Dylan started his musical odyssey in 1959 when he began playing in Dinkytown, Minneapolis while attending the University of Minnesota. Shortly after starting to play he changed his stage name to Bob Dylan, after being influenced by the poetry of Dylan Thomas before legally changing his name in 1962.
Much of his best known work is from the 1960s, when he became an informal documentarian and reluctant figurehead of American unrest, promoted by Joan Baez. Some of his songs, such as "Blowin' in the Wind" and "The Times They Are A-Changin'", became anthems of the anti-war and civil rights movements, with Joan Baez and Dylan singing together at the March on Washington in 1963. However he later became disenchanted with the civil liberty protest scene, feeling that he had been used by them.
His album Bringing It All Back Home marked a move away from the folk scene and a move towards rock and roll and Dylan began to consciously distance himself from his early association with civil rights. He also started to become irritated when being interviewed, often given facetious or irreverent answers to questions. Bringing It All Back Home was a controversial album as it the first on which he played electric guitar. This was seen by some of his fans as a betrayal of this folk roots, with some saying that it obscured his meaningful and poetic lyrics.
The second half of the 1960s was marked by a string of well received releases, with his song "Like a Rolling Stone", released in July of 1965, later being named "The Greatest Song of All Time" by Rolling Stone magazine in 2004, placing #1 in a list of 500 titles. It also marked the formation of Dylan's backing band The Hawks (who would later call themselves simply The Band). Dylan embarked on a world tour of Australia and Europe in 1966, during which he seemed to be under a lot of strain and pressure by both his fans, the music press and his own promoters. Dylan himself admitted that he began taking drugs seriously whilst on this tour, and found it immensely hard work. On returning to New York he crashed his motorbike, sustaining serious injuries in the process, and went into a period of withdrawal while he recuperated. During the late 1960s, Dylan again changed stylistic tradition, moving away from the psychedelic culture of the time. It was then that he recorded All Along the Watchtower, perhaps more famously recorded by Jimi Hendrix.
The 1970s were a period during which Dylan was more sporadic in his output, releasing some poorly received LPs. He rarely appeared in person until 1974, when he began touring again with his backing band The Band. He also wrote one of his most extensively covered songs, Knockin' On Heaven's Door, as well as what is now recognised as one of his best albums Blood On The Tracks. Towards the end of the 1970s, Dylan discovered Christ, and released some albums of gospel music. He started to talk to the crowd about his faith during his performances, and wouldn't play any of his early work, which alienated some of his previous fans.
Dylan today still remains an influential and popular artist; despite a period of little note between 1980-2000, his 2006 album Modern Times reached the US chart at #1, as did his 2009 album Together Through Life, in the US, Britain, France and several other countries. His 2012 album Tempest was also critically acclaimed. Since 1988, Dylan has been on the so-called Never Ending Tour, during which his performances have provoked controversy, with some critics claiming that his lyrics have become incomprehensible, an experience which is not helped by his tendency to change his set-list and vocals almost every performance.
Bob Dylan's strong influence over the past few years is becoming even more prominent amongst a growing group of younger emerging artists such as George Ellias and Devendra Banhart. Dylan's early lyrics incorporated politics, social commentary, philosophy and literary influences, defying existing pop music conventions and appealing widely to the counterculture of the time. While expanding and personalizing musical styles, Dylan has shown steadfast devotion to traditions of American song, from folk and country/blues to rock and roll and rockabilly, to Gaelic balladry, even jazz, swing and Broadway.
Dylan performs with the guitar, keyboard and harmonica. Backed by a changing lineup of musicians, he has toured steadily since the late 1980s. He has also recently performed alongside other iconic artists, such as Paul Simon, Joni Mitchell, Tom Petty and Eric Clapton. Although his contributions as a performer and recording artist have been central to his career, his songwriting is generally held as his highest accomplishment.
Nobel Prize for Literature (2016) - On October 13, 2016, Dylan was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature for “for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition”. The prestigious award has been given annually since 1901 and previous Nobel Laureates for Literature include Harold Pinter and Samuel Beckett. Here is the speech written by Dylan, although unable to attend:
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/10/arts/bob-dylan-nobel-prize-acceptance-speech.html?_r=0
: Baby Let Me Follow You Down
Bob Dylan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Baby let me follow you down
Well, I'll do anything in this God-almighty world
If you just let me follow you down
Can I come home with you?
Baby can I come home with you?
Yes, I'll do anything in this God-almighty world
Baby, let me follow you down
Baby let me follow you down
Well I'll do anything in this God-almighty world
If you just let me follow you down
Yes, I'll do anything in this God-almighty world
If you just let me follow you down
The lyrics of Bob Dylan's "Baby Let Me Follow You Down" are simple and straightforward. The singer is pleading with someone, presumably a woman, to let him follow her wherever she may lead him. He is desperate to be with her, and he offers to do anything in the world if she just allows him to come along.
The song has a plaintive and heartfelt tone, with the singer's sincerity shining through in every line. It's a song of devotion and yearning, and it captures the feeling of being completely in love with someone and wanting to be with them at all times.
Although the lyrics are simple, they are also incredibly powerful. The simplicity of the rhyme scheme and the repetition of the phrases "Baby, let me follow you down" and "I'll do anything in this God-almighty world" give the song a hypnotic quality that draws the listener in and leaves them feeling the singer's desire and desperation.
Overall, "Baby Let Me Follow You Down" is a beautiful and moving song that captures the essence of love and devotion. Its simplicity and sincerity have made it a beloved classic for generations, and its impact on music cannot be overstated.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby, let me follow you down
I want to be with you no matter where you go
Baby let me follow you down
I am willing to stay by your side wherever you may lead me
Well, I'll do anything in this God-almighty world
There's nothing I wouldn't do for you
If you just let me follow you down
As long as I can be with you, I am content
Can I come home with you?
May I accompany you to your living space?
Baby can I come home with you?
I desire to be with you in your personal space
Yes, I'll do anything in this God-almighty world
I am utterly devoted to you and will do whatever it takes to be with you
If you just let me come home with you
All I need is to be with you in your home
Well I'll do anything in this God-almighty world
I am completely devoted to you and will stop at nothing to be with you
If you just let me follow you down
I will go with you anywhere just to be close to you
Yes, I'll do anything in this God-almighty world
I am willing to do whatever it takes to be with you, without exception
If you just let me follow you down
As long as I am next to you, nothing else matters
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: GARY DAVIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind