Daddy's in the alley...

"The sweet pretty things are in bed now of course, The city fathers they're trying to endorse, The reincarnation of Paul Revere's horse, But the town has no need to be nervous,"

Or do they?...



James Madison was born in Virginia on March 16, 1751 and died June 28, 1836. In addition to serving in the first through fourth Congresses, he was also the fourth president of the United States of America (1809-1817). And, in the fourth grade, I had to do a report about James Madison.

Madison is often referred to as "The father of the Constitution" because he was a key figure in the drafting and ratification of the U.S. Constitution. He was also the author of the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, otherwise known as the Bill of Rights.

Amendments five through nine of the Bill of Rights are as follows:

Amendment V No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation. Amendment VI In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense. Amendment VII In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law. Amendment VIII Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. Amendment IX The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

It seems to me that all too often there are those who can't help but construe the Bill of Rights to "deny and disparage others retained by the people."

The Commander-in-Chief answers him while chasing a fly Saying, "Death to all those who would whimper and cry," And dropping a bar bell he points to the sky, Saying, 'The sun's not yellow it's chicken,"

The second amendment states that, "A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed."

Hmm...maybe that's why, "Daddy's in the alley, he's looking for the fuse,"

James Madison: a founding father...who this week must be rolling in his grave...

...and "I'm in the streets with the tombstone blues."

He's not too fancy, But his line is pretty clean , He ain't no drag, Papa's got a brand new bag,

James Madison completed his university education at the College of New Jersey. The College of New Jersey would eventually become Princeton University. Madison finished his four year degree in only two years. Obviously James Madison was a hard working man. So, it's only natural that after discussing James Madison I should mention another James. James Brown, to be exact...



James Brown...besides being the hardest working man in show business, he's also the godfather of soul.

"Precious father, loving mother, Glide across the lonely years, And old homes scenes of my childhood, In fond memory appears,"

Bob Dylan's father was born October 19, 1911. His name was Abe Zimmerman and he was the son of Zigman and Anna Zimmerman. Anna and Zigman were immigrants from the city of Odessa, which is located on the Black Sea in the Ukraine.

Abe Zimmerman took a job with Standard Oil in Duluth, MN shortly after he graduated from high school in 1929. He was still working there when his first child was born. Abram Zimmerman and his wife Beatrice gave their first born son two names - Robert Allen Zimmerman was one of them. The other was a Hebrew name - Shabtai Zisel ben Avraham.

In 1946 Abe Zimmerman contracted polio. The disease crippled him for life:

After a week in the hospital he came home and crawled up the front steps of the house "like an ape," as he described it. He stayed home for six months, and then lost his job at Standard Oil. Although Abe suffered his misfortunes manfully, the illness had a marked effect. He had been an active, even athletic young man. Now he had to learn to walk again. "My father never walked right again and suffered much pain his whole life," said Bob. "I never understood this until much later but it must have been hard for him." Without work, short of money, and needing relatives around to help them, the Zimmermans moved to Hibbing, where Beatty's family lived and where two of Abe's brothers ran a business. Down the Highway: The Life of Bob Dylan By Howard Sounes

Abe would eventually join his brothers Maurice and Paul, who owned a business that offered electrical repair services and sold electric appliances in Hibbing, MN.

When Bob was a child he wrote the following poem for his father:

This present is for my dad alone To use when playing golf or sitting home. He can use them after supper, or when riding in the car, He can use them when relaxing or taking a trip far, I know my dad is the best in the world. Worth more to me than every diamond and peril (sic) Though it's hard for him to believe That I try each day to please him in every little way, When sometimes he gets real mad at me I think it best to keep quiet so that he doesn't get more angry. I keep his picture on my desk, And also his handball medal above all the rest. I'm very lucky to have a Dad this good And if all the other kids only could, You just can't beat him at any cost. And without my dad, I'd be very lost. Happy Father's Day... Love, Bobby

Bob Dylan's father died of a massive heart attack in the spring of 1968. He was only 56.

"I can still see them playin' with their pails in the sand, They run to the water their buckets to fill. I can still see the shells fallin' out of their hands As they follow each other back up the hill"

A few years before Abe Zimmerman died Bob Dylan married Sara Lownds. He had four children by her before they divorced in 1977. Their names are Jesse, Anna, Samuel, and Jakob. Dylan also adopted Sara's first child from a previous marriage. Her name is Maria. In the late sixties Dylan took a break from being Bob Dylan the rock star to become Bob Dylan the father. The following pictures were taken during this time:





My father, my grandfathers, and my brother. All great fathers.










































Father is the topic of conversation at Theme Time Radio this week...with your host Bob Dylan. Every Monday at zootdaze.com.