On Sunday, March 29, Bob Dylan made a rare post on his social media. The 84-year-old living legend shared a promotional flyer for his new Patreon account, titled “Lectures From the Grave.” The musician’s interest in history is well-documented. In addition to being a music archivist in his own right, the Greenwich Village bard has also made a habit of sharing historic discourse on select public-facing platforms. 

With a starting price of $5 per month for access, “Lectures From the Grave” currently offers six posts. Included is an embedded video of gospel singer and Civil Rights Activist Mahalia Jackson, followed by three placements that function like AI-read audio essays about the third Vice President of the United States, Aaron Burr, who is perhaps best remembered for killing Alexander Hamilton in a duel. 

Beyond American politics, the lecture series also follows a deceased outlaw in the post-Civil War era, Frank James, and the retelling of the folk hero of the Wild West, Wild Bill. Moreover, on the Patreon page, the “Letters Never Sent” category features a fictional letter by Mark Twain. And another post, “Bull Rider (Short Story),” tells the story of a man desperate to take a ride on the back of a sire. 

Previously, on February 21, Dylan tested the content on his own Instagram page, where he demonstrated an initial affinity for Wild Bill. Before the most recent preview, he also shared two video essays, dubbed “On the Art of Survival,” which discussed Burr. If Dylan’s current Instagram feed suggests any indication of future topics, it is likely that his “Speaks from the Grave” series will feature Edgar Allen Poe, Stephen Foster, and the seventh US President, Andrew Jackson. See the posts below that indicate potential talking points. 

See the aforementioned Dylan posts on historical topics, as shared on his Instagram below.

Previously shared social media posts: