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
Blind Willie McTell (Infidels outtakes 4-83 to 5-83
Bob Dylan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Saying, "This land is condemned
All the way from New Orleans
To Jerusalem."
I traveled through East Texas
Where many martyrs fell
And I know no one can sing the blues
Like Blind Willie McTell
Well, I heard the hoot owl singing
As they were taking down the tents
The stars above the barren trees
Were his only audience
Them charcoal gypsy maidens
Can strut their feathers well
But nobody can sing the blues
Like Blind Willie McTell
See them big plantations burning
Hear the cracking of the whips
Smell that sweet magnolia blooming
(And) see the ghosts of slavery ships
I can hear them tribes a-moaning
(I can) hear the undertaker's bell
(Yeah), nobody can sing the blues
Like Blind Willie McTell
There's a woman by the river
With some fine young handsome man
He's dressed up like a squire
Bootlegged whiskey in his hand
There's a chain gang on the highway
I can hear them rebels yell
And I know no one can sing the blues
Like Blind Willie McTell
Well, God is in heaven
And we all want what's his
But power and greed and corruptible seed
Seem to be all that there is
I'm gazing out the window
Of the St. James Hotel
And I know no one can sing the blues
Like Blind Willie McTell
The lyrics of Bob Dylan's "Blind Willie McTell" are a reflection on the history of America, from the slavery era to the modern times. The song starts with a reference to the widespread corruption and destruction that has taken over the country, marked by an arrow on the doorpost saying that "This land is condemned". Dylan then reflects on his travels through East Texas, where he saw the struggle of the many martyrs who fell, and he realizes that no one can sing the blues like Blind Willie McTell.
The second stanza sees the singer hearing the hoot owl singing as the tents are taken down, the stars above the barren trees serving as the only audience. He observes the charcoal gypsy maidens strutting their feathers as nobody can sing the blues like Blind Willie McTell. The third stanza of the song takes us into the era of slavery, with the big plantations burning, the cracking of the whips, and the sweet magnolia blooming, as the ghosts of the slavery ships roam the land. He can hear the moaning of the slaves and the undertaker's bell, and once again, he acknowledges that nobody can sing the blues like Blind Willie McTell.
In the final stanza, Dylan reflects on the present, with a woman by the river and a handsome man with bootlegged whiskey in his hand. He observes the chain gang on the highway, and he can hear the rebels yell. He concludes that while God is in heaven and we all want what's his, power, greed, and corruptible seed seem to be all that there is. The song ends with Dylan gazing out the window of the St. James Hotel and acknowledging that he knows no one can sing the blues like Blind Willie McTell.
Line by Line Meaning
Seen the arrow on the doorpost
Saying, 'This land is condemned
All the way from New Orleans
To Jerusalem.'
I have come across a warning sign that highlights how the entire land is cursed and abandoned, stretching from New Orleans all the way to Jerusalem.
I traveled through East Texas
Where many martyrs fell
And I know no one can sing the blues
Like Blind Willie McTell
During my travels by East Texas, I came across the sites where a lot of martyrs have died, and I am certain that there is no one who can sing blues as well as Blind Willie McTell.
Well, I heard the hoot owl singing
As they were taking down the tents
The stars above the barren trees
Were his only audience
Them charcoal gypsy maidens
Can strut their feathers well
But nobody can sing the blues
Like Blind Willie McTell
As the tents were being taken down, I heard the melancholic sound of the hoot owl's singing under the sky full of stars. Though the charcoal gypsy ladies have impressive skills, there's no one who can perform blues music as skillfully as Blind Willie McTell.
See them big plantations burning
Hear the cracking of the whips
Smell that sweet magnolia blooming
(And) see the ghosts of slavery ships
I can hear them tribes a-moaning
(I can) hear the undertaker's bell
(Yeah), nobody can sing the blues
Like Blind Willie McTell
I witnessed the massive plantations getting burnt down while I could hear the whips cracking down on the slaves. I could catch the scent of the sweet magnolia blooming, and the figures of slavery ships' ghosts lying around. I could hear the tribes mourning their fall and the sound of an undertaker's bell. Truly, no one possesses the skill to render blues like Blind Willie McTell.
There's a woman by the river
With some fine young handsome man
He's dressed up like a squire
Bootlegged whiskey in his hand
There's a chain gang on the highway
I can hear them rebels yell
And I know no one can sing the blues
Like Blind Willie McTell
I see a lady by the river with a fine young man carrying illegal whiskey, posing as a squire. I can also hear the guffaws of rebellious scoffers on the highway who are bound by chains. Indeed, no one is capable of rendering blues as Blind Willie McTell does.
Well, God is in heaven
And we all want what's his
But power and greed and corruptible seed
Seem to be all that there is
I'm gazing out the window
Of the St. James Hotel
And I know no one can sing the blues
Like Blind Willie McTell
Though everyone wishes to claim God's authority, only a few are capable of it as the majority are corruptively obsessed with overpowering and exploiting others. I am staring out of the window at the St. James Hotel, and I am convinced that nobody can be as exceptional at performing blues as Blind Willie McTell is.
Contributed by Aria T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@barokfin
Only Bob can sing a song fifty different ways and still knock it out of the park every time.
@greysenG10
Ikr, a part of me thinks this isn't even good. But Bob just makes it great, it's odd.
@greysenG10
Like it seems kind of spoofy compared to the amazing original. I think if anyone else made this version I wouldn't like it, but Bob is different.
@blaizerhodes
This is actually a problem for me... cause I've been listening to Dylan for 32 years now (not looking for a prize.. I'm sure many can beat me) but I have to go and listen to the 50 different versions to try and find the one version that I've decided is the best.
@joshuamunro9194
By far the best version of the song so far. Truly beautiful
@academieparlerbruxellois517
I truly believe that if Mr Dylan decided to make a record with only one song and different versions of it, it would still be a master piece !
@bollykecks
Yeah, he is the master of the alternate version.
@michelepilon5817
In the middle of the night, Bob Dylan’s voice. Sweet light, great song.
@randylinkert2615
Hello
@user-is4jf8yr4z
The voice, the phrasing -simply stunning.