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
Bob Dylan's Dream
Bob Dylan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I fell asleep for to take my rest
I dreamed a dream that made me sad
Concerning myself and the first few friends I had
With half-damp eyes I stared to the room
Where my friends and I'd spent many an afternoon
Where we together weathered many a storm
By the old wooden stove where our hats was hung
Our words were told, our songs were sung
Where we longed for nothin' and were satisfied
Jokin' and talkin' about the world outside
With hungry hearts through the heat and cold
We never much thought we could get very old
We thought we could sit forever in fun
But our chances really was a million to one
As easy it was to tell black from white
It was all that easy to tell wrong from right
And our choices they was few so the thought never hit
That the one road we traveled would ever shatter and split
How many a year has passed and gone?
Many a gamble has been lost and won
And many a road taken by many a first friend
And each one I've never seen again
I wish, I wish, I wish in vain
That we could sit simply in that room again
Ten thousand dollars at the drop of a hat
I'd give it all gladly if our lives could be like that
In Bob Dylan's song "Bob Dylan's Dream, the singer recounts a dream that he had while riding on a train going west. In the dream, he was with his old friends in a room where they used to hang out, play music and tell each other stories of their youthful adventures. Dylan laments the passage of time and how they have all grown apart, wishing that they could go back to the simple times where they didn't want for anything, and were content just being in each other's company. They were naïve and thought they could stay forever young and sit in fun, but life had other plans, and they all took different roads, leaving him feeling wistful for the companionship they once held.
The song is a poignant reflection of the bonds of friendship and how they change over time. It is a reminder to cherish the moments we have with loved ones, as they may not always be around. Dylan's use of imagery and metaphorical language paints a vivid picture of the past and the contrast between then and now. He longs for the simplicity and innocence of the past, where they didn't have to worry about anything beyond each other's company.
Overall, "Bob Dylan's Dream" is a nostalgic and reflective piece that speaks to the human experience of growing older and moving on from the past.
Line by Line Meaning
While riding on a train goin' west
Bob Dylan was traveling west on a train.
I fell asleep for to take my rest
Bob Dylan went to sleep to rest.
I dreamed a dream that made me sad
Bob Dylan had a dream that made him sad.
Concerning myself and the first few friends I had
Bob Dylan's dream was about himself and his first few friends.
With half-damp eyes I stared to the room
Bob Dylan looked around the room with half-damp eyes.
Where my friends and I'd spent many an afternoon
The room was a place where Bob Dylan and his friends had spent many afternoons.
Where we together weathered many a storm
Bob Dylan and his friends had gone through many challenging times together.
Laughin' and singin' till the early hours of the morn
They laughed and sang till the early hours of the morning.
By the old wooden stove where our hats was hung
Their hats were hung by an old wooden stove.
Our words were told, our songs were sung
They talked and sang songs.
Where we longed for nothin' and were satisfied
They longed for nothing and were content with what they had.
Jokin' and talkin' about the world outside
They talked and joked about the world outside.
With hungry hearts through the heat and cold
They had passionate hearts, for good or ill, through difficult times.
We never much thought we could get very old
They never thought they would age.
We thought we could sit forever in fun
They thought they could have fun and sit around forever.
But our chances really was a million to one
Their chances of that were remote.
As easy it was to tell black from white
It was just as easy to distinguish right from wrong.
It was all that easy to tell wrong from right
The difference between right and wrong wasn't hard to tell.
And our choices they was few so the thought never hit
They had few choices so they never thought about it.
That the one road we traveled would ever shatter and split
They did not expect that the road they took would split and leave them alone.
How many a year has passed and gone?
Years have passed since then.
Many a gamble has been lost and won
They have won some and lost some gambles.
And many a road taken by many a first friend
Their first friends have taken many different paths.
And each one I've never seen again
Bob Dylan has never seen any of his old friends again.
I wish, I wish, I wish in vain
Bob Dylan wishes in vain.
That we could sit simply in that room again
Bob Dylan wishes they could sit together in that room again.
Ten thousand dollars at the drop of a hat
Bob Dylan would give ten thousand dollars at a moment's notice.
I'd give it all gladly if our lives could be like that
He would give it all to have the same life they had back then.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BOB DYLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@maryfulham1522
i🐖address this comment 2 BOB personally, 4 You are The secreTery
oF someOne. 2day- 8,14,22- is the 1st × ihear This Song I've lived...Last
Verse:(my com-ment):🎶 iwish, iswish, iswiS.H: in vein 🎶 - T'he Main arTERY in2 💔💜The E. Port A'Gain💲💲@ The drop❣of a
"Hood" tHat Did, + Died !!
"Wood!".? "Yes! Gladly!" the
cross eyed Bare..in the pocket of
H⌛our:blue Gene's :28:12(11-22)
BOB DYLAN,humbly with all respect,💝 is "This PerFecT+True Dream of your's" : the 2nd. reason y - you named"your son"+(Lad'heir)Jakob?
"Rough an Roudy Ways" ( 4A 🐃s
🐂Gal.6:14.) 🇺🇸 )...must 🐝 the🍒
"on the bottom"🎶(idot wind)🎶🎶
of the upside🙃down 1.🍍2.🌲🍎
Cake an' eat it!! 2: Gladly & GrateFULy
4 AL'!! 🚬🚬🚬+🚬 Ful pack 🚬's 🎵"Tempest"🎵deepest! ThankYou!
4 what Came next ; 8,10,22 iwas walking a forested path listening
2 🎵"🌈Cross🌈The Green💚Mountian"🎵...never had i heard a more Heartfelt" TruthFUL! 💙😭 eULogy....Sincere! Unfathomable! Gratitude!❤ Floods my soul..🎶 It🎶 was the 1st × i heard🙏" It🎵"....💞
❣🕷🍃"Like an' oak🌳" 🍃🌻🍃🌹!!
@mrunalvora209
[Verse 1]
While riding on a train going west
I fell asleep for to take my rest
I dreamed a dream that made me sad
Concerning myself and the first few friends I had
[Verse 2]
With half-damp eyes I stared to the room
Where my friends and I spent many an afternoon
Where we together weathered many a storm
Laughin and singin till the early hours of the morn
[Verse 3]
By the old wooden stove where our hats was hung
Our words was told, our songs was sung
Where we longed for nothing and were satisfied
Jokin' and talkin' about the world outside
[Verse 4]
With hungry hearts through the heat and cold
We never much thought we could get very old
We thought we could sit forever in fun
And our chances really was a million to one
[Instrument Break]
[Verse 5]
As easy it was to tell black from white
It was all that easy to tell wrong from right
And our choices, they were few so the thought never hit
That the one road we traveled would ever shatter or split
[Verse 6]
How many a year has passed and gone
Many a gamble has been lost and won
And many a road taken by many a first friend
And each one I’ve never seen again
[Instrument Break]
[Verse 7]
I wish, I wish, I wish in vain
That we could sit simply in that room again
Ten thousand dollars at the drop of a hat
And I’d give it all gladly if our lives could be like that
@deadflo
I am 65 years old. I bought this album in high school, and at that time it reminded me of me and my closest pals, who just a couple years earlier had hung out in a tiny cabin/ apartment place where one of my friends lived. We all played guitars, smoked , and tripped there, and essentially grew up fast together, sharing our souls. Even two years later when I heard this song it seemed somewhat nostalgic. Now almost 50 years later, almost every one of those friends has passed away. The hairs on the back of my neck stand up when I hear this song now. 10 thousand dollars at the drop of a hat. I'd give it all gladly if my life could be like that.
@plwarren
Wow..I feel exactly the same. I’m re-listening to all his early stuff. This song is so, almost disturbing, because of what it meant to me in my long life. It really brings tears to my eyes. It’s like my favorite new Dylan song of course along with many other favorites.
@priced80
Yeah me too. I'm 41 and each time I hear this over the last 20 years that feeling gets stronger. I'm much richer now but i have so much responsibility and I miss those careless penniless days where we would stay up all night getting wasted with good friends.
@jimw.4161
I know exactly what you mean.....
@kevincmolloy
I ridin that same train friend , love this song 50 years on , the magic and the memories still livin on , Zimmy forever .
@HannibalOrJustRex
I'm only in my mid 30s, but I had a good time as a teenager getting together with a group of friends and playing music in the bedroom of an old mobile home at least two or three times a week. I knew this song well, and some nights when I drove back home I'd have this song in my head and I would tear up with the understanding that it wasn't going to last forever. It made me want to appreciate every moment we had together. I did, and I still do, but I miss those days so so very much.
@Goatchild90
One of Bob Dylan's best songs. Absolute masterpiece.
@Jra7o15
You could say that statement about any of Dylan's songs and it would be true.
@Goatchild90
@@Jra7o15 there’s some truth to that
@JamesSmith-ko4xq
It’s few people that realize that this song was one of his best ever . I’m a huge Dylan fan, but I always wondered where was the love for this tune.