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
Answer Me
Bob Dylan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh my love
Just what sin have I been guilty of
Tell me how I came to lose your love
Please answer me
My love.
You were mine yesterday
I believed that love was here to stay
Please answer me
My love.
If you're happier without me
I'll try not to care
But if you still think about me
Please listen to my prayer
You must know I've been true
Won't you say that we can start anew?
In my sorrow now I turn to you
Please answer me
My love.
The lyrics to Bob Dylan's song Answer Me are those of a man who is seeking answers from a former lover. He wants to know what he has done wrong and how he has lost her love. The song begins with the man addressing his lover, and asking her to tell him what sin he has been guilty of. This suggests that he is not sure where he went wrong in the relationship, and that he is looking for some sort of closure. He continues to plead with his former lover, asking her how he came to lose her love, and asking her to answer his questions. He is clearly distressed, and his desperation is palpable throughout the song.
Throughout the song, the man is trying to make sense of what has happened to his relationship. He believes that love was here to stay, and he wants to know where he went astray. He is willing to try to move on if his former lover is happier without him, but he still wants to know if she thinks about him. He claims that he has been true to her, and he wants to start anew. The song ends with the man turning to his former lover in his sorrow and asking her to answer his questions.
Line by Line Meaning
Answer me
Please respond to my inquiry
Oh my love
Addressing the loved one who has left
Just what sin have I been guilty of
Requesting the reason for being abandoned
Tell me how I came to lose your love
Demanding for an explanation for the loss of affection
Please answer me
My love.
Asking for a response and calling the loved one
You were mine yesterday
Reminiscing about the relationship
I believed that love was here to stay
Confessing to the belief that the love was permanent
Won't you tell me where I've gone astray
Asking for guidance on the mistakes made
Please answer me
My love.
Asking for a response and calling the loved one
If you're happier without me
Acknowledging the possibility of the loved one's happiness without them
I'll try not to care
Expressing determination to let go
But if you still think about me
Admitting a wish for the loved one to still think of them
Please listen to my prayer
Asking for a plea to be heard
You must know I've been true
Declaring honesty in the relationship
Won't you say that we can start anew?
Asking for a chance to start afresh
In my sorrow now I turn to you
Revealing emotional vulnerability and need for support
Please answer me
My love.
Asking for a response and calling the loved one
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BRATTON, CHRISTOPHER / O'MAHONY, DANIEL / OGLESBY, GAVIN / WILSON, STERLING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@nihilisticnut9916
Answer Me and Borderline, have peacefully haunted me throughout the years.
What a genius, what an artist.
@nissi.k
Oh my!🌹@neverending Bobfan Thank you so much for uploading this as a single and with all the backstory and 3 sets of lyrics! That’s just amazing! So glad Bob covered this song live and that someone taped it and you posted it! What a most beautiful rendition! Starting out with that harmonica so heartfelt and his singing! ♫♥♫
@nissi.k
I’m back to hear this again!
Bob’s singing here is just wonderful!
@nissi.k
@J. Dallison
Bob is my favourite singer and artist ever!
@nissi.k
me too! 🙌
@nissi.k
What a song! 🙌🌹
@sarahcohen3844
Most of us who know this song at all probably think of it as Nat King Cole's. Smooth as Cole always was. Bob Dylan is never smooth. Even so, it was Cole's sincere, simple and honest delivery that made Nat King Cole, and Dylan's too. And because Dylan's delivery is always sincere, simple and honest, the rest, smooth or bumpy, doesn't matter.
@carleenmejzastrumunderthes4130
Hypnotic rendition!
@flowermomma5337
Wow that was beautiful !! Thank you for the background information . I will look for it again ! Peace be with you ☮️💕
@marymosser7305
I never heard that before now. Thank you kindly for that gift!