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
Duquesne Whistle
Bob Dylan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Blowing like it's gonna sweep my world away
I'm gonna stop at Carmangale and keep on going
That Duquesne train gon' rock me night and day
You say I'm a gambler, you say I'm a pimp
But I ain't neither one
Sound like it's on a final run
Listen to that Duquesne whistle blowing
Blowing like she never blowed before
Little light blinking, red light glowing
Blowing like she's at my chamber door
You smiling through the fence at me
Just like you've always smiled before
Listen to that Duquesne whistle blowing
Blowing like she ain't gon' blow no more
Can't you hear that Duquesne whistle blowing?
Blowing like the sky's gonna blow apart
You're the only thing alive that keeps me going
You're like a time bomb in my heart
I can hear a sweet voice steadily calling
Must be the mother of our Lord
Listen to that Duquesne whistle blowing
Blowing like my woman's on board
Listen to that Duquesne whistle blowing
Blowing like it's gon' blow my blues away
You're a rascal, I know exactly where you're going
I'll lead you there myself at the break of day
I wake up every morning with that woman in my bed
Everybody telling me she's gone to my head
Listen to that Duquesne whistle blowing
Blowing like it's gon' kill me dead
Can't you hear that Duquesne whistle blowing?
Blowing through another no good town
The lights on my native land are glowing
I wonder if they'll know me next time 'round
I wonder if that old oak tree's still standing
That old oak tree, the one we used to climb
Listen to that Duquesne whistle blowing
Blowing like she's blowing right on time
The Bob Dylan song Duquesne Whistle is a poetic exploration of themes of restlessness, longing, and nostalgia. The titular Duquesne whistle is symbolic of moving on, of the inexorable progression of time and the journey of life. The singer is drawn towards this whistle, with its haunting, melancholic sound that seems to capture all the emotions he is feeling. He is tempted to follow it, to step on board the train and be swept away, leaving behind his old life and all the troubles that come with it.
The singer is also grappling with issues of identity, with people accusing him of being a gambler and a pimp but him denying that he's either. He is keenly aware of the expectations placed on him by society, and is struggling to assert himself against them.
The woman in the song also plays an important role, representing both temptation and salvation. She is both the cause of the singer's restlessness and the only thing that keeps him going. In her absence, he is lost and alone, unable to find his way in the world.
Overall, Duquesne Whistle is a richly layered song that offers a powerful commentary on life, love, and the human condition.
Line by Line Meaning
Listen to that Duquesne whistle blowing
The singer is drawn to the sound of the train whistle, which represents the movement and change in life.
Blowing like it's gonna sweep my world away
The singer feels like the train is charging through their life and changing everything.
I'm gonna stop at Carmangale and keep on going
The singer plans to pause briefly, but then continue on with their journey.
That Duquesne train gon' rock me night and day
The artist is so consumed by the sound of the train, they feel like it is affecting their entire life.
You say I'm a gambler, you say I'm a pimp
The artist is being accused of negative things, but denies these accusations.
But I ain't neither one
The singer is not the person they are being accused of being.
Sound like it's on a final run
The train whistle sounds like this is the last time it will be heard before it reaches its final destination.
Blowing like she never blowed before
The sound of the train whistle is more intense and powerful than ever before.
Little light blinking, red light glowing
The train is moving so fast that its lights appear to be flashing and glowing steadily.
Blowing like she's at my chamber door
The artist feels like the sound of the train whistle is invading their personal space.
You smiling through the fence at me
Someone is looking at the singer and smiling, perhaps in an eerie or unsettling way.
Just like you've always smiled before
The smile seems familiar, but the artist cannot identify who the person is.
Blowing like she ain't gon' blow no more
The singer feels like this is the last time the train whistle will be heard.
Can't you hear that Duquesne whistle blowing?
The singer urges others to listen to the train whistle and experience the intense emotion it brings.
Blowing like the sky's gonna blow apart
The train whistle is so loud and powerful that it seems like the sky could split open.
You're the only thing alive that keeps me going
The artist is inspired and encouraged by someone or something that is still lively and vibrant.
You're like a time bomb in my heart
The person or thing that is keeping the artist motivated is like an explosive force within them.
I can hear a sweet voice steadily calling
The singer hears the voice of a kind and gentle person guiding them.
Must be the mother of our Lord
The singer senses that the voice must be coming from a religious or divine presence.
Blowing like my woman's on board
The sound of the train whistle brings to mind the artist's romantic partner or love interest.
Blowing like it's gon' blow my blues away
The train whistle represents a release from sadness or difficult circumstances.
You're a rascal, I know exactly where you're going
The artist knows that someone is up to no good and anticipates their future actions.
I'll lead you there myself at the break of day
The singer plans to confront the person and ensure that they are held accountable for their actions.
I wake up every morning with that woman in my bed
The artist experiences happiness and contentment with their partner.
Everybody telling me she's gone to my head
Others are warning the singer that their love for their partner is becoming excessive or obsessive.
Blowing like it's gon' kill me dead
The sound of the train whistle is so overwhelming that it feels like it could be fatal.
Blowing through another no good town
The train whistle carries on, unabated, through a town that is considered undesirable or dangerous.
The lights on my native land are glowing
The artist sees the familiar lights of their home country in the distance.
I wonder if they'll know me next time 'round
The artist is uncertain if they will be recognized or remembered after being away from home for some time.
I wonder if that old oak tree's still standing
The singer wonders if a particular tree from their past is still in existence.
That old oak tree, the one we used to climb
The singer has fond memories of a tree that they used to climb and play on.
Blowing like she's blowing right on time
The train whistle is so powerful and significant that it seems to be following a pre-determined schedule.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ROBERT HUNTER, BOB DYLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@randallmikkelsen
@@annonymost9318 - Yes, I asked Hunter about it. I asked if he liked the video. He said he hadn't seen it.: "Q - What about Bob Dylan?
A - A lot of people ask that question – “What about Bob Dylan?” I think he is a mysterious force majeure in this world and anything I would say about him would either be too far off to the side or under-expression. What are you going to say? We all have a Bob Dylan in our heads somewhere. He managed to be that guy. It can’t be easy, you know, it can’t be easy.”
Q – What did you think of the video of the Duquesne Whistle? Did you see that scenario at all in your head when you wrote it?
A – I didn’t see the video. I can’t help you. That’s the easy way of getting past answering Dylan questions: don’t look at the video.
It’s not to me to criticize or anything else. The guy does what he does and always has. The fact that he worked with me is almost typical of the absolutely unforeseeable stuff the guy decides to do. True original. He just called up one day and said, how about it? And he gave me a bunch of titles he wanted to work with and we just got to work.
Q – So you worked from titles?
A – Yeah, I’ve often thought if you can get the right title your song is 50 percent written."
@AWSOMEPOSSUM16
Bob's voice has aged quite gracefully... Seriously tho, great tune. Not many artists from 50 years back can still be decent songwriters. And Mr. Dylan is way more than decent. Mad props to a dying breed.
@emintey
Probably the greatest songwriter of our time but, I'd say on this tune a nod should be given to Tom Paxton.
@globe255
He is not a singer!
@ruxis8179
@@globe255 well technically he is
@josealejandrotorrejon6586
Horrible voice
@roykentseyebrows4196
I'd say that he's writing songs that fit his more limited range at 70+ years old.
@nakkimakacasper
Dylan got a little Louie Armstrong in his voice these days..gotta love it!!
@g0ne_fishing
@@derrydylanger8994 pause
@ripple947
@@g0ne_fishing That would be Louis Armstrong, which he pronounced Lewis
@reddwing4368
@@ripple947 nope
It's french
Lou-ee