"Quinn the Eskimo (The Mighty Quinn)" is a folk-rock song written by Bob Dylan and first recorded during THE BASEMENT TAPES sessions in 1967. The song was recorded in December 1967 and first released in January 1968 as the "Mighty Quinn" by the British band Manfred Mann and became a great success. It has been recorded by a number of performers, often under the "Mighty Quinn" title.
The subject of the song is the arrival of the mighty Quinn (an Eskimo), who changes despair into joy and chaos into rest, and attracts attention from the animals. Dylan is widely believed to have derived the title character from actor Anthony Quinn's role as an Eskimo in the 1960 movie The Savage Innocents.
Dylan has also been quoted as saying that the song was nothing more than a "simple nursery rhyme." A 2004 Chicago Tribune article also claimed that the song was named after Gordon Quinn, co-founder of Kartemquin Films, who had given Dylan and Howard Alk uncredited editing assistance on EAT THE DOCUMENT.
Thank you to Jürgen Wasser for the images.
 UK, B. Feldman and Co Ltd., recorded on Fontana records |
 USA, Bob Dylan Words And Music |
 Australia, J. Albert & Son, recorded on Philips records |
 France, Société des Nouvelles Editions Eddie Barclay |
 Spain, Canciones Francis Day, recorded on Fontana records |
 Italy, as sung by I Dik Dik, Italian lyrics by Mogol, Edizioni Musicali Radio Record Ricordi, Milano |
