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Classic rock and politics sometimes collide in unexpected ways. For example, Bob Dylan recorded some music for the new movie Reagan, a biographical film about Ronald Reagan. He didn’t write the music himself. Everything about this story is surprising.

Bob Dylan covered a Cole Porter song for the movie ‘Reagan’

Dylan and Reagan were two of the defining figures of the last 60 years of American life, but in completely different ways. Dylan was an icon of the overwhelmingly left-wing 1960s counterculture and sang about progressive topics like civil rights, the anti-war movement, and youthful rebellion. Reagan was a B-movie star who became the Governor of California and later the President of the United States. He became a global icon of conservative politics. He’s hardly the sort of guy one would imagine getting high with some hippies and singing along to “Lay Lady Lay.”

However, that hasn’t stopped Dylan from paying tribute to Reagan in his own way. Spin reports the “Like a Rolling Stone” star recorded a cover of Cole Porter’s “Don’t Fence Me In,” a song famously performed by Gene Autry. Is the use of that song merely an evocation of time and place or a commentary on the former president? You decide.

‘Reagan’ star Dennis Quaid reacted to the song

Dennis Quaid, who plays the Gipper in the movie, was pleased that Dylan was involved with Reagan. “I was honored to have Bob join our film,” Quaid said in a statement to Spin. “We gave him the freedom to do any song he wanted to do, whether an original or a cover, and he chose ‘Don’t Fence Me In.’ That was extra special since it was a song that Gene made famous. Bob is a great lover of the American Songbook, and we were delighted with the way he delivered the song. He’s a national treasure and was the perfect addition to the film.”

Sean McNamara, the director of Reagan, discussed the inclusion of Dylan’s “Don’t Fence Me In.” “Every director dreams of having Bob be a part of their work and I’m no exception,” McNamara said. “His song helps the viewer understand Reagan’s journey in a deeper way and it gives our film an emotional depth that I’m grateful for.”

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What Bob Dylan said about Cole Porter

Dylan doesn’t seem to have said much about Reagan the man, Reagan the film, or his decision to cover a song for the latter. Despite this, we know a lot about his feelings regarding Porter. During a 2004 interview with the Los Angeles Times, Dylan said that most songwriters who predated rock ‘n’ roll didn’t touch him. Despite this, he admired Porter in general and “Don’t Fence Me In” in particular. He called Porter “fearless” in his lyrical choices.

So, what does Dylan’s involvement in Reagan really mean? Who knows? If Dylan doesn’t explain himself, his fans will overcompensate by speculating about the rock star’s innermost thoughts on the subject. All we know is that Dylan continues to surprise fans six decades into his career. Very few people in this world are true individuals, but Dylan is one of them. You couldn’t fence him in if you tried.

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