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
Forever Young
Bob Dylan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
May your wishes all come true
May you always do for others
And let others do for you
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung
May you stay forever young
May you stay forever young
May you grow up to be righteous
May you grow up to be true
May you always know the truth
And see the light surrounding you
May you always be courageous
Stand upright and be strong
May you stay forever young
May you stay forever young
May your hands always be busy
May your feet always be swift
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift
May your heart always be joyful
May your song always be sung
And may you stay forever young
May you stay forever young
Bob Dylan's song Forever Young is a loving ode from a parent to their child, wishing them well in their life journey. The lyrics offer a series of blessings for the child, expressing the parent's hopes and dreams for their offspring. The song is essentially a prayer, as the sender requests God's eternal blessing and guidance for their beloved child.
The first stanza of the song wishes the child a fulfilling and prosperous life. It hopes that all their wishes and desires are fulfilled, and that they learn to give as much as they take. The parent wants their child to succeed in life, and reach the highest of heights, represented by the metaphorical ladder to the stars. But ultimately, the focus is on remaining young, as a symbol of vitality, of being alive and present in the moment and the world.
The second stanza offers a clear moral and ethical foundation to the child's life. The parent expresses their desire that the child grows up to be righteous, true, and courageous, with a deep connection to the truth and the light. The emphasis is placed on being strong and upright, withstanding the winds of change that life can bring. This desire is echoed in the final stanza, as the parent wishes the child to always have a meaningful purpose, and to experience joy and song throughout their life.
Line by Line Meaning
May God bless and keep you always
May the grace of God surround you and protect you in all aspects of your life, now and forevermore.
May your wishes all come true
May all your hopes, dreams, and aspirations be fulfilled and realized in your future endeavors.
May you always do for others
May you consistently act altruistically and selflessly in order to support and serve those around you.
And let others do for you
May you always be open and receptive to receiving help, support, and love from those around you without hesitation or shame.
May you build a ladder to the stars
May you have the courage, determination, and perseverance to pursue your deepest passions and aspirations with all your heart and soul.
And climb on every rung
May you take every obstacle, setback, and challenge as an opportunity to grow, learn, and further your personal development.
May you stay forever young
May you always maintain a youthful spirit and never lose your sense of wonder, curiosity, and enthusiasm towards life.
May you grow up to be righteous
May you mature into an individual with strong moral values, ethical principles, and a sense of justice, fairness, and compassion towards all living beings.
May you grow up to be true
May you become a truthful, honest, and authentic person who lives and speaks their truth, no matter the consequences or circumstances.
May you always know the truth
May you have the ability and wisdom to distinguish between truth, falsehood, and illusion, and to perceive reality as it is without bias or prejudice.
And see the light surrounding you
May you have the awareness, insight, and perception to see the beauty, goodness, and positivity that surrounds and envelops you, even in the darkest of times.
May you always be courageous
May you possess the bravery, confidence, and resilience to face your fears, take risks, and pursue your aspirations despite any obstacles or uncertainties.
Stand upright and be strong
May you have the courage, integrity, and fortitude to stand up for your beliefs, values, and principles in the face of adversity or pressure to conform.
May your hands always be busy
May you always be engaged in meaningful work, creative projects, or service to others that brings fulfillment, purpose, and satisfaction to your life.
May your feet always be swift
May you have the agility, flexibility, and adaptability to navigate through life with ease, grace, and nimbleness despite any challenges or obstacles that come your way.
May you have a strong foundation
May you have a solid, strong, and grounded sense of self, identity, and purpose that provides you with stability, support, and resilience in times of uncertainty or vulnerability.
When the winds of changes shift
When unforeseen or unexpected events or changes occur in your life, may you have the resilience, adaptability, and resourcefulness to weather the storms with grace, strength, and hope.
May your heart always be joyful
May you always experience the inner joy, happiness, and contentment that comes from living a life of purpose, meaning, and connection with yourself and others.
May your song always be sung
May you continue to express yourself creatively, authentically, and passionately through your unique voice, talents, and gifts in a way that inspires and uplifts others.
And may you stay forever young
May you always maintain a youthful, vibrant, and energetic spirit that exudes hope, optimism, and positivity regardless of your age or circumstances.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bob Dylan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bryan Keisling
Lyrics:
[Verse 1]
May God bless and keep you always
May your wishes all come true
May you always do for others
And let others do for you
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young
[Verse 2]
May you grow up to be righteous
May you grow up to be true
May you always know the truth
And see the lights surrounding you
May you always be courageous
Stand upright and be strong
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young
[Verse 3]
May your hands always be busy
May your feet always be swift
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift
May your heart always be joyful
May your song always be sung
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young
Francesco Caruso
May God bless and keep you always
May your wishes all come true
May you always do for others
And let others do for you
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung
May you stay forever young
May you stay forever young
May you grow up to be righteous
May you grow up to be true
May you always know the truth
And see the light surrounding you
May you always be courageous
Stand upright and be strong
May you stay forever young
May you stay forever young
May your hands always be busy
May your feet always be swift
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift
May your heart always be joyful
May your song always be sung
And may you stay forever young
May you stay forever young
Edna
I'm sharing this beautiful song with my little sister, who is turning fifty and fabulous today. I couldn't find better words to celebrate this day. Thank you, Bob! ❤🎶🙋🏻♀️🇧🇷
Luis Fernando Ribeiro
PARA SEMPRE JOVEN 😂
Rippi Zarsoff
I want this song played at my funeral along with Never Say Goodbye ....for my wonderful sons.....( sounds morbid.....lol )...this is a beautiful gift to the world from Bob and The Band.....divine !!! THANK YOU BOB and The Band ! My fav album of all time xxx
Chrisstapletonmusicinc
Hello Dear, it’s nice meeting you on here!
Edwynn
I’m going to play this at my fathers retirement on Thursday. Wish me luck friends❤
Marion Capriotti
Beautiful -- this is a blessing that any mother, father, teacher should be proud to bestow on a young person.
Patricia Delicia
My mum’s favourite Dylan song
mrfedupable
@Patricia Delicia this is not just for 'young' people.
Bryan Keisling
Lyrics:
[Verse 1]
May God bless and keep you always
May your wishes all come true
May you always do for others
And let others do for you
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young
[Verse 2]
May you grow up to be righteous
May you grow up to be true
May you always know the truth
And see the lights surrounding you
May you always be courageous
Stand upright and be strong
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young
[Verse 3]
May your hands always be busy
May your feet always be swift
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift
May your heart always be joyful
May your song always be sung
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young
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