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
Alberta # 1
Bob Dylan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Alberta let your hair hang low
I'll give you more gold
Than your apron can hold
If you'd only let your hair hang low
Alberta what's on your mind
Alberta what's on your mind
All of the time
Alberta what's on your mind
Alberta don't you treat me unkind
Alberta don't you treat me unkind
Oh my heart is so sad
Cause I want you so bad
Alberta don't you treat me unkind
Alberta let your hair hang low
Alberta let your hair hang low
I'll give you more gold
Than your apron can hold
If you'll only let your hair hang low
The song "Alberta #1" is one of Bob Dylan's lesser-known tracks, but it's an intriguing piece nonetheless. The song is a classic blues number that tells the story of a man who is trying to win the affections of a woman named Alberta. Throughout the song, he pleads with her to let her hair down and give him a chance, promising to provide her with more gold than her apron can hold in the process.
At its core, "Alberta #1" is a song about desire, temptation, and the various complex emotions that come with trying to pursue something that appears to be just out of reach. One of the unique aspects of the song is the way that Dylan's lyrics capture the notion of unrequited love and the pain that can accompany it. The song's repeated refrain, "Alberta don't you treat me unkind," echoes the classic themes of the blues genre and further adds to the song's emotional depth.
Overall, "Alberta #1" is a captivating piece of work that showcases Dylan's talents as a songwriter and musician. Its simple, yet effective structure and emotive lyrics make it a standout track in his discography and a favorite among fans of the blues genre.
Line by Line Meaning
Alberta let your hair hang low
Bob Dylan is asking Alberta to let her hair down, which could be a symbolic representation of letting go of her inhibitions and allowing herself to be free.
I'll give you more gold
Bob Dylan is offering to provide Alberta with material possessions, which could be interpreted as a demonstration of his love for her.
Than your apron can hold
Bob Dylan's offer of material possessions is so grand that it exceeds the capacity of Alberta's apron, which is a functional accessory used for carrying small items.
If you'd only let your hair hang low
Bob Dylan is reinforcing the idea that Alberta needs to let go of any emotional barriers that are holding her back from experiencing a deeper relationship with him.
Alberta what's on your mind
Bob Dylan is curious about Alberta's thoughts and feelings, indicating that he wants to establish a stronger emotional connection with her.
You keep me worried and bothered
Alberta's behavior is causing Bob Dylan distress and concern, which could be interpreted as a sign of his intense feelings for her.
All of the time
Bob Dylan's feelings of worry and concern are constant and consistent, highlighting the depth of his emotions for Alberta.
Alberta don't you treat me unkind
Bob Dylan is pleading with Alberta to treat him with kindness and respect, indicating that he values their relationship and wants to maintain it.
Oh my heart is so sad
Bob Dylan is expressing his emotional pain, which could be a result of Alberta's behavior or simply his intense feelings for her.
Cause I want you so bad
Bob Dylan's emotional pain is directly related to his strong desire for Alberta, emphasizing the depth of his feelings for her.
Contributed by Benjamin I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@dwaynewladyka577
Awesome country blues. I did see Bob Dylan live in Alberta, in 1990. Cheers!
@sadeyedlady
Love this song. My Dad used to play this record over and over. This song popped into my head today. So beautiful
@wilberfloss832
I ♥️ Bob (and this song).
@CheyenneKid
I like to listen to this on my headphones when I walk my dog on Alberta St. in Portland.
@rayhairston7582
Amazing! One of my all time favorites!
@iansings7428
One of the best country sounds to my ears...
@marcoevans2155
It's folk blues. Not Garth Brooks
@PeanutSpring3
@@marcoevans2155 No its just country. Garth is hardly country. I'd call him yee yee country
@ohgodwhy9853
i prefer Doc Watsons version.
So angelic sounding.
@PeanutSpring3
@@nezahuatez It's a blues standard, but it's being done in a country style. But lots of old country and blues is very similar.