Who Killed Davey Moore
Encyclopedia
Who Killed Davey Moore was a topical song written in 1963 by American folk singer/songwriter Bob Dylan
. Though the song was not commercially released on Dylan's several studio albums in the 60s, it was popular in his repertoire for live shows during that era. It would later be released on The Bootleg Series Volumes 1–3 (Rare & Unreleased) 1961–1991 in 1991, and on The Bootleg Series Vol. 6: Bob Dylan Live 1964, Concert at Philharmonic Hall
, released in 2004.
. Moore held the title for 4 years and 3 days, defending it 5 times before losing it to Cuban Sugar Ramos
on March 21, 1963. During the fight with Ramos in Dodgers Stadium Moore was knocked down into the ropes during the 10th round. Moore lost by technical knockout at the end of the 10th round and Ramos took the title. Moore walked back to his dressing room and conducted post-fight interviews, stating his desire to fight Ramos again and regain the title. After reporters left he complained of headaches and fell unconscious. He was taken to White Memorial Hospital where he was diagnosed with inoperable brain damage. Moore never regained consciousness and died as a result of the affliction on March 25, 1963.
' song Davey Moore offered a harsh criticism of the sport and those affiliated with it. However Dylan's song delivered a more indirect message and a message that transcended the arena of boxing to include the enveloping society. In his typically ironic fashion, when Dylan introduced Who Killed Davey Moore during his October 31, 1964 show, he addressed the crowd-
"This a song about a boxer...
It's got nothing to do with boxing, it's just a song about a boxer really.
And, uh, it's not even having to do with a boxer, really.
It's got nothing to do with nothing.
But I fit all these words together...
that's all...
It's taken directly from the newspapers,
Nothing's been changed...
Except for the words."
. As Dylan takes the perspective of the referee, the crowd, the manager, the gambling man, the boxing writer, and Sugar Ramos he ends each line in the first person with the refrain
It wasn't me that made him fall.
No, you can't blame me at all.
Before the chorus, from most likely an objective voice
Who killed Davey Moore,
Why and what's the reason for?
In each verse, the defensive party gives their the reasons why they are free from culpability. The sum total of their arguments implies that the blame belongs to them all- the constituent parts of the boxing industry. In the final verse, Sugar Ramos- the man whose fists, laid him in a cloud of mist- concludes his defense- it was God's will. These were the words of Moore's wife Geraldine on learning of her husband's death.
Pete Seeger sang the song in 1963 at the "We Shall Overcome" concert at Carnegie Hall (and covered it on his 1963 Broadside Ballads album), in a minor key, inserting the words in the refrain: "How come he died and what's the reason for?".
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
. Though the song was not commercially released on Dylan's several studio albums in the 60s, it was popular in his repertoire for live shows during that era. It would later be released on The Bootleg Series Volumes 1–3 (Rare & Unreleased) 1961–1991 in 1991, and on The Bootleg Series Vol. 6: Bob Dylan Live 1964, Concert at Philharmonic Hall
The Bootleg Series Vol. 6: Bob Dylan Live 1964, Concert at Philharmonic Hall
The Bootleg Series Vol. 6: Bob Dylan Live 1964, Concert at Philharmonic Hall is a complete recording of Bob Dylan's October 31, 1964 "Halloween" show at New York's Philharmonic Hall. It was released in 2004....
, released in 2004.
Background
Davey Moore was an American boxer whose career spanned from 1953-1963. (A second boxer named Davey Moore also competed in the 1980s.) Known as 'The Little Giant', Moore stood at only 5 feet and 2 inches. On March 18, 1959 Moore won the World Featherweight Title from Hogan BasseyHogan Bassey
Hogan "Kid" Bassey MBE was Nigeria's first world boxing champion. He was born Okun Asuguo Bassey on the banks of the Cross River in Creek Town, Calabar, Nigeria. He took the name Hogan Kid Bassey when he turned professional as a boxer...
. Moore held the title for 4 years and 3 days, defending it 5 times before losing it to Cuban Sugar Ramos
Sugar Ramos
Ultiminio Ramos is a Cuban-Mexican boxer who is better known as Sugar Ramos. Ramos fought out of Mexico where he was adopted as a national hero...
on March 21, 1963. During the fight with Ramos in Dodgers Stadium Moore was knocked down into the ropes during the 10th round. Moore lost by technical knockout at the end of the 10th round and Ramos took the title. Moore walked back to his dressing room and conducted post-fight interviews, stating his desire to fight Ramos again and regain the title. After reporters left he complained of headaches and fell unconscious. He was taken to White Memorial Hospital where he was diagnosed with inoperable brain damage. Moore never regained consciousness and died as a result of the affliction on March 25, 1963.
Criticism of Boxing
Following Moore's death, the morality of Boxing was debated by politicians and religious leaders alike. Folksinger Phil OchsPhil Ochs
Philip David Ochs was an American protest singer and songwriter who was known for his sharp wit, sardonic humor, earnest humanism, political activism, insightful and alliterative lyrics, and haunting voice...
' song Davey Moore offered a harsh criticism of the sport and those affiliated with it. However Dylan's song delivered a more indirect message and a message that transcended the arena of boxing to include the enveloping society. In his typically ironic fashion, when Dylan introduced Who Killed Davey Moore during his October 31, 1964 show, he addressed the crowd-
"This a song about a boxer...
It's got nothing to do with boxing, it's just a song about a boxer really.
And, uh, it's not even having to do with a boxer, really.
It's got nothing to do with nothing.
But I fit all these words together...
that's all...
It's taken directly from the newspapers,
Nothing's been changed...
Except for the words."
Song Structure and Implications
Dylan's song borrows the structure of the children's rhyme Cock RobinCock Robin
"Who Killed Cock Robin" is an English nursery rhyme, which has been much used as a murder archetype in world culture. It has a Roud Folk Song Index number of 494.-Lyrics:...
. As Dylan takes the perspective of the referee, the crowd, the manager, the gambling man, the boxing writer, and Sugar Ramos he ends each line in the first person with the refrain
It wasn't me that made him fall.
No, you can't blame me at all.
Before the chorus, from most likely an objective voice
Who killed Davey Moore,
Why and what's the reason for?
In each verse, the defensive party gives their the reasons why they are free from culpability. The sum total of their arguments implies that the blame belongs to them all- the constituent parts of the boxing industry. In the final verse, Sugar Ramos- the man whose fists, laid him in a cloud of mist- concludes his defense- it was God's will. These were the words of Moore's wife Geraldine on learning of her husband's death.
Pete Seeger sang the song in 1963 at the "We Shall Overcome" concert at Carnegie Hall (and covered it on his 1963 Broadside Ballads album), in a minor key, inserting the words in the refrain: "How come he died and what's the reason for?".