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
Clean Cut Kid
Bob Dylan Lyrics
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Adjust to what, a dream that bust?
He was a clean-cut kid
But they made a killer out of him,
That's what they did
They said what's up is down, they said what isn't is
They put ideas in his head he thought were his
He was a clean-cut kid
That's what they did
He was on the baseball team, he was in the marching band
When he was ten years old he had a watermelon stand
He was a clean-cut kid
But they made a killer out of him,
That's what they did
He went to church on Sunday, he was a Boy Scout
For his friends he would turn his pockets inside out
He was a clean-cut kid
But they made a killer out of him,
That's what they did
They said, "Listen boy, you're just a pup"
They sent him to a napalm health spa to shape up
They gave him dope to smoke, drinks and pills,
A jeep to drive, blood to spill
They said "Congratulations, you got what it takes"
They sent him back into the rat race without any brakes
He was a clean-cut kid
But they made a killer out of him,
That's what they did
He bought the American dream but it put him in debt
The only game he could play was Russian roulette
He drank Coca-Cola, he was eating Wonder Bread,
Ate Burger Kings, he was well fed
He went to Hollywood to see Peter O'Toole
He stole a Rolls Royce and drove it in a swimming pool
They took a clean-cut kid
And they made a killer out of him,
That's what they did
He could've sold insurance, owned a restaurant or bar
Could've been an accountant or a tennis star
He was wearing boxing gloves, took a dive one day
Off the Golden Gate Bridge into China Bay
His mama walks the floor, his daddy weeps and moans
They gotta sleep together in a home they don't own
They took a clean-cut kid
And they made a killer out of him,
That's what they did
Well, everybody's asking why he couldn't adjust
All he ever wanted was somebody to trust
They took his head and turned it inside out
He never did know what it was all about
He had a steady job, he joined the choir
He never did plan to walk the high wire
They took a clean-cut kid
And they made a killer out of him,
That's what they did
The song "Clean Cut Kid" by Bob Dylan tells the story of a young man who was once a wholesome, innocent boy, but was turned into a killer by the society around him. The song criticizes the American dream by highlighting the dangers and consequences of blindly following the ideals of success and prosperity. The lyrics suggest that the pressures of society, its manipulations, and its corrupt values shattered the young man's spirit and identity, turning him into the complete opposite of who he once was.
The song describes how young men are turned into soldiers, stripped of their original dreams, lifestyles, and identities, and transformed into a tool of war. The second verse explicitly mentions the Vietnam War with the line "They sent him to a napalm health spa to shape up." The song suggests that young men are used as disposable objects by society to maintain the power of the ruling class, represented by the elite at the top of the societal ladder. The chorus repeats the phrase "clean-cut kid," emphasizing the idea that the victim was innocent and pure before being corrupted by society.
In conclusion, Dylan's "Clean Cut Kid" is a critique of American society that points out the tragic consequences of the American dream. The song accuses society of turning young men into war machines, exploiting them for economic or political gain. Dylan seems to denounce the values of a society that seeks conformity and obedience over individuality and integrity.
Line by Line Meaning
Everybody wants to know why he couldn't adjust
People are curious as to why he couldn't cope with something
Adjust to what, a dream that bust?
What did he have to adjust to, a shattered dream perhaps?
He was a clean-cut kid
He was a well-behaved young person
But they made a killer out of him,
But the people around him turned him into a killer
That's what they did
This is what they did to him
They said what's up is down, they said what isn't is
They messed with his mind and twisted his perception of reality
They put ideas in his head he thought were his
They influenced his thinking so much that he believed their ideas were his own
He was on the baseball team, he was in the marching band
He had a normal and wholesome childhood, participating in sports and music
When he was ten years old he had a watermelon stand
He was entrepreneurial from a young age
He went to church on Sunday, he was a Boy Scout
He was a religious person and a member of the Boy Scouts
For his friends he would turn his pockets inside out
He was generous with his friends
They said, "Listen boy, you're just a pup"
They belittled and patronized him
They sent him to a napalm health spa to shape up
They sent him to a boot camp that used cruel and harsh methods
They gave him dope to smoke, drinks and pills,
They introduced him to drugs and alcohol
A jeep to drive, blood to spill
They gave him the means to commit violent acts
They said "Congratulations, you got what it takes"
They praised and encouraged him for becoming a killer
They sent him back into the rat race without any brakes
They sent him back to society without any safeguards to protect and help him
He bought the American dream but it put him in debt
He pursued the American dream but it only led to financial troubles
The only game he could play was Russian roulette
The only option he had to survive was to gamble with his life
He drank Coca-Cola, he was eating Wonder Bread,
He was consuming popular American products
Ate Burger Kings, he was well fed
He ate at fast food chains and was physically fit
He went to Hollywood to see Peter O'Toole
He visited Hollywood to see a famous actor
He stole a Rolls Royce and drove it in a swimming pool
He committed a reckless and crazy act
He could've sold insurance, owned a restaurant or bar
He had the potential to succeed in a normal, non-violent profession
Could've been an accountant or a tennis star
He could have pursued a career in accounting or tennis
He was wearing boxing gloves, took a dive one day
He was participating in a rigged boxing match but decided to take a fall
Off the Golden Gate Bridge into China Bay
He committed suicide by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge into the water below
His mama walks the floor, his daddy weeps and moans
His parents are mourning and in a state of distress
They gotta sleep together in a home they don't own
They are forced to live in a home they don't own
Well, everybody's asking why he couldn't adjust
Everyone is curious as to why he couldn't cope with his situation
All he ever wanted was somebody to trust
He only wanted to trust someone
They took his head and turned it inside out
They manipulated and distorted his thinking
He never did know what it was all about
He never fully understood the implications of his actions
He had a steady job, he joined the choir
He had a stable job and was a member of a church choir
He never did plan to walk the high wire
He never intended to live a daring or risky life
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BOB DYLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind