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Anatomy of a Song: "Hurricane" Quiz

Just how much do you know about Bob Dylan's classic "Hurricane"? Pit yourself against 20 questions about the song and/or associated facts. Song #5 in the 'Anatomy' series.

A multiple-choice quiz by FussBudget. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
FussBudget

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
202,595

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
20

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
15 / 20

Plays
1980

Awards
Top 20% Quiz

Last 3 plays: Guest 212 (11/20), Guest 207 (5/20), Guest 99 (13/20).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 20

1. In the second line of the song, we see Patty Valentine happen upon the crime scene. From where does she come to find the shocking sight? Hint

The upper hall

The kitchen

The bathroom

The office

NEXT>

Question 2 of 20

2. When Patty sees what has happened, what does she cry out? Hint

Oh God, they killed them all

My God, they killed them all

Oh dear, they killed them all

Good God, they killed them all

NEXT>

Question 3 of 20

3. How many bodies does Patty Valentine see lying in the bar? Hint

Three

Four

Two

One

NEXT>

Question 4 of 20

4. In what State did the shooting occur? Hint

New York

New Haven

New Orleans

New Jersey

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Question 5 of 20

5. In the second verse, Patty sees a man "movin' around mysteriously". Who was that man? Hint

Arthur Bradley

Arthur Bello

Boo Radley

Alfred Bello

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Question 6 of 20

6. Bello claims not to be responsible for the shootings, and suggests to Patty that he was committing a lesser crime. What crime was that? Hint

Stealing the alcohol

Stealing the television set

Breaking into the safe

Robbing the register

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Question 7 of 20

7. Who ends up calling the cops? Hint

Bradley

Patty

Bello

The bartender

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Question 8 of 20

8. Finally we get to "Hurricane" himself, Rubin Carter. What is it that he and his friends are doing when they are introduced in the third verse? Hint

Stuffin' around

Drivin' around

Muckin' around

Prowlin' around

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Question 9 of 20

9. The song says Rubin Carter was the "number one contender" for which type of boxing crown? Hint

Heavyweight

Middleweight

Featherweight

Welterweight

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Question 10 of 20

10. Bello's partner in crime was Arthur Bradley. What was Bradley's middle name? Hint

Hector

Dexter

Bechler

Declan

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Question 11 of 20

11. According to Bello, what colour car with "out of state plates" did the alleged criminals jump into? Hint

Blue

Black

White

Red

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Question 12 of 20

12. At what hour of the morning do the cops "haul Rubin in"? Hint

Three

Five

Four

Six

NEXT>

Question 13 of 20

13. Is the continent of South America mentioned in the song?

Yes

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Question 14 of 20

14. When the cops are putting heat on Bradley to implicate Carter, what type of crime do they infer he's already in trouble for? Hint

The motel job

The Brinks job

The bank job

The laundromat job

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Question 15 of 20

15. How did Rubin Carter describe his boxing? Hint

"It's my passion"

"It's my life"

"It's my job"

"It's my work"

NEXT>

Question 16 of 20

16. How is the appropriateness of Rubin Carter's trial described at the start of the third-last verse? Hint

A sham

A pig circus

A farce

A set up

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Question 17 of 20

17. What was the make up of the jury at the trial? Hint

All white

Half white, half black

All black

None of these choices

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Question 18 of 20

18. With what crime was Rubin Carter charged? Hint

Manslaughter

Murder one

Armed robbery

Grievous bodily harm

NEXT>

Question 19 of 20

19. What alcoholic drink is mentioned in the last verse?

Answer: (One Word)

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Question 20 of 20

20. Not from the song, but highly relevant to Rubin Carter. What years did he spend in jail? Hint

1967 - 1989

1967 - 1987

1967 - 1985

1967 - 1979

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Most Recent Scores

Today : Guest 212: 11/20
Apr 12 2024 : Guest 207: 5/20
Mar 09 2024 : Guest 99: 13/20

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In the second line of the song, we see Patty Valentine happen upon the crime scene. From where does she come to find the shocking sight?

Answer: The upper hall

"Pistol shots ring out in the barroom night
Enter Patty Valentine from the upper hall"

Rather cautiously, one would imagine...

2. When Patty sees what has happened, what does she cry out?

Answer: My God, they killed them all

"She sees the bartender in a pool of blood,
Cries out, "My God, they killed them all!"

As it turns out, Patty wasn't quite right about that. Later in the song we hear:

"Cop said, "Wait a minute, boys, this one's not dead"
So they took him to the infirmary
And though this man could hardly see
They told him that he could identify the guilty men"

3. How many bodies does Patty Valentine see lying in the bar?

Answer: Three

"Three bodies lyin' there does Patty see".

4. In what State did the shooting occur?

Answer: New Jersey

This fact gets revealed at the end of the second verse:

"And so Patty calls the cops
And they arrive on the scene with their red lights flashin'
In the hot New Jersey night".

5. In the second verse, Patty sees a man "movin' around mysteriously". Who was that man?

Answer: Alfred Bello

"Three bodies lyin' there does Patty see
And another man named Bello, movin' around mysteriously".

Aha! He did it! He did it!

6. Bello claims not to be responsible for the shootings, and suggests to Patty that he was committing a lesser crime. What crime was that?

Answer: Robbing the register

"I didn't do it, he says, and he throws up his hands
I was only robbin' the register, I hope you understand".

7. Who ends up calling the cops?

Answer: Patty

Says Bello near the end of the second verse:

"I saw them leavin'" he says, and he stops
"One of us had better call up the cops"

As a consequence:

"And so Patty calls the cops".

8. Finally we get to "Hurricane" himself, Rubin Carter. What is it that he and his friends are doing when they are introduced in the third verse?

Answer: Drivin' around

"Meanwhile, far away in another part of town
Rubin Carter and a couple of friends are drivin' around"

Taken from www.songfacts.com: "Carter was sentenced...for the murder of 3 white people who were gunned down at a bar in Paterson, New Jersey on June 16, 1967. Police were looking for 2 black men and pulled over Carter and his friend John Artis. They were sentenced to life in prison".

9. The song says Rubin Carter was the "number one contender" for which type of boxing crown?

Answer: Middleweight

"Rubin Carter and a couple of friends are drivin' around
The number one contender for the middleweight crown"

That statement seems to be in dispute on a number of websites, particularly those opposed to Carter's innocence or more specifically, that wish to de-bunk what they consider to be the many myths from the 1999 film starring Denzil Washington. They argue that Carter's career had been in decline for some years.

10. Bello's partner in crime was Arthur Bradley. What was Bradley's middle name?

Answer: Dexter

"Alfred Bello had a partner and he had a rap for the cops
Him and Arthur Dexter Bradley were just out prowlin' around".

Aha! They did it! They did it!

11. According to Bello, what colour car with "out of state plates" did the alleged criminals jump into?

Answer: White

"He said, I saw two men runnin' out, they looked like middleweights
They jumped into a white car with out-of-state plates
And Miss Patty Valentine just nodded her head".

And so, the scene is set for the later arrest...

12. At what hour of the morning do the cops "haul Rubin in"?

Answer: Four

The song states:

"Four in the mornin' and they haul Rubin in
They took him to the hospital and they brought him upstairs".

13. Is the continent of South America mentioned in the song?

Answer: Yes

"Four months later, the ghettos are in flame,
Rubin's in South America, fightin' for his name".

14. When the cops are putting heat on Bradley to implicate Carter, what type of crime do they infer he's already in trouble for?

Answer: The motel job

"Arthur Dexter Bradley said, I'm really not sure
Cops said, a poor boy like you could use a break
We got you for the motel job and we're talkin' to your friend Bello
You don't wanna have to go back to jail, be a nice fellow".

Some none-too-subtle hints being thrown into the conversation by the detectives there!

15. How did Rubin Carter describe his boxing?

Answer: "It's my work"

"Rubin could take a man out with just one punch
But he never did like to talk about it all that much
It's my work, he'd say, and I do it for pay
And when it's over I'd just as soon go on my way".

Rubin Carter's story was told in the 1999 movie "Hurricane", starring Denzel Washington.

16. How is the appropriateness of Rubin Carter's trial described at the start of the third-last verse?

Answer: A pig circus

"All of Rubin's cards were marked in advance
The trial was a pig-circus, he never had a chance".

I guess by this stage he had already realised there was only going to be one outcome.

17. What was the make up of the jury at the trial?

Answer: All white

"And though they could not produce the gun,
The D.A. said he was the one who did the deed
And the all-white jury agreed".

Yep. Only one outcome...

18. With what crime was Rubin Carter charged?

Answer: Murder one

"Rubin Carter was falsely tried
The crime was murder "one", guess who testified?"

Yeah. Guess who?

"Bello and Bradley and they both baldly lied
And the newspapers, they all went along for the ride".

19. What alcoholic drink is mentioned in the last verse?

Answer: Martini

"Now all the criminals in their coats and their ties
Are free to drink martinis and watch the sun rise"

An interesting analogy to corporate crime:

"While Rubin sits like Buddha in a ten-foot cell
An innocent man in a living hell".

20. Not from the song, but highly relevant to Rubin Carter. What years did he spend in jail?

Answer: 1967 - 1985

Rubin Carter was not freed until 1985, when his conviction was finally overturned. According to www.songfacts.com: "Dylan's efforts brought new publicity to Carter's case, getting him a new trial in 1976, where he was again convicted, with prosecutors claiming he killed the men in retaliation for a murder of a black man earlier that night".

Source: Author FussBudget

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This quiz is part of series Anatomy of a Song - Part 7:

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