Dylanologist Scott Warmuths Yakuza Baptism of Fire in New Testament Plagiarism: Part 1 of 2

The Dylan cut-and-paste odyssey started with revelation of the source of lines for 2001s Love And Theft. But things have come a long way since then in these Modern Times. But lets briefly revisit that original leak to the media -a website in the first instance actually in the form of the Wall Street Journal, which in fact hijacked the story on the back on the Internet to make it into real news.

July 8, 2003, 12:58 a.m. ET

Did Bob Dylan Lift Lines From Dr. Saga?

Don't Think Twice, It's All Right Is the View of This Japanese Writer

By Jonathan Eig and Sebastian Moffett . . . After learning from a reporter that some of his prose had turned up on Mr. Dylan's album, Dr. Saga, who usually favors opera, bought a copy of the CD. "I like this album," he says. "His lines flow from one image to the next and don't always make sense. But they have a great atmosphere." He says he's pleased that Mr. Dylan read his book -- if, indeed, he did -- and chose to adapt some of the language to fit his songs. Dr. Saga says he has no intention of suing. "I don't want this to become a bad thing," he says. But he would like to see Mr. Dylan acknowledge his source -- perhaps with a note in future editions of the liner notes. "That would be very honorable," the author says. The similarities between the album and the book were first spotted by an American living in Japan. He recently submitted a comparison of the two works to a Web site devoted to Mr. Dylan's music. Soon after the comparison was posted, "Confessions of a Yakuza" jumped more than 20,000 places, to about 45,000 -- on the Amazon.com list of best-selling books. But Dr. Saga's publisher, Kodansha International, with offices in Tokyo, New York and London, says it's too soon to tell whether the controversy will significantly boost sales. "I guess we should print the next edition with Bob Dylan's picture on the cover," says Stephen Shaw, editorial director for Kodansha and the editor of "Confessions." Absent a photo, Mr. Shaw says, the publisher would at least like to have a blurb from Mr. Dylan for the book's jacket. Mr. Shaw says he and other members of the staff at Kodansha were surprised that Mr. Dylan made so little effort to change lines appearing in the book. "It struck me as a little bit lazy," he says. But he doesn't want to make too much of a fuss. "We're flattered as hell, let's face it," Mr. Shaw says. Mr. Dylan's apparent muse might not have been discovered were it not for Chris Johnson, a Minnesota native and Dylan fan who happened upon a copy of "Confessions" while browsing in a bookstore in Fukuoka. He knew little about Japan's seamy side and was glad to find a book on the subject . . .

From the Not Like a Rolling Stone interview, Spin volume one number eight, December 1985 with Scott Cohen
Everything's done for the media. If the media don't know about it, it's not happening. They'll take the littlest thing and make it spectacular. They're in the business of doing that. Everything's a business. Love, truth, beauty. Conversation is a business. Spirituality is not a business, so it's going to go against the grain of people who are trying to exploit other people.

The somewhat later cut-and-paste alchemist (of Henry Rollins within a tumult of other strange names) Scott Warmuth gets ruffled over being conflated with his predecessor Chris Johnson: an amusing little spectacle of selfdeprecating inverted self-aggrandizement. Check out this Tweet from 2012 at https://twitter.com/scottwarmuth1

20 Apr

Scott Warmuth @scottwarmuth1

Rogovoy's "earnest literary archeologist" & his "comparative search on the internet" is invented. http://tinyurl.com/6q6qe39 http://tinyurl.com/6n7r3wo

Here it is:
. . . and, as one particularly earnest literary archaeologist discovered through a comparative search on the Internet, a Japanese crime novel, Confessions of a Yakuza.

Compare Warmuth at Pinterest, http://pinterest.com/scottwarmuth/a-bobdylan-bookshelf/:

"Love and Theft" is chock-full of lines from Confessions of a Yakuza, but every single consideration of how Dylan is using Junichi Saga's work on the album that I have read has been woefully inadequate.

Woefully? Warmuth is starting to sound like a biblical prophet in the form of a balloon that could pop. And he clearly has an axe to grind. So why not grind it himself? Matthew 23:12-14 King James Version (KJV)
12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. 13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. 14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.

Warmuth opened up the door that no man can shut. Jesus seems angry as hell there.

Wall Street Journal:

Mr. Shaw says he and other members of the staff at Kodansha were surprised that Mr. Dylan made so little effort to change lines appearing in the book. "It struck me as a little bit lazy," he says. But he doesn't want to make too much of a fuss. "We're flattered as hell, let's face it," Mr. Shaw says.

Warmuth did a Tweet in 2012, February I think, which went: Im not an apologist for Dylan. I find some of the things he has done to be sloppy and disappointing Note that in the wake of Bob Dylans retort to Mikal Gilmore for Rolling Stone about motherfuckers around September 2012 for a October 2012 print issue (if I can understand the very odd sequencing in relation to the advance dangling of titbits), Warmuth has removed this Tweet. Not that it incriminates him. So then why remove it? Gilmore: . . . but some critics say that you didn't cite your sources clearly. What's your response to those kinds of charges? Dylan: . . . All those evil motherfuckers can rot in hell. Clearly Warmuth was keen to do a bit of housekeeping to cover his tracks or should that be ass? Just to look squeaky clean. The Tweet above that I havent reproduced in Tweet form I did not save a copy of; it doesnt normally occur to me to save peoples Tweets. But it occurred to me, after observation of his modus operandi, Warmuth was a special case. Evidence of the smoking gun that no DA could now produce? Only these two Tweets, which, if you go to Warmuths Twitter (of which I am not really a follower as I dont keep up with his news in that not-a-moment-to-lose kind of way), you will find he has also removed:

5 Feb

Jeremy Duns @jeremyduns

@scottwarmuth1 I note on your blog an anonymous commenter says he has been doing this since the 70s. That's deeply shocking if true.

5 Feb

Scott Warmuth @scottwarmuth1

@jeremyduns The "anonymous commenter" talks a good game but has yet to pony up with the goods. 3:58 PM - 5 Feb 12 via web

And this of course tells a story. I quoted those two Tweets in my uploaded article: Seventies-Dylan Cut-and-Paste Plagiarized from Jacques Levys Secret Desire Notebook: Realize the Increasing Danger of Unauthorized Tomb Plundering on the Muddiest Superhighway in the Universe Heres a Tweet that Warmuth hasnt removed to date:

5 Apr

Scott Warmuth @scottwarmuth1

Showing that Bob Dylan was falsely accused in one count of a high-profile lyric theft case would incriminate him in a string of other thefts

At his Pinterest site Warmuth gratuitously quotes John Gibbens on himself http://pinterest.com/scottwarmuth/a-bob-dylan-bookshelf/
"Though it was puffed up into one, this was never actually intended as an accusation of plagiarism by Scott Warmuth, the man who first posted it on the internet. He was just pointing out that too many phrases from the new songs found echoes in Timrods poetry, especially A Rhapsody of a Southern Winter Night, for Dylan not to have been reading it." - John Gibbens on Modern Times

Too many for what? Do not plagiarism and too many go well together when uttered from the same snout of a confident hunter with a dont-give-a-damn Van Ronk-like attitude standing on his Londonian hind legs parading indifference to others plagiarism-mongering on the back of his own findings? John Gibbens at http://www.touched.co.uk/press/moderntimes.html
Another twist of the Timrod tale is what it reveals about Modern Times and modern conditions. Scott Warmuth traced the allusion by putting Dylans phrase frailer than the flowers into Google. The point about Dylans plundering of old lyrics is that information technology makes it transparent.

As transparent as the Locarno epiphany. And more blander than the sand -sometimes. Warmuth established his rule, sometime in the wake of Chris Johnson -around 2006 it would seem but I wasnt paying attention (to that) at the time -with civil war, the Civil War, courtesy of one Henry Timrod (of whom I at least am happy to admit to never having heard). But Im gonna baptize Warmuths interpretation, or rather appreciation, of Love And Theft with fire as Robin Darkbloom already did because Warmuth, flattered as hell (or heaven?), approved posting of a comment containing the essence of it on his blog before he even started up his recent Pinterest site. Summer Days:

Well, Im leaving in the morning as soon as the dark clouds lift Yes, Im leaving in the morning just as soon as the dark clouds lift Gonna break the roof inset fire to the place as a parting gift

Break the roof in! he yelled . . . (He) splashed kerosene over the floor and led a fuse from it outside." (Confessions page 63) John 14 King James Version
1Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. . . . 16And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; . . . 18I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

Luke 24
49And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

Acts 2
1And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.

Bye And Bye:

Papa gone mad, mamma, shes feeling sad Im gonna baptize you in fire so you can sin no more Im gonna establish my rule through civil war Gonna make you see just how loyal and true a man can be

In this obvious context of war, Dylan only alludes to the term baptism of fire, which fits while absent, having tweaked it to mean the baptism of the fiery Holy Spirit in the New Testament which must always be preceded by plain repentance from sins. Not that it requires publishing a piece on this to have noted it. Lonesome Day Blues:

I'm gonna spare the defeated - I'm gonna speak to the crowd I'm gonna spare the defeated, boys, I'm going to speak to the crowd I am goin' to teach peace to the conquered I'm gonna tame the proud

The parting gift: a great favourite of evangelical Christians but in this particular case perhaps a little too subtle for the apologists who devote themselves to proving Dylan is still a Christian by collating proof texts? Or maybe not. The code in the lyrics. Code in the lyrics is a term Dylan used in a 1978 Rolling Stone interview (published 16 November) with Jonathan Cott of the influence he attributed to his art teacher Norman Raeben in Blood on the Tracks.
Everybody agrees that that was pretty different, and whats different about it is theres a code in the lyrics and also theres no sense of time.

Break the roof in? The upper room as traditionally, if not necessarily entirely accurately, referred to by Christians as the place where the Spirit was given at Pentecost. You may have seen Christian coffee shops and the like called The Upper Room (maybe in a basement?). Luke 22 King James Version (KJV)
22 Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover. And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people. Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve. And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them.
5 4 3 2

And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money.

And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude.
7

Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed.

And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat. And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare?

10

And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in.

And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?
12

11

And he shall shew you a large upper room furnished: there make ready.

And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.
14

13

And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him.

Acts 1 King James Version (KJV)

1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
2

Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
5

For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey.
12 11 10

13

And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.

High Water (For Charley Patton)

High water risinrisin night and day All the gold and silver are bein' stolen away Big Joe Turner lookin east and west From the dark room of his mind He made it to Kansas City Twelfth Street and Vine Nothin' standing there High water everywhere

Twelve apostles. Dylan did a similar thing on Infidels in Union Sundown:

All the furniture, it says "Made in Brazil" Where a woman, she slaved for sure Bringin' home thirty cents a day to a family of twelve, You know, that's a lot of money to her.

How many sons did Jacob have: before they were scattered? That thirty-cent reference is just in case you did not catch the shirt and thirty cents in the first verse: By a guy makin thirty cents a day. No money down for Knocked Out Loaded. John 15:1-3 New International Version - UK (NIVUK) The vine and the branches
15 I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.

John 15:1-3 King James Version (KJV)

15 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

John 15:4-6 King James Version (KJV)

4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

But this is not altar call, or even a sermon but it might be an alter call. So for further drainpipe-sniffing details and obsessing over geography or existence of the the upper room: http://www.askelm.com/news/n051012.htm
The Upper Room Commentary for October 12, 2005 Where Was It? Question: I was wondering if you have run across any historical indications as to where in Jerusalem was the upper room where Jesus kept His last Passover? City of David? Tryophean valley (where the poor resided)? or the Upper City (SW hill)? Answer: First of all whenever you have a question like this, go to the Advanced Search on the ASK Website and type in (with quote marks) "Upper Room" and it will yield all (if any) references in the ASK articles dealing with that subject. From there you can go to the biblical references. The answers to your questions are both complex and inconclusive.

[SNIP]
Were They the Same Room? My best-guess answers to your questions are these: While it is stated that the room in both Mark 14:15 and Luke 22:12 was large, remember that the room in Acts 1:13 held 120 disciples, meaning that it was also a large room. This is the primary reason why I identify these as being the same room in all the passages in Mark, Luke, John, and Acts. This is in accord with what most commentators have concluded. The location was close to the Temple, likely in the poorer section of Jerusalem just west and a bit south of the Temple, itself west of the Gihon on the top of Mount Zion (not the location of the Haram esh-Sharif). Even poor areas have gathering rooms or halls for weddings, celebrations, meetings, etc. It was likely on the western slope of the Tyropean Valley. Although Scripture does not always fill in details to our satisfaction, it is stunningly consistent in its information. David Sielaff

Personally, I am weary of the evangelicals glib and unsubtle Our Lordy quoting-mining of proof texts of Dylans continued Christian faith.

What interests me is alchemy, the alchemy of disappointingly sloppy and lazy cut-and-paste. Try Mr Goldsmith? The King James Bible is public domain; Confessions of a Yakuza happens not to be. So here I can only loosely paraphrase a few lines from that as a parting gift. Just like baptism of fire.
I am goin' to teach peace to the conquered I'm gonna tame the proud

Wall Street Journal:

He's like "some very imaginative sponge," says Christopher Ricks, a professor of humanities at Boston University, who has lectured on Mr. Dylan's works. Usually, says Mr. Ricks, Mr. Dylan's sponging is a healthy part of the creative process. The songwriter takes a few words, twists them, changes their context, and produces an entirely new work of art.

Hmm, very sloppy! As for Warmuth standing up on his Londonian hind legs casually crying detachment, whats stopping him from extending his rule through Timrodian Civil War backwards in time from Modern Times (2006) to Love And Theft (2001)? So far the inconsistencies and kinks in Warmuths somewhat slippery modus operandi can come across as sloppy and quite frankly disappointing all of which leaves his paradoxically casual hind-leg stance at times looking, dare I say, woefully inadequate. I have a part two almost ready. But who cares? Only Im reading. 2012 Paul Kirkman http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/2012/s12090110.htm
Dr. Bradfords research found that Dylan made extensive indirect references to the Bible, and particularly the Song of Songs and to the Book of Revelation. This use of allegory began after the singer was given an ultimatum by Colombia Records that prohibited his publication of further explicitly religious material. Dylans subsequent album, tellingly entitled Infidels, began a journey into Christian allegory in the footsteps of authors such as C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, allowing Dylan to express his faith less directly via song-parables and the creative re-working of Scripture into his lyrics. Because serious Christian review of Dylan's lyrics ceased at the end of his so-called 'Christian period' in 1981, the Scripture-based lyrical content went largely unnoticed until Dr. Bradfords work was published last year.

Hilarious! Paul Kirkman