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
Coming From the Heart
Bob Dylan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We have got to come together
How long can we stay apart?
You may get it maybe never
But it's coming from the heart.
Your life is full of indecision
We must get it in position
And move it on down the line.
'Cause the road is long, it's a long hard climb
I been on that road too long of a time
Yes the road is long, and it winds and winds
When I think of the love that I left behind.
Make me up a bed of roses
And hang them down from the vine
Of all my loves you've been the closest
That's ever been on my mind.
Please don't talk about tomorrow
I'm really not one to care
This world is filled with too much sorrow
That nobody's heart should bear.
'Cause the road is long, it's a long hard climb
I been on that road too long of a time
Yes the road is long, and it winds and winds
When I think of the love that I left behind.
Please, please give me indication
Stop and talk to me
Like a river that is flowing
My love will never cease to be.
You will always be my honey
No one could take your part
Our love can't be bought with money
'Cause it's coming from the heart.
'Cause the road is long, it's a long hard climb
I been on that road too long of a time
Yes the road is long, and it winds and winds
When I think of the love that I left behind.
The first stanza of this song talks about the importance of unity and coming together. The singer questions how long we can stay apart, suggesting that it is necessary to come together. The second line, "you may get it maybe never," could mean that understanding and realizing the need for unity may come to some more easily than others. However, it is emphasized that this sentiment is "coming from the heart," meaning it is sincere and genuine.
The second stanza addresses an individual who can't make up their mind and is indecisive. The singer encourages them to take action and move forward. The following stanza speaks to the difficulty of life's journey, with the "long hard climb" and winding road, and reflects on the love left behind. The next stanza expresses the depth of the singer's love for someone, saying that they have been the closest to them and on their mind.
The final stanza touches on the fleeting nature of life and emphasizes the importance of living in the present. The singer asks for communication and indication from the other person, comparing their love to a flowing river that never ceases. The song ends on an optimistic note, expressing the deepest feelings of love and connection that cannot be bought with money.
Line by Line Meaning
We have got to come together
We need to unite.
How long can we stay apart?
We can't stay disconnected forever.
You may get it maybe never
You might not understand it, but it's important.
But it's coming from the heart.
It's a sincere feeling or message.
Your life is full of indecision
You struggle with making decisions.
You can't make up your mind.
You easily get stuck in your thoughts.
We must get it in position
We need to take action and move forward.
And move it on down the line.
And continue making progress.
'Cause the road is long, it's a long hard climb
It's a difficult journey.
I been on that road too long of a time
I've experienced those struggles for too long.
Yes the road is long, and it winds and winds
It's a complex and challenging path.
When I think of the love that I left behind.
I regret leaving behind a great love.
Make me up a bed of roses
Create a romantic and peaceful atmosphere.
And hang them down from the vine
Decorate it beautifully.
Of all my loves you've been the closest
You're the one I feel closest to.
That's ever been on my mind.
You occupy a special place in my thoughts.
Please don't talk about tomorrow
Let's focus on the present moment.
I'm really not one to care
I'm not interested in discussing future plans.
This world is filled with too much sorrow
The world is too sad and overwhelming.
That nobody's heart should bear.
We shouldn't have to endure so much pain.
Please, please give me indication
Give me a sign.
Stop and talk to me
Pause and have a conversation with me.
Like a river that is flowing
Communicate openly and naturally.
My love will never cease to be.
My love for you will never fade.
You will always be my honey
You'll always be my sweetie.
No one could take your part
No one can replace you.
Our love can't be bought with money
Our love is priceless and cannot be materialized.
'Cause it's coming from the heart.
Because it's deeply sincere and emotional.
Contributed by Lauren P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.