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
Folsom Prison Blues
Bob Dylan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I ain't seen the sunshine since I don't know when
I'm stucked in Folsom Prison and time keeps dragging on
And I hear that whistle blowing all down to San Antone
When I was just a baby my momma told me: son
Always be a good boy, don't ever play with guns
But I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die
I bet there's rich folks eating in their fancy dining cars
They're probably drinking coffee and smoking big cigars
But I know I had it coming, I know I can't be free
But the people keep a-moving, and that's what tortures me
If they'd free me from this prison, if that railroad train was mine
You bet I moved it on a little further down the line
Far from Folsom Prison that's where I long to stay
And I'd let that lonesome whistle blow my blues away
The opening lines of Bob Dylan’s "Folsom Prison Blues" describe a man behind bars who hears the sound of a train coming. The song is a first-person narrative of a prisoner's troubled life in Folsom Prison. The prisoner describes how he hasn't seen sunlight for a very long time, and time just keeps dragging on. The lyrics express an intense sadness for the prisoner's current situation, but also a glimmer of hope that he could be free if the train belonged to him.
The lyrics go on to say how the prisoner is reminded of his childhood, when his mother warned him to stay away from guns. The prisoner then admits to shooting a man in Reno in the second verse. The last verse takes on a different tone as the prisoner imagines himself far from the prison, riding on the train he hears coming. The lyrics suggest that the prisoner knows he’s done wrong, but hasn't lost hope for freedom.
"J.R." Cash wrote the original song in 1955 while serving in the Air Force (in Germany) after seeing the film Inside the Walls of Folsom Prison while stationed in Germany. He played the song on his guitar while touring with the Tennessee Two (later known as the Tennessee Three). Cash was never an inmate at Folsom Prison, but he performed there twice, once in 1966 and again in 1968. Cash's concerts at Folsom helped to inspire his album, At Folsom Prison, which was recorded and released in 1968.
Line by Line Meaning
I hear that train a-rolling, it's a-rolling round the bend
I can hear the sound of the train approaching and it’s rolling around the bend
I ain't seen the sunshine since I don't know when
I’ve been deprived of freedom for so long that I haven’t seen the sunshine in ages
I'm stucked in Folsom Prison and time keeps dragging on
I’m confined to this prison and time seems to be moving slower than ever
And I hear that whistle blowing all down to San Antone
As the train passes by, the sound of the whistle echoes down to San Antone
When I was just a baby my momma told me: son
My mother taught me when I was a child
Always be a good boy, don't ever play with guns
To always behave myself and not to play with firearms
But I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die
However, I committed a crime and shot a man in Reno purely for amusement
When I hear that train a-pulling I hang my head and cry
I become sorrowful and weep whenever I hear the sound of the train pass by
I bet there's rich folks eating in their fancy dining cars
I imagine the wealthy enjoying themselves in luxurious dining cars
They're probably drinking coffee and smoking big cigars
They’re probably drinking coffee and smoking cigars
But I know I had it coming, I know I can't be free
Although my imprisonment feels unjust, I acknowledge that I deserve to be punished and won’t ever truly be free
But the people keep a-moving, and that's what tortures me
Seeing other people move freely about their lives while I’m trapped in prison is especially torturous
If they'd free me from this prison, if that railroad train was mine
If only someone could free me from this imprisonment and hand me the control of that railway train
You bet I moved it on a little further down the line
I would certainly move that train further down the tracks
Far from Folsom Prison that's where I long to stay
I long to stay far away from Folsom Prison
And I'd let that lonesome whistle blow my blues away
I would allow the sound of the train’s lonesome whistle to ease my sorrow and troubles
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHNNY R. CASH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@statmaneleven6096
Just bob and the band playing a legendary cash tune. No bigs😂
@jannordelius7464
superversion.....I couldnt stand still....haha
@irabrook
Great jam
@jackorion7157
Yay
@jessandjeff101
Yay yay
@Carlossantanamusicinc
Hello Dear, it’s nice meeting you on here!
@JorgeLMarquezsM
La voz y el bajo priman en mi escucha, como polos
@yamapenny5960
Grandios 🎵🎶👍
@areyashore
Way kool... fanks
@sandrawadsworth5173
👍❤️💯