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
Can't Wait
Bob Dylan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wait for you to change your mind
It's late
I'm tryin' to walk the line
Well, it's way past midnight
And there's some people all around
Some on their way up
The air burns and I'm tryin to think straight
And I don't know how much longer I can wait
I'm your man
I've tried to recover the sweet love that we knew
You understand
That my heart can't go on beating without you
Well your loveliness has wounded me
I'm reeling from the blow
I wish I knew what it was that keeps me loving you so
I'm breathin' hard standin' at the gate
Oh, but I don't know how much longer I can wait
Skies are gray
I'm looking for anything that will bring a happy glow
Night or day
It doesn't matter where I go anymore I just go
If I ever saw you comin' I don't know what I might do
I'd like to think I could control myself
But it isn't true
That's how it is
When things disintegrate
And I don't know how much longer I can wait
I'm doomed to love you
I been rollin' through stormy weather
I'm thinkin' of you
And all the places we could roam together
It's mighty funny
The end of time has just begun
Oh honey, after all these years you're still the one
Well I'm strollin' through the lonely graveyard of my mind
I left my life with you
Somewhere back there along the line
I thought somehow that I would be spared this day
I don't know how much longer I can wait
The lyrics of Bob Dylan's song "Can't Wait" describe a man who is waiting for his lover to change her mind about their relationship. The singer is struggling to keep his emotions in check as he waits for her to make a decision. The setting is late at night, with people around who are either on their way up or down. The air burns and the singer is having difficulty thinking clearly. He recognizes that his heart cannot go on beating without his lover, and that he is doomed to love her no matter what happens.
Throughout the song, the singer expresses his desire to recover the sweet love that they once shared. He is searching for something that will bring him a happy glow, but feels lost and alone. He cannot control his emotions and is afraid that he will lose control if he sees his lover. He feels that they are both trapped in a situation that is disintegrating, and he is unable to stop it. The song ends with a sense of resignation, as the singer accepts that he is doomed to love his lover even if it means waiting forever.
Overall, "Can't Wait" is a poignant and introspective exploration of love, loss, and the struggles that come with waiting for someone to make a decision about the future of a relationship. The lyrics are rich in imagery and emotion, and Bob Dylan's delivery adds a sense of urgency and depth to the song.
Line by Line Meaning
I can't wait
I am eagerly waiting for something to happen.
Wait for you to change your mind
I am waiting for you to have a change of heart.
It's late
It is getting dark or it is too late for something to happen.
I'm tryin' to walk the line
I am trying to remain balanced and composed in a difficult situation.
Well, it's way past midnight
It is very late at night.
And there's some people all around
There are people nearby.
Some on their way up
Some of them are doing well in life and achieving success.
Some on their way down
Some of them are not doing well in life and are facing difficulties.
The air burns and I'm tryin to think straight
The atmosphere is tense and I am struggling to think clearly.
And I don't know how much longer I can wait
I am running out of patience and can't wait much longer.
I'm your man
I am dedicated to you and your needs.
I've tried to recover the sweet love that we knew
I have been attempting to rekindle our former loving relationship.
You understand
You comprehend my feelings and the situation we are in.
That my heart can't go on beating without you
I can't survive without you, my heart feels incomplete.
Well your loveliness has wounded me
Your beauty and love has affected me deeply.
I'm reeling from the blow
I am feeling dizzy and disoriented from the impact of your love.
I wish I knew what it was that keeps me loving you so
I am unsure about what makes me love you so much.
I'm breathin' hard standin' at the gate
I am feeling nervous while waiting at the entrance.
Oh, but I don't know how much longer I can wait
I am running out of patience and can't wait much longer.
Skies are gray
The weather is bad and the sky is cloudy.
I'm looking for anything that will bring a happy glow
I am searching for something that will make me happy again.
Night or day
It does not matter if it is day or night, I am always searching.
It doesn't matter where I go anymore I just go
I am aimlessly wandering without any destination or purpose.
If I ever saw you comin' I don't know what I might do
I am not sure how I would react if I see you again.
I'd like to think I could control myself
I hope that I can keep my composure and remain calm.
But it isn't true
Unfortunately, I know I will not be able to control myself.
That's how it is
That is the reality of the situation.
When things disintegrate
When things fall apart or break down.
And I don't know how much longer I can wait
I am running out of patience and can't wait much longer.
I'm doomed to love you
I am destined to love you no matter what.
I been rollin' through stormy weather
I have been going through difficult times.
I'm thinkin' of you
You are always on my mind.
And all the places we could roam together
I remember all the happy times we had together and the places we went.
It's mighty funny
It is strange or ironic.
The end of time has just begun
A major change or event has just occurred or is about to happen.
Oh honey, after all these years you're still the one
After such a long time, you are still the one I love.
Well I'm strollin' through the lonely graveyard of my mind
I am wandering aimlessly in my thoughts and memories.
I left my life with you
I gave up my old life for you.
Somewhere back there along the line
In the past, before everything changed.
I thought somehow that I would be spared this day
I was hoping that I would not have to experience this difficult situation.
I don't know how much longer I can wait
I am running out of patience and can't wait much longer.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BOB DYLAN, ROBERT ALLEN ZIMMERMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@freddytw206
Thinkin' about ya Bob. Jesus is Lord!
I've been through,
Would like to sing with you
And a band. I would hope
I hear trumpet, drums, harmonica
And didgeridoo
You, some singers I know,
Me too.
Praise, the joy.
Will pray for you again soon.
God bless you Mr B. Dylan. Zimmerman
@juancamacho5746
I can't wait
Wait for you to change your mind
It's late
I'm trying to walk the line
Well, it's way past midnight and there's people all around
Some on their way up, some on their way down
The air burns and I'm trying to think straight
And I don't know how much longer I can wait
I'm your man
I'm trying to recover the sweet love that we knew
You understand.
That my heart can't go on beating without you
Well, your loveliness has wounded me, I'm reeling from the blow
I wish I knew what it was that keeps me loving you so
I'm breathing hard standing at the gate
But I don't know how much longer I can wait
Skies are grey
I'm looking for anything that'll bring a happy glow
Night or day
It doesn't matter where I go anymore, I just go
If I ever saw you coming I don't know what I might do
I'd like to think I could control myself but it isn't true
That's how it is when things disintegrate
And I don't know how much longer I can wait
I'm doomed to love you
I've been rolling through stormy weather
I'm thinking of you
And all the places we could roam together
It's mighty funny
The end of time has just begun
Oh honey
After all these years you're still the one
While I'm strolling through the lonely graveyard of my mind
I left my life with you somewhere back there along the line
I thought somehow that I would be spared this fate
But I don't know how much longer I can wait
@johnlittle7473
Probably the single most underrated masterpiece in a career dotted with an absolutely absurd number of them.
@tuckedup
just magic
@adamerhoads
top 10
@douggray8557
Listened to Dylan for 40 years over his whole catalog. So many individual pieces are brilliant, but to me, 3 albums stand out as his best statements of him as artist at different points in time. Time Out Of Mind, Blood on the Tracks & Bringing It All Back Home are those for me. The unified feel of each one, while wildly different from each other, captured a moment & a side of him from which I can always find something new. Thanks for reading...& for your thoughts.
@simpsimpson5175
Try SHOT OF LOVE
@patriciathewisher2315
Desire, Budokan, Planet Waves, Slow Train, Blonde on Blonde, Tempest, ….. to add just a few. X
@andrewlamour4723
not sure you can leave out any albums. in different periods of his life he was evolving as were the listeners of his albums. 75+ yrs and listened to him from the very earliest day of his first album. every albums is a picture into his soul. never certain why the Nobel committee waited so long to recognize his talents.
@freddytw206
Oh Mercy is good too
@keithhiebner5612
How does this not earn a ridiculous amount of likes?
@juliarosa9691
"It’s mighty funny, the end of time has just begun
Oh, honey, after all these years you’re still the one
While I’m strolling through the lonely graveyard of my mind
I left my life with you somewhere back there along the line
I thought somehow that I would be spared this fate
But I don’t know how much longer I can wait"
Amazing verse - this whole song resonates more and more as I get older.