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
Around and Around
Bob Dylan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I cried she was deaf
And she worked on my face until breaking my eyes
And saying "What else you got left?"
It was then that I got up to leave
But she said, "Don't forget
Everybody must give something back
I stood there and hummed, I tapped on her drum
I asked her how come
And she buttoned her boot, and straightened her suit
And she said, "Don't be cute"
So I forced my hands in my pockets
And felt with my thumbs
And gallantly handed her my very last piece of gum
She threw me outside, I stood in the dirt
Where everyone walked
And, when finding out I'd forgotten my shirt
I went back and knocked
I waited in the hallway, she went to get it
And I tried to make sense
Out of that picture of you in your wheelchair
That leaned up against
Her Jamaican rum, and when she did come
I asked her for some
She said, "No, dear", I said, "Your words are not clear
You'd better spit out your gum"
She screamed till her face got so red
Then she fell on the floor
And, I covered her up and then went and looked through her drawer
And when I was through, I filled up my shoe
And brought it to you
And you, you took me in, you loved me then
You never wasted time
And I, I never took much, I never asked for your crutch
Now don't ask for mine
Fourth Time Around was originally released on Bob Dylan’s 1966 album, “Blonde on Blonde.” This album is known for starting the trend of double-album concept albums. The track starts off with the woman not listening to the singer and telling him that his words are just lies. The singer cries about how his words are falling on deaf ears, but he also mentions that she worked on his face until breaking his eyes. This could suggest that she either beat him or gave him some intense physical experience. She then says that everyone must give something back for something they get, suggesting that he must pay for her time or services.
He tries to leave, but she stops him and tells him not to forget the favor he owes her. He stands there and hums while tapping her drum, then asks how come she acts this way towards him. She rejects his advances and forces him to hand over his last piece of gum before throwing him out. He stands outside and waits for her to come back with his forgotten shirt. While waiting, he sees a picture of the person in the wheelchair leaning against some rum. Once she returns, he asks for some of her rum, but she denies his request, and an argument ensues. The woman screams at him until she falls onto the floor, and he covers her up with a rug before robbing her apartment.
Bob Dylan acknowledges that this song was inspired by the Beatles song “Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown).” In the Beatles song, John Lennon speaks about cheating on his girlfriend when he tries to sleep with her but is rejected, so he goes to sleep alone in the bath. Bob Dylan then took the idea of cheating on a lover to write Fourth Time Around. Another interesting fact about this song is that Dylan released three other versions of it from different records. It seems that he was never satisfied with one final version of this song. Some of the alternate versions had different lyrics, but the melody remained the same. Dylan had to rewrite one of the verses because it was so raunchy that it got him booed off stage. The chords to the song are not certain because there are so many versions, but the chords on the original version of “Blonde on Blonde” are most used.
Chords (according to Original version on "Blonde on Blonde")
Verse:
G Am G Am G Am G Am
Chorus:
Bm C Bm C D
Bridge:
Am Em Am Em Am Em Bm Am/C# D
Outro:
Bm C Bm C D
Line by Line Meaning
When she said, "Don't waste your words, they're just lies"
I cried because she did not perceive the value in my words.
And she worked on my face until breaking my eyes
She put in effort to change my perspective until it became too much for me to handle.
And saying "What else you got left?"
She challenged me to operate from a place of authenticity.
It was then that I got up to leave
I decided that it was time to go.
But she said, "Don't forget
She reminded me about an important responsibility we all share.
Everybody must give something back
We are all in debt to the world and must contribute.
For something they get"
For every benefit gained, we must repay in kind.
I stood there and hummed, I tapped on her drum
I was nervous and uncertain and tried to distract myself.
I asked her how come
I asked for the reasoning behind her behavior.
And she buttoned her boot, and straightened her suit
She prepared herself for potential confrontation.
And she said, "Don't be cute"
She cautioned me against being clever.
So I forced my hands in my pockets
I attempted to compose myself.
And felt with my thumbs
I searched my pockets for something to offer.
And gallantly handed her my very last piece of gum
I gave her what I had to give, even though it was not much.
She threw me outside, I stood in the dirt
She rejected me and left me to fend for myself.
Where everyone walked
I was vulnerable and exposed to the public.
And, when finding out I'd forgotten my shirt
I realized I was not properly prepared.
I went back and knocked
I returned to the woman for assistance.
I waited in the hallway, she went to get it
I patiently waited while she went to retrieve my forgotten item.
And I tried to make sense
I attempted to understand a confusing situation.
Out of that picture of you in your wheelchair
I contemplated an image of a person with a physical disability.
That leaned up against
That was propped up on.
Her Jamaican rum, and when she did come
When she returned with my shirt and her drink.
I asked her for some
I requested some of her rum.
She said, "No, dear", I said, "Your words are not clear
We miscommunicated and I questioned her response.
You'd better spit out your gum"
You should be more clear in your communication.
She screamed till her face got so red
She became very angry and emotional.
Then she fell on the floor
She collapsed.
And, I covered her up and then went and looked through her drawer
I tried to fix the situation and then acted inappropriately.
And when I was through, I filled up my shoe
I took what I wanted and concealed it in my shoe.
And brought it to you
I brought it to you.
And you, you took me in, you loved me then
You accepted and supported me despite my mistakes.
You never wasted time
You did not waste your resources on me.
And I, I never took much, I never asked for your crutch
I did not ask for too much or take advantage of your kindness.
Now don't ask for mine
Do not expect more from me than I am capable of giving.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BOB DYLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
nissi k
Love this so much! I love Bob covers and especially this Chuck Berry tune! Band is rocking’ too! 😃Great photo too! Thanks BF! 🙌
Cornelia Kapelinski
Rockin' all over the world - so nice ..a reference from a giant to a giant- that music never dies it goes around and around like the blood in the veins..
Addie
That's the sound that puts a smile on the saddest face! 😍😍😍
Colin Williams
BOB DYLAN covering CHUCK BERRY,all I can say is........"WELL, ALLL RIGHT!!!!"
SL Yeung
Amazing posting!
BuffaloSpringsteen
Just don't ever ask Keef to play "Carol..."🤣
Nicholas Fadely
Alright!!
G D
Did this song open the set?