Oxford Town by Bob Dylan

1962

James Meredith Enrolment into University

Mississippi

1st October. 1962

James Meredith was the first black student in America to be enrolled into the racially segregated University of Mississippi. He was denied admission twice, however riled a court case against them stating that the University only rejected him due to his race. After several back and forths with the government, he was eventually enrolled.

Oxford Town by Bob Dylan was written as a response to the enrolment of James Meredith in University.

Listen to Oxford Town

By Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan · Oxford Town
Artist Bob Dylan
Release Date 1963
Album The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
Label Columbia Records
Genre Folk
Producer(s) Bob Dylan
Writer(s) Bob Dylan
Duration 1:50
Language English
Country USA

Ev’rybody’s got their heads bowed down
The sun don’t shine above the ground
Ain’t a-goin’ down to Oxford Town
He went down to Oxford Town
Guns and clubs followed him down
All because his face was brown
Better get away from Oxford Town
Oxford Town around the bend

What do you think about that, my frien’?
Me and my gal, my gal’s son
We got met with a tear gas bomb
I don’t even know why we come
Goin’ back where we come from
Oxford Town in the afternoon
Ev’rybody singin’ a sorrowful tune
Two men died ’neath the Mississippi moon
Somebody better investigate soon
Oxford Town, Oxford Town
Ev’rybody’s got their heads bowed down
The sun don’t shine above the ground
Ain’t a-goin’ down to Oxford Town

About Oxford Town:

Dylan Recorded Oxford Town as a response to a competition in Broadside Magazine Issue 14. There was an invitation for composers to write a song about James Meredith's enrolment into the University of Mississippi (see image below).

Bibliography and more sources here