Bob Dylan - Mozambique Lyrics

Frequently Asked Questions

1. When was the song 'Mozambique' released?

   'Mozambique' was released as a single on February 17, 1976, with 'Oh, Sister' as its B-side. It is also part of Bob Dylan's album 'Desire,' which was released on January 5, 1976.

2. Who co-wrote 'Mozambique' with Bob Dylan?

   Bob Dylan co-wrote 'Mozambique' with lyricist Jacques Levy. Levy is credited with co-writing seven of the nine tracks on the album 'Desire.'

3. What instruments stand out in the song 'Mozambique'?

   'Mozambique' features notable harmony vocals by Emmylou Harris and prominent violin parts played by Scarlet Rivera. Dylan asked Rivera to join him after seeing her with a violin case, and her violin contributions are significant throughout the track.

4. Was there any controversy associated with 'Mozambique'?

   Yes, some listeners misinterpreted 'Mozambique' as a statement supporting the communist rebels in Mozambique, which gained independence from Portugal shortly before the song's release. However, the song's lyrics mainly depict an idyllic vision of a romantic getaway, not a political statement.

5. What inspired Bob Dylan and Jacques Levy to choose 'Mozambique' as the song's subject?

   According to a 2016 piece in The Daily Beast, Dylan and Levy chose Mozambique because they wanted to see how many rhymes they could come up with ending in '-ique.' The song was initially intended to be about Marseille, France.

6. How did critics respond to 'Mozambique'?

   Critics had mixed reactions to 'Mozambique.' While Robert Shelton and others praised its playful melody and Scarlet Rivera's violin playing, some like Clinton Heylin considered it a weaker song on the album 'Desire.'