From Number 1 to 45472
The song is based on an account that Bob Dylan took from Carter’s 1974 autobiography, which he wrote while he was still incarcerated. In his book, The Sixteenth Round: From Number 1 Contender to Number 45472, Carter explains the pain and suffering he experienced as a victim of a racially unjust judicial system.
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After reading Carter’s captivating book, Dylan visited him in prison. Shortly after that, Dylan and Jacques Levy penned the tune. It comes as no surprise that Dylan chose this story to write a song about and it made this much of an impact. The song displays an exceptional use of storytelling. But, then again, isn’t that what Bob Dylan is known for?