A quick search would reveal that a good chunk of popular tracks took inspiration from hit films, and Bob Dylan developed a popular early ’60s track based on an Alfred Hitchcock classic.
In June 1964, Dylan released “Motorpsycho Nitemare” (also known as “Motorpsycho Nightmare”) four years after the release of Hitchcock’s horror cinema staple, Psycho. The 1960 film was based on the 1959 novel by Robert Bloch and starred Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, Vera Miles, John Gavin, and Martin Balsam. It’s considered one of the best movies of all time by Rotten Tomatoes and multiple publications.
According to reports, Dylan wrote the track inspired by the film, as well as Federico Fellini‘s 1960 film La Dolce Vita. Unlike Hitchcock’s, Fellini’s is a satirical comedy-drama about a tabloid journalist roaming through Rome looking for love and happiness.
Dylan has never actually discussed why Psycho and La Dolce Vita became the inspiration for “Motorpsycho Nitemare,” but its lyrics make clear references to the films. The lyrics parody the storyline that occurs in the horror film, talking about a salesman looking for a place to stay after hours on the road.
He’s soon lured to a farmhouse where he convinces the owner he’s not a salesman, but a doctor. There’s one rule: he can’t touch the farmer’s daughter. Anyone who has seen the film can guess what occurs when the daughter sneaks into his room at night, as Dylan sings, “lookin’ just like Tony Perkins.”
“Motorpsycho Nitemare” goes on with Dylan narrating that the daughter offers to shower with him, but knowing exactly where the scenario leads next. “Oh, no, no, I’ve been through this movie before,” sings Dylan, in reference to the iconic Psycho scene where Marion Crane (Leigh) gets stabbed to death.
The films weren’t the only thing that inspired Dylan at the time to write the track. He developed it during the height of the Cold War, when Soviet communism was seen as a threat to the U.S. The narrator in the song tries to escape the farm and yells the only thing he can think of: “I like Fidel Castro and his beard!”
Dylan’s song never entered the charts, as it was released as part of his fourth studio album, Another Side of Bob Dylan. Its inspiration behind the lyrics still made it a rock classic, even named by Collider as one of the best inspired by film.
Related: 1970 Bloodrock Hit, Written by a 27-Year-Old About a Plane Crash, Named One of the Most Truly Terrifying Songs of All Time
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