In light of the fact that it is Robert Zimmerman’s 81st birthday in a few days (May 24), I thought I’d post one of my favorite covers of one of my favorite Dylan songs—”Girl from the North Country”. Oscar Wilde recycled a proverb dating back to the early 1700’s but reshaped it a bit. He repeated the original adage, “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery”—then added—”that mediocrity can pay to greatness.” He takes what once was a compliment and turns it into a cheeky derisive slight and in so doing avoids being a target of his own insult. Acerbic but clever. So it’s kudos to the innovator and ouch to the imitator!

But maybe he has a point. Maybe what he objects to is mimicry because it’s lazy and therefore mediocre. Transposing another person’s piece of music or song—as opposed to imitating it— takes creativity and nerve. As long as it is done from a place of respect and sincerity, most artists are, in fact, honored when people cover their song, and I suspect especially when the emulator puts his or her own spin on it. Dylan’s songs have been covered by over 6,000 different artists. That’s either a lot of flattery from mediocre musicians and singers or a whole lot of compliments from creative and bold musicians or both.

Though not my reason for posting this cover of Dylan’s song (it wasn’t a setup to make a point), it does remind me of a particular bias I have, namely, despite a Kempis and others who have eloquently written and spoken of imitating Christ (imitatio Christi), I believe a better way to think of the Christ-life is not as imitating Jesus which can be reduced to wooden mimicry but rather to transposing Jesus the way a great jazz pianist plays a famous piece of music—not striving to get every note just right, exactly how the original artist had it, but rather to play it with soul and offer our rendition of it. After all, isn’t that why we have Benedictine spirituality, Ignatian spirituality, Franciscan spirituality, Carmelite spirituality, Wesleyan and Quaker and Liberation and Womanist and Black and Monastic and Kenotic spirituality, etc. (apologies if your spirituality isn’t named here)—they are just different expressions of the one, same Christ-life and no one is more correct or accurate than the other.

Transposing Christ in 2022 is not like painting the Mona Lisa by numbers in a coloring book. It’s more like painting in the style of Jackson Pollock with our own unique passion, spirit, freedom, consciousness, and intention. We’re not trying to get it just right—drip by drop by drip when we live the Christ-life. We’re not trying to flatter or impress or admire Jesus. We’re trying to live in and with his Spirit. We’re trying to participate in the dream of God called the reign of God (basileia tou Theou) announced and embodied by Jesus. Just put all your heart into it and don’t be afraid to color outside the lines. After all, JESUS DID.

Here’s a beautiful transposition of Bob Dylan’s “Girl from the North Country” by Lisa Hannigan and Loah at a Tribute in Ireland last May to Dylan and his work. Enjoy.

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ARTWORK: Gary Kroman –> here. 

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