Audio Example 9.1:

"Lord Randal" and "Hard Rain" compared

In this clip we hear three versions of the first line of "Lord Randal"—sung by Burl Ives, Ewan MacColl, and Jean Ritchie—followed by the first line of "Hard Rain." The melodic differences are striking. Note especially the play of rising and falling in the "Lord Randal" lines, vs. the compact descent in Dylan's tune, which lends it an ear-catching concision.