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
04-Seven Days
Bob Dylan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll be waiting at the station for her to arrive
Seven more days, all I gotta do is survive.
She been gone ever since I been a child
Ever since I seen her smile, I ain't forgotten her eyes.
She had a face that could outshine the sun in the skies.
Maybe guilty of hesitatin', I just been holdin' on
Seven more days, all that'll be gone.
There's kissing in the valley,
Thieving in the alley,
Fighting every inch of the way.
Trying to be tender
With somebody I remember
In a night that's always brighter'n the day.
Seven days, seven more days that are connected
Just like I expected, she'll be comin' on forth,
My beautiful comrade from the north.
There's kissing in the valley,
Thieving in the alley,
Fighting every inch of the way.
Trying to be tender
With somebody I remember
In a night that's always brighter'n the day.
The song "Seven Days" by Bob Dylan is about the anticipation and excitement of a man waiting for his lover to return after being gone for a long time. The lyrics imply that he has been waiting for her for a very long time and that he has never forgotten her. The song has a feeling of hope and longing, as the man is eagerly anticipating the arrival of his love.
The first verse talks about how the man will be waiting at the station for his lover to arrive in seven days. He has been waiting for her for a very long time and he just needs to survive for seven more days. The second verse is a flashback to the past and how he has never forgotten her since he was a child. He remembers her smile and her bright eyes. The third verse talks about how he has been waiting patiently for his love and only has seven more days left to wait.
The chorus talks about the struggles he has been facing while waiting for his lover. There is kissing in the valley, thieving in the alley and fighting every inch of the way, but he is trying to be tender with somebody he remembers in a night that is always brighter than the day. This shows that he is willing to face any obstacles to be reunited with his lover.
Overall, "Seven Days" is a romantic song that captures the emotions of a man eagerly awaiting the return of his lover. Despite the struggles he has faced, he remains hopeful and determined to be reunited with her.
Line by Line Meaning
Seven days, seven more days she'll be comin'
In seven days, the singer's long-lost love will be returning and he eagerly anticipates her arrival.
I'll be waiting at the station for her to arrive
The singer plans to greet his lover at the train station when she arrives.
Seven more days, all I gotta do is survive.
The singer feels like he can only get through the next seven days by surviving until his lover returns.
She been gone ever since I been a child
The artist hasn't seen his lover since childhood and has never forgotten her.
Ever since I seen her smile, I ain't forgotten her eyes.
The artist remembers every detail of his lover's appearance and has held onto those happy memories since childhood.
She had a face that could outshine the sun in the skies.
The singer remembers his lover as being incredibly beautiful, even more so than the brightest sun in the sky.
I been good, I been good while I been waitin'
The singer has waited patiently and remained faithful during his lover's absence.
Maybe guilty of hesitatin', I just been holdin' on
Though the artist has waited for his lover, he may feel guilty for hesitating or not taking action sooner to find her.
Seven more days, all that'll be gone.
Once his lover returns, the waiting and uncertainty will be over.
There's kissing in the valley,
Thieving in the alley,
Fighting every inch of the way.
The world can be a treacherous and dangerous place filled with violence and crime, but there is also love and intimacy to be found.
Trying to be tender
With somebody I remember
In a night that's always brighter'n the day.
The singer tries to show love and affection to someone he remembers from a brighter and happier time in his life.
Seven more days that are connected
Just like I expected, she'll be comin' on forth,
My beautiful comrade from the north.
The artist remains confident and excited for his lover's return, knowing that she will fulfill his expectations and be the beautiful partner he remembers from the past.
Lyrics © AUDIAM, INC
Written by: BOB DYLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
linda rogers
"I wish that for just one time you could stand inside my shoes...you'd know what a drag it is to see you." Greatest line ever written.
pinanti
Indeed.
It's a line you 'll never forget..
Dylan is a genius.
Chris Campbell
It's the kicker to the song. Always stuck inside my head.
Paul Licciardo
His xristian rebirth since and born in time is more optimistic
Carl Bitney
Linda,
yep indeed,
& that line is not esoteric or
crooked, just hits that nail solid,
we all know clear & true what it means
carnia mellato
@Chris Campbell he wrote: I merely remember you, I go on without you, every one of us may detached of persons and situations.
Jeff Rogut
It’s now 2022 and after listening to Bob Dylan for over half a century this is still one of my favourites. Says it all to those who use and then discard you when you serve no purpose for them. Happy new year to all of you who truly appreciate the genius of Dylan …….
Javier Mendoza
Ah, well spoken. We hold some truths, to be self evident. " Your Honor, the defense rests ".
Alan Sparx
Wish you were a woman living in Australia... I'd love to meet you
Alan Sparx
OH! Wait? Insensitive content? If so, you have my apologies! One must be so tuned into the sensitivities of each person. That is if you are mesmerized by woke shite.