and musicianship. A different take was included on The Bootleg Series Vol. 12: The Cutting Edge 1965–1966 (2015). A version of "Medicine Sunday" was issued on the Highway 61 Interactive interactive CD-ROM in 1995. As of November 2022, Dylan has never played "Temporary Like Achilles" live in concert.
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