Bob Dylan / 4:17
Musicians: Bob Dylan: vocals, guitar, harmonica (?); Ron Wood: guitar; Benmont Tench: piano; John Paris: bass; Anton Fig: drums; Carol Dennis, Queen Esther Marrow, and Peggi Blu: backup vocals / Recording Studios: Delta Recording Studio, New York: July 26, 1984; The Power Station, New York (Overdubs January/March 1985); Shakedown Sound Studio, New York (Overdubs March 3, 1985) / Producer: Bob Dylan / Sound Engineers: Judy Feltus (?) (Delta), Josh Abbey (The Power Station), and Arthur Baker (Shakedown) / Remix: Arthur Baker
The story of “Clean Cut Kid” concerns a typical American boy: on the baseball team, went to church on Sunday, drank Coca-Cola, and ate Wonder Bread and at Burger King. Then his life changed radically. In the chorus, Dylan sings, “He was a Clean Cut Kid / But they made a killer out of him.” The songwriter blames the US military or, more precisely, the administration in Washington that sent a generation to fight the Vietnam War. Dylan sings, “They sent him to a napalm health spa to shape up / They gave him dope to smoke, drinks and pills.” He continues, “He bought the American dream but it put him in debt.” The line is scathing and led to long debates. “Clean Cut Kid” has elements of the protest songs from Dylan’s early career.
“Clean Cut Kid” is an outtake from Infidels. The song was left off the album despite several takes on April 14 and 15, 1983. Dylan gave the song to Carla Olson, who included the tune on her debut album Midnight Mission, released in 1984. Dylan rerecorded the song on July 26, 1984, in two takes at the Delta Recording Studio in New York City. The first one was retained. Ron Wood opens with a solo, the Stones guitarist making his second appearance since “Heart of Mine” on Shot of Love. Benmont Tench provides an excellent piano part, and there are warm backup vocals. A harmonica is heard, unfortunately lost in the mix. “Clean Cut Kid” is a rock song that suffers from an impersonal sound. It is hard to find the writer of Highway 61 Revisited in it.