Editing Desolation Row (section)

== Other renditions ==
=== My Chemical Romance ===
{{Infobox song
| name       = Desolation Row
| cover      =
| alt        =
| type       = single
| artist     = [[My Chemical Romance]]
| album      = [[Watchmen: Music from the Motion Picture]]
| released   = {{Start date|2009|01|26}}
| recorded   = 2008
| studio     =
| genre      = [[Punk rock]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=My Chemical Romance "Desolation Row" |url=http://www.mtvu.com/music/music-blog/my-chemical-romance-one-of-the-best-punk-bands-in-the-business/publisher=MTVU |website=MTVU |access-date=January 18, 2017 |archive-date=July 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230717212939/https://www.mtv.com/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
| length     = 3:01
| label      = [[Reprise Records|Reprise]], [[Warner Sunset Records|Warne Sunset]]
| writer     = [[Bob Dylan]]
| producer   = My Chemical Romance
| prev_title = [[Teenagers (song)|Teenagers]]
| prev_year  = 2007
| next_title = [[Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na)]]
| next_year  = 2010
}}

[[My Chemical Romance]] recorded a cover of "Desolation Row"<ref>{{Cite web |title=My Chemical Romance video for Desolation Row |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9VaVukLtfg |access-date=June 28, 2009 |publisher=Youtube |archive-date=June 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140626074029/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9VaVukLtfg |url-status=live}}</ref> for the 2009 soundtrack of the film ''[[Watchmen (2009 film)|Watchmen]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=My Chemical Romance Release Bob Dylan Cover Next Month |url=http://www2.kerrang.com/2009/01/my_chemical_romance_release_bo.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090821035020/http://www2.kerrang.com/2009/01/my_chemical_romance_release_bo.html |archive-date=August 21, 2009 |access-date=June 16, 2009 |publisher=Kerrang}}</ref> The song peaked at number 20 on the [[Billboard (magazine)|''Billboard'']] [[Alternative Songs|Modern Rock Tracks]] in March 2009.<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=Artist Chart History – My Chemical Romance |url={{BillboardURLbyName |artist=my chemical romance |chart=all}} |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=June 16, 2009}}</ref> The first chapter of [[Watchmen|the comic on which the film is based]] ("At Midnight All the Agents") takes its name from a line in the song. This line is also quoted at the end of the chapter.

The music video for My Chemical Romance's version was directed by [[Zack Snyder]], who also directed the ''Watchmen'' film and, as a result, features similar effects to that of the film, though no actual footage of the film appears. It features the band playing in an old-school punk arena, with visual similarities to the "Pale Horse" concert referenced in the graphic novel. The show is sold out yet more fans want in. A riot ensues as the band plays. The police arrive but are powerless to control the crowd in the venue and outside. A SWAT team arrives, arrests the band, and disperses the rioters.

Throughout the video, multiple elements of ''Watchmen'' imagery are seen, such as [[Rorschach (character)|Rorschach]]'s mask and [[Comedian (character)|The Comedian]]'s smiley face button. The pink elephant balloon from both the comic and the film is also seen at the beginning of the video.

The band also are shown playing punk-esque instruments such as a [[Fender Stratocaster]], [[Epiphone Les Paul]], and [[Fender Precision Bass]], all finished in black and covered in spray paint, warnings, etc.

The song marks the last music video appearance of [[Bob Bryar]] before his departure from the band in 2010, although he would be featured again in the songs of the ''[[Conventional Weapons]]'' compilation album.

==== Charts ====
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+Chart performance for "Desolation Row"
|-
! scope="col" | Chart (2009)
! scope="col" | Peak<br /> position
|-
! scope="row" |Canadian Digital Song Sales (''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'')<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=My Chemical Romance Chart History: Canadian Digital Songs Sales |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/my-chemical-romance/chart-history/cns/ |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=April 20, 2021}}</ref>
|align="center"|69
|-
! scope="row"| Japan ([[Japan Hot 100]])<ref>{{Cite web |title=Billboard Japan Hot 100 – Week of March 18, 2009 |url=https://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=hot100&year=2009&month=03&day=23 |website=[[Billboard Japan]] |language=ja |access-date=May 10, 2025}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center" | 52
|-
! scope="row"| [[Mexico Airplay]] (''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'')<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=My Chemical Romance Chart History: Mexico Ingles Airplay |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/my-chemical-romance/chart-history/min/ |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=April 20, 2021}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center" | 22
|-
{{single chart|Scotland|18|date=20090215|rowheader=true|access-date=May 10, 2025}}
|-
{{single chart|UK|52|date=20090215|rowheader=true|access-date=May 10, 2025}}
|-
{{single chart|UKrock|1|date=20090215|rowheader=true|access-date=April 20, 2021}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardalternativesongs|20|artist=My Chemical Romance|rowheader=true|access-date=April 20, 2021}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardbubbling100|7|artist=My Chemical Romance|rowheader=true|accessdate=April 20, 2021}}
|}

=== Other cover versions ===
The [[Grateful Dead]] performed a version of "Desolation Row" from the mid-1980s onwards.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grateful Dead Desolation Row |url=https://www.dead.net/song/desolation-row |website=Grateful Dead |date=March 21, 2007 |access-date=November 20, 2019 |archive-date=June 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190602190421/https://www.dead.net/song/desolation-row |url-status=live}}</ref> The song is included on their 2002 release ''[[Postcards of the Hanging]]'', the album name alluding to the lyrics of "Desolation Row". The album features a recording from March 24, 1990, at the Knickerbocker Arena in [[Albany, New York]]. The song was frequently abbreviated in Dead set lists to "D-Row."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grateful Dead Greatest Stories Ever Told – "Desolation Row" |url=https://www.dead.net/features/greatest-stories-ever-told/greatest-stories-ever-told-desolation-row |access-date=January 5, 2021 |website=Grateful Dead |date=October 23, 2014 |language=en |archive-date=January 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210117061022/https://www.dead.net/features/greatest-stories-ever-told/greatest-stories-ever-told-desolation-row |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Chris Smither]] recorded the song on his 2003 album ''[[Train Home (Chris Smither album)|Train Home]]'' with [[Bonnie Raitt]] providing backup on vocals and slide guitar.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Choates |first=Rick |year=2003 |title=Chris Smither's Long Train Home |url=http://www.northernexpress.com/editorial/music.asp?id=174 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070217113701/http://www.northernexpress.com/editorial/music.asp?id=174 |archive-date=February 17, 2007 |access-date=January 1, 2009 |publisher=Northern Express}}</ref> It has also been recorded by [[Robyn Hitchcock]] on the album ''[[Robyn Sings]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Downing |first=Brian |title=Robin Sings: Review |url=http://allmusic.com/album/robyn-sings-r614586 |access-date=March 2, 2011 |website=Allmusic |archive-date=January 29, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110129031304/http://www.allmusic.com/album/robyn-sings-r614586 |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Old 97's]] singer [[Rhett Miller]] borrowed "Desolation Row"'s melody for a new song, "Champaign, Illinois". It was recorded with Dylan's blessing and appears on Old 97's 2010 album ''[[The Grande Theatre, Volume One]]'', with Dylan and Miller sharing writing credit.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ferguson |first=Jon |date=September 9, 2010 |title=Old 97s' Rhett Miller found unexpected inspiration in 'Desolation Row' |url=http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/287485 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101105235208/http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/287485 |archive-date=November 5, 2010 |access-date=September 18, 2010 |website=Lancasteronline.com}}</ref>

Italian singer-songwriters [[Fabrizio de André]] and [[Francesco De Gregori]] wrote "Via della Povertà", an Italian translation of "Desolation Row", and included it on 1974 album ''[[Canzoni (Fabrizio De André album)|Canzoni]]''.

=== References in popular culture ===
[[Laura Branigan]]'s 1985 single "[[Spanish Eddie]]" mentions the song in its chorus, "''The night Spanish Eddie cashed it in / they were playin' "Desolation Row" on the radio''" <ref>{{Cite web |title=Laura Branigan – Spanish Eddie |url=https://genius.com/Laura-branigan-spanish-eddie-lyrics |access-date=January 23, 2022 |archive-date=January 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220123221823/https://genius.com/Laura-branigan-spanish-eddie-lyrics |url-status=live}}</ref>

A line from the song "''At midnight, all the agents and the superhuman crew, go out and round up everyone that knows more than they do.''" is the closing quotation in chapter 1 of "[[Watchmen]]" by [[Alan Moore]] and [[Dave Gibbons]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bob Dylan comic book references |date=May 24, 2022 |url=https://www.cbr.com/bob-dylan-comic-book-references-81/ |access-date=October 11, 2022 |archive-date=October 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221011175920/https://www.cbr.com/bob-dylan-comic-book-references-81/ |url-status=live}}</ref> In a foreword for the collected editions of the series, Dave Gibbons claims "it began with Bob Dylan", that the lyrics reproduced for chapter 1 were the "spark that would one day ignite WATCHMEN."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Moore |first=Alan |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/73994755 |title=Watchmen |date=2005 |others=Dave Gibbons, John Higgins |isbn=978-0-930289-23-2 |location=New York |oclc=73994755}}</ref>

The same line is evoked in Bruce Springsteen's  [[4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)|4th of July, Asbury Park]] as follows: "''Did you hear the cops finally busted Madame Marie, for telling fortunes better than they do''".

The title track of [[The War on Drugs (band)|The War on Drugs]]' fifth album ''[[I Don't Live Here Anymore]]'' contains the lyrics, "''Like when we went to see Bob Dylan/ We danced to "Desolation Row""''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://genius.com/The-war-on-drugs-i-dont-live-here-anymore-lyrics |title=The War on Drugs (Ft. Lucius) – I Don't Live Here Anymore | access-date=November 29, 2022 | archive-date=November 29, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129130008/https://genius.com/The-war-on-drugs-i-dont-live-here-anymore-lyrics | url-status=live}}</ref>

In the sixth part of ''[[Jojo's Bizarre Adventure]]'', "Desolation Road" is one of the 14 phrases that are uttered by antagonist Enrico Pucci in order to activate the Green Baby and acquire the Stand C-Moon.<ref>{{Cite web |title=DIO's Notebook |url=https://jojowiki.com/DIO's_Notebook |access-date=2025-03-26 |website=JoJo's Bizarre Encyclopedia - JoJo Wiki |language=en}}</ref>