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 âfor having created new poetic expressions within the great American song traditionâ. 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
: Ballad of a Thin Man
Bob Dylan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You see somebody naked and you say, "Who is that man?"
You try so hard but you don't understand
Just what you will say when you get home
Because something is happening here but you don't know what it is
Do you, Mr. Jones?
You raise up your head and you ask, "Is this where it is?"
And you say, "What's mine?" and somebody else says, "Well, what is?"
And you say, "Oh my God, am I here all alone?"
But something is happening and you don't know what it is
Do you, Mr. Jones?
You hand in your ticket and you go watch the geek
Who immediately walks up to you when he hears you speak
And says, "How does it feel to be such a freak?"
And you say, "Impossible!" as he hands you a bone
And something is happening here but you don't know what it is
Do you, Mr. Jones?
You have many contacts among the lumberjacks
To get you facts when someone attacks your imagination
But nobody has any respect, anyway they already expect you to all give a check
To tax-deductible charity organizations
Ah, you've been with the professors and they've all liked your looks
With great lawyers you have discussed lepers and crooks
You've been through all of F. Scott Fitzgerald's books
You're very well-read, it's well-known
But something is happening here and you don't know what it is
Do you, Mr. Jones?
Well, the sword swallower, he comes up to you and then he kneels
He crosses himself and then he clicks his high heels
And without further notice, he asks you how it feels
And he says, "Here is your throat back, thanks for the loan"
And you know something is happening but you don't know what it is
Do you, Mr. Jones?
Now, you see this one-eyed midget shouting the word "Now"
And you say, "For what reason?" and he says, "How"
And you say, "What does this mean?" and he screams back, "You're a cow!
Give me some milk or else go home"
And you know something's happening but you don't know what it is
Do you, Mr. Jones?
Well, you walk into the room like a camel, and then you frown
You put your eyes in your pocket and your nose on the ground
There ought to be a law against you comin' around
You should be made to wear earphones
'Cause something is happening and you don't know what it is
Do you, Mr. Jones?
"Ballad of a Thin Man" is a song by Bob Dylan that is known for its cryptic and sarcastic lyrics. The song paints a picture of a man, Mr. Jones, who is out of touch with the world around him and is unable to understand what's happening. The first verse sets the tone for the entire song, with Mr. Jones trying to make sense of a situation that he doesn't understand. The imagery of the man walking into a room with a pencil highlights his desire to record and document things, but his inability to comprehend what's happening makes his efforts in vain. The chorus, "Something is happening, but you don't know what it is," serves as a recurring theme throughout the song, emphasizing Mr. Jones's disconnect from reality.
As the song progresses, Mr. Jones's frustration grows, and he becomes increasingly defensive. He asks what's his, but nobody seems to have an answer, and he finds himself feeling isolated and alone. Even his contacts among "the lumberjacks" and the "great lawyers" can't help him make sense of what's happening. The sword swallower and one-eyed midget represent the odd and unusual characters Mr. Jones encounters, but he's unable to understand their strange behaviors and requests. The song ends with a disdainful remark directed towards Mr. Jones, suggesting that he should be made to wear earphones and keep to himself.
The song is a commentary on the counterculture movement of the 1960s and the changing social atmosphere in the United States at the time. Dylan was known for his critical and often satirical lyrics, and "Ballad of a Thin Man" is no exception. It's a biting critique of those who refuse to adapt to new ideas and ways of thinking, and who instead cling to their old-fashioned views and traditions. The song's cryptic nature and metaphorical language have made it a favorite among Dylan fans, who continue to debate its meaning and significance today.
Line by Line Meaning
You walk into the room with your pencil in your hand
You enter the place with your tools, but you're not one of them.
You see somebody naked and you say, "Who is that man?"
You're not a brave voyeur witnessing the world's reality.
You try so hard but you don't understand
Just what you will say when you get home
You never learn from the uncomfortable experiences you had.
Because something is happening here but you don't know what it is
Do you, Mr. Jones?
There's a cultural revolution emerging out of your sphere of perception.
You raise up your head and you ask, "Is this where it is?"
And somebody points to you and says, "It's his"
And you say, "What's mine?" and somebody else says, "Well, what is?"
And you say, "Oh my God, am I here all alone?"
You want to know what belongs to you, but no one can tell you your place in the world.
You hand in your ticket and you go watch the geek
Who immediately walks up to you when he hears you speak
And says, "How does it feel to be such a freak?"
And you say, "Impossible!" as he hands you a bone
The outsider you've been observing suddenly pushes your identity in your face.
And something is happening here but you don't know what it is
Do you, Mr. Jones?
You're witnessing a cultural phenomenon beyond your comprehension.
You have many contacts among the lumberjacks
To get you facts when someone attacks your imagination
But nobody has any respect, anyway they already expect you to all give a check
To tax-deductible charity organizations
Your privilege insulates you from witnessing reality, but you can write a check to feel better.
Ah, you've been with the professors and they've all liked your looks
With great lawyers you have discussed lepers and crooks
You've been through all of F. Scott Fitzgerald's books
You're very well-read, it's well-known
You're educated but blinded by your privilege.
But something is happening here and you don't know what it is
Do you, Mr. Jones?
A cultural revolution is happening right in front of your face.
Well, the sword swallower, he comes up to you and then he kneels
He crosses himself and then he clicks his high heels
And without further notice, he asks you how it feels
And he says, "Here is your throat back, thanks for the loan"
An exotic character forces you to confront your relationship with violence.
And you know something is happening but you don't know what it is
Do you, Mr. Jones?
You're a bystander to a cultural reformation beyond your understanding.
Now, you see this one-eyed midget shouting the word "Now"
And you say, "For what reason?" and he says, "How"
And you say, "What does this mean?" and he screams back, "You're a cow!
Give me some milk or else go home"
A strange character distracts you from making sense of the cultural shift.
And you know something's happening but you don't know what it is
Do you, Mr. Jones?
You're grappling with a cultural movement that's beyond your comprehension.
Well, you walk into the room like a camel, and then you frown
You put your eyes in your pocket and your nose on the ground
There ought to be a law against you comin' around
You should be made to wear earphones
You're oblivious to the cultural and social changes happening in the world.
'Cause something is happening and you don't know what it is
Do you, Mr. Jones?
You're too out-of-touch to understand the cultural transformation happening around you.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bob Dylan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@tulayamalavenapi4028
đžđč
Oct 1966 The Black Panther Party was formulated. Bobby Seale writes about this song in his book "Seize the Time".
There's a couple pages about it... I'll just give an excerpt:
Bobby Seale wrote"
".... in the background we could hear a record, and the song was named "Ballad of a Thin Man" by Bob Dylan. Now that melody was in my mind. I actually heard it. I could hear the melody of this record. I could hear the sound and the beat to it. But I really didn't hear the words. This record played after we stayed up late laying out the paper. And it played the next night after we stayed up late laying out the paper. I think it was around the third afternoon that the record was playing. We played that record over and over and over. Lots of brothers stayed right over there with lots of shotguns for security. Huey P Newton made me realize the lyrics. Not only the lyrics of the record but what the lyrics meant in the record.
This song is hell. You've got to understand that this song is saying a hell of alot about society."
Bobby Seale of BPP... Breakfast Program Power... (really Black Panther Party)
@tulayamalavenapi4028
đžđč
Oct 1966 The Black Panther Party was formulated. Bobby Seale writes about this song in his book "Seize the Time".
There's a couple pages about it... I'll just give an excerpt:
Bobby Seale wrote"
".... in the background we could hear a record, and the song was named "Ballad of a Thin Man" by Bob Dylan. Now that melody was in my mind. I actually heard it. I could hear the melody of this record. I could hear the sound and the beat to it. But I really didn't hear the words. This record played after we stayed up late laying out the paper. And it played the next night after we stayed up late laying out the paper. I think it was around the third afternoon that the record was playing. We played that record over and over and over. Lots of brothers stayed right over there with lots of shotguns for security. Huey P Newton made me realize the lyrics. Not only the lyrics of the record but what the lyrics meant in the record.
This song is hell. You've got to understand that this song is saying a hell of alot about society."
Bobby Seale of BPP... Breakfast Program Power... (really Black Panther Party)
@davidrees570
Youâd have to be Bob Dylan to have the words describe how great Bob Dylan is
@brbowen3
indeed!
@OnerousEthic
Seems to me that he has already taken care of that little detail, IYKWIM!
@kai_johnsonn
Or Muhammad Ali
@Scotsgrey13
Exactly!
@allmind974
I'd say BoB would tell you how great he is ? ?
@nrich5127
Cryptic lyrics - a haunting melody - a lilting blues rythym - a vocal dissertation that only Bob could give ... a classic that never gets old.
@mikemestas9835
man all his songs are still goin on resonating
@billroaofficial
I like the quirkiness in this song... I've listened to it many time and hear something different every single time.. really clever... and mostly I just delete the closet homo sentiment throughout
@flamencoprof
Not that cryptic, Mr. Jones. đ