Bob Dylan – Lakes of Pontchartrain (Rare Acoustic Performance, Madrid 1989)

Do you know this side of Bob Dylan? “Lakes of Pontchartrain” is not a Dylan composition, but its storytelling feels completely at home in his world. It is a beautifully written romantic ballad about a journey, a chance encounter and a love that cannot be fulfilled. Although the song originated in America, it found a second life in Irish folk music. Paul Brady’s haunting interpretation became one of its defining versions. Brady later recalled showing Dylan how to play the song when they met in 1984. This intimate performance was recorded at the Palacio de Deportes in Madrid on June 15, 1989. Accompanied by G.E. Smith on guitar, Dylan needs very little to bring the story to life. His voice, timing and phrasing give the old ballad a character that is unmistakably his own. Dylan performed “Lakes of Pontchartrain” only rarely. His official concert archive lists just nineteen performances. After disappearing from his concerts in 1991, the song unexpectedly returned in Killarney, Ireland, in November 2025—more than 34 years later. Enjoy! Subscribe for more videos like this:    / @dylan-only-vocals