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
Early Morning Rain
Bob Dylan Lyrics
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And an aching in my heart and my pockets full of sand
I'm a long way from home and I miss my loved one so
In the early morning rain with nowhere to go
Cut on runway number nine, big 707 set to go
I'm stuck here on the ground, where the cold winds blow
The liquor tasted good and the women all were fast
Hear the mighty engines roar, see the silver bird on high
She's away and westward bound, far above the clouds she'll fly
Where the morning rain don't fall and the sun always shines
She'll be flying over my home in about three hours time
This old airport's got me down, it's no earthly good to me
Because I'm stuck here on the ground, cold and drunks as I might be
You can't hop a jet plane like you can a freight train
So I'd best be on my way in the early morning rain
The lyrics of Bob Dylan's "Early Morning Rain" describe the bitter loneliness of a traveler who finds himself stranded at an airport, watching planes take off without him, and waiting for the next one to come. The singer in the song is filled with longing, both for the woman he loves and for the freedom that comes with being up in the sky, where the sun always shines and the rain never falls. The dollar in his hand and the ache in his heart weigh heavily on him, making him feel lost and helpless.
The lyric "pockets full of sand" is a metaphor for the singer's emptiness, his inability to find any solace in his surroundings. He feels he is a long way from home and the person he loves, and the rain and cold winds only seem to exacerbate his misery. The liquor he drinks and the women he sees only numb him to the reality of his situation, but he remains cognizant of his predicament, lamenting the fact that he cannot "hop a jet plane like you can a freight train." The song's theme speaks to the experience of anyone who has ever felt trapped in a situation they cannot control, and the longing for something better that must sustain them until they can break free.
Line by Line Meaning
In the early morning rain with a dollar in my hand
At the start of my day, I find myself penniless with only one dollar to my name.
And an aching in my heart and my pockets full of sand
Despite carrying little money, I'm carrying plenty of emotional baggage - heartache, loneliness, and perhaps regret.
I'm a long way from home and I miss my loved one so
I'm far from where I belong and yearning for the person I care about deeply. I feel lost and disconnected without them.
In the early morning rain with nowhere to go
As the day begins, I don't have a clear path or destination. I'm wandering aimlessly, hoping for some sort of direction.
Cut on runway number nine, big 707 set to go
I see a plane preparing to take off, and it reminds me of the opportunities I don't have. The 707 is large and powerful, ready for adventure.
I'm stuck here on the ground, where the cold winds blow
Unfortunately, I'm not able to join that plane. I'm feeling stuck in place, grounded, exposed to the harsh winds and elements around me.
The liquor tasted good and the women all were fast
I've turned to alcohol and fast women to comfort me, at least temporarily. These vices are my distractions from my problems and the world around me.
There she goes, my friend, she's rolling down at last
The plane is finally ready to take off, and I can only watch it go with wistful sadness. It's a tantalizing glimpse of freedom.
Hear the mighty engines roar, see the silver bird on high
As the plane edges closer to takeoff, I can only bask in its power - the loud vibrations, the gleaming silver - and wonder where it's going.
She's away and westward bound, far above the clouds, she'll fly
The plane is headed far away from here, to a place unknown inside or outside of this country. It's ascending higher and higher beyond my reach.
Where the morning rain don't fall and the sun always shines
I imagine a paradise where there's no rain or gray skies, where the sun always beams down on clear blue heavens. It's a place where everything is perfect, and nothing can bring you down.
She'll be flying over my home in about three hours' time
It dawns on me that the plane will be crossing over the place I'm from, but I won't be there to see it. It's as if life is passing me by while I'm still stuck in place.
This old airport's got me down, it's no earthly good to me
I'm starting to lament the airport and all its restrictions. It's nothing but a frustrating reminder of everything I can't have or do right now.
Because I'm stuck here on the ground, cold and drunk as I might be
Despite my attempts to distract myself, I'm still stuck in place with nothing to do. I feel numb and dazed, unsure of what to do with myself.
You can't hop a jet plane like you can a freight train
I'm realizing that planes and trains are different things. Trains are more reliable and easier to board, while planes are more expensive and restricted. It's a reminder that a journey isn't just about getting from point A to point B.
So I'd best be on my way in the early morning rain
Despite my longing to fly away with the plane, I know I have to make my own way in the world. It's up to me to find a new direction or purpose, even if it's not as glamorous as flying away to parts unknown.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Gordon Lightfoot
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@piyushsingh6363
In the early mornin' rain
With a dollar in my hand
And an achin' in my heart
And my pockets full of sand
I'm a long way from home
And I missed my loved one so
In the early mornin' rain, mm
With nowhere to go
Out on runway number nine
Big 707 set to go
I'm stuck here on the ground
Where the cold winds blow
The liquor tasted good
And the women all were fast
There she goes my friend
She's a rollin' down at last
Here the mighty engine's roar
See the silver bird on high
She's away in westward bound
Far above the clouds she'll fly
Where the mornin' rain don't fall
And the sun always shines
She'll be flyin' over my home
In about three hours time
This old airports got me down
It's no earthly good to me
'Cause I'm stuck here on the ground
Cold and drunk as I might be
You can't hop a jet plane
Like you can a freight train
So I best be on my way
In the early mornin' rain
@christophernapier5427
"Self-Portrait" was the first Dylan album that I bought back at the beginning of the 70s. This was one of my favourite tracks, and coming back to it 50 years later, it hasn't lost anything of its wonder.
@davidkariu2330
First time listening to it!
@deidresowerby4687
Rest easy Gordon. Your music played in the back of so much of my life. Fly high 💫💫💫
@samstone6032
Rest easy, Gordon❤
@billl9175
Just doesn't get much better than this one!!
@HelianaSuper
Morning'rain in this dry times is a bless... And this song is wonderful... What a voice, what a harmonica, what a dancing'rhytmys, what a piano... what a sweetness... Thanks for available this beautiful vídeo for us...
@tombarlow6076
Beautifully done . Nice to hear Bob doing someone else's song.
@marksallows113
Self Portrait was all cover songs, but great by any measure!
@ethanedwards7557
Always loved , “you can’t hop a jet plane like you can a freight train.”
@robertporte3729
Teared my eyes a dozen times today