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
Gonna Change My Way of Thinking
Bob Dylan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Make myself a different set of rules.
Gonna change my way of thinking,
Make myself a different set of rules.
Gonna put my good foot forward,
And stop being influenced by fools.
So much oppression,
So much oppression,
Can't keep track of it no more.
Sons becoming husbands to their mothers,
And old men turning young daughters into whores.
Stripes on your shoulders,
Stripes on your back and on your hands.
Stripes on your shoulders,
Stripes on your back and on your hands.
Swords piercing your side,
Blood and water flowing through the land.
Well don't know which one is worse,
Doing your own thing or just being cool.
Well don't know which one is worse,
Doing your own thing or just being cool.
You remember only about the brass ring,
You forget all about the golden rule.
You can mislead a man,
You can take ahold of his heart with your eyes.
You can mislead a man,
You can take ahold of his heart with your eyes.
But there's only one authority,
And that's the authority on high.
I got a God-fearing woman,
One I can easily afford.
I got a God-fearing woman,
One I can easily afford.
She can do the Georgia crawl,
She can walk in the spirit of the Lord.
Jesus said, "Be ready,
For you know not the hour in which I come."
Jesus said, "Be ready,
For you know not the hour in which I come."
He said, "He who is not for Me is against Me,"
Just so you know where He's coming from.
There's a kingdom called Heaven,
A place where there is no pain of birth.
There's a kingdom called Heaven,
A place where there is no pain of birth.
Well the Lord created it, mister,
About the same time He made the earth.
The song "Gonna Change My Way of Thinking" by Bob Dylan is an incisive commentary on societal oppression and the need for personal transformation. The lyrics convey a sense of frustration and disillusionment with the current state of affairs, and the desire to break free from the constraints of the status quo. Dylan sings about changing his way of thinking and making a different set of rules for himself, in order to stop being influenced by fools. He also addresses the issue of oppression, stating that there is so much of it that one cannot keep track of it anymore. He speaks specifically about sons becoming husbands to their mothers and old men turning young daughters into whores, highlighting the pervasiveness of sexual abuse and exploitation in society.
The song also references the theme of religion and spirituality, with Dylan stating that there is only one authority, and that's the authority on high. He talks about having a God-fearing woman, someone he can easily afford, who can do the Georgia crawl and walk in the spirit of the Lord. He quotes Jesus, saying that one should be ready at all times, as they do not know the hour in which he will come. The song ends on a note of hope, with Dylan referencing a kingdom called Heaven, where there is no pain of birth, and stating that it was created around the same time as the earth by the Lord.
Overall, "Gonna Change My Way of Thinking" is a song about personal transformation and breaking free from societal oppression, while also invoking themes of religion and spirituality.
Line by Line Meaning
Gonna change my way of thinking,
Make myself a different set of rules.
I have realized that my current set of thoughts and actions is not serving me well. Therefore, I am going to change my perspective, and set new guidelines for myself to follow.
Gonna put my good foot forward,
And stop being influenced by fools.
I am dedicated to making progress towards my goals, and no longer want to be swayed by the negative or unproductive influence of others.
So much oppression,
Can't keep track of it no more.
There are too many forms of injustice and oppression in the world to keep track of, leading to a sense of overwhelm and hopelessness.
Sons becoming husbands to their mothers,
And old men turning young daughters into whores.
The world has become a place where even the most taboo and immoral behavior is occurring, such as incest and sex trafficking.
Stripes on your shoulders,
Stripes on your back and on your hands.
The scars of abuse and hardship can be physical, and leave lasting marks on one's body.
Swords piercing your side,
Blood and water flowing through the land.
Acts of violence, both physical and symbolic, have caused a great deal of suffering and mayhem throughout society.
Well don't know which one is worse,
Doing your own thing or just being cool.
It's difficult to discern whether it's better to follow your own path, or conform to societal norms in order to fit in and be liked.
You remember only about the brass ring,
You forget all about the golden rule.
People are often so focused on achieving wealth, status, and success that they forget the importance of treating others with kindness and respect.
You can mislead a man,
You can take ahold of his heart with your eyes.
Manipulation and deception can cause a person to fall for someone or something that is not in their best interest, based purely on superficial qualities.
But there's only one authority,
And that's the authority on high.
Ultimately, there is only one true power and source of guidance in the world, which comes from a higher, divine force.
I got a God-fearing woman,
One I can easily afford.
I am grateful to have a partner who shares my spiritual beliefs and is a good match for me in many other ways as well.
She can do the Georgia crawl,
She can walk in the spirit of the Lord.
My partner is a strong and capable person who can handle difficult situations while staying true to her faith and values.
Jesus said, "Be ready,
For you know not the hour in which I come."
It's important for us to stay present and mindful of the present moment, because the future is unpredictable and we never know when change is going to come.
He said, "He who is not for Me is against Me,"
Just so you know where He's coming from.
Jesus made it clear that people must choose whether they are on his side or against him, and that there is no middle ground or neutrality when it comes to religion and spirituality.
There's a kingdom called Heaven,
A place where there is no pain of birth.
Many people believe in the existence of a perfect, heavenly realm that is free from the suffering and struggle that is inevitable in the earthly realm.
Well the Lord created it, mister,
About the same time He made the earth.
According to religious beliefs, Heaven was created by God at the same time as the rest of the world, and is a place of eternal peace and happiness.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BOB DYLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bertie Wooster
Gonna change my way of thinking
Make myself a different set of rules
Gonna change my way of thinking
Make myself a different set of rules
Gonna put my good foot forward
And stop being influenced by fools
So much oppression
Can’t keep track of it no more
So much oppression
Can’t keep track of it no more
Sons becoming husbands to their mothers
And old men turning young daughters into whores
Stripes on your shoulders
Stripes on your back and on your hands
Stripes on your shoulders
Stripes on your back and on your hands
Swords piercing your side
Blood and water flowing through the land
Well don’t know which one is worse
Doing your own thing or just being cool
Well don’t know which one is worse
Doing your own thing or just being cool
You remember only about the brass ring
You forget all about the golden rule
You can mislead a man
You can take ahold of his heart with your eyes
You can mislead a man
You can take ahold of his heart with your eyes
But there’s only one authority
And that’s the authority on high
I got a God-fearing woman
One I can easily afford
I got a God-fearing woman
One I can easily afford
She can do the Georgia crawl
She can walk in the spirit of the Lord
Jesus said, “Be ready
For you know not the hour in which I come”
Jesus said, “Be ready
For you know not the hour in which I come”
He said, “He who is not for Me is against Me”
Just so you know where He’s coming from
There’s a kingdom called Heaven
A place where there is no pain of birth
There’s a kingdom called Heaven
A place where there is no pain of birth
Well the Lord created it, mister
About the same time He made the earth
Juan Camacho
Change my way of thinking
Make myself a different set of rules
Gonna change my way of thinking
Make myself a different set of rules
Going to put my good foot forward
Stop being influenced by fools
So much oppression
Can't keep track of it no more
Said there is so much oppression
Can't keep track of it no more
Sons becoming husbands to their mothers
Old men turning young daughters into whores
Stripes on your shoulders
Stripes on your back and on your hands
Stripes on your shoulders
Stripes on your back and on your hands
Swords piercing your side
Blood and water flowing through the land
Well, I don't know which one is worse
Doing your own thing or just being cool?
Don't know which is worse
Doing your own thing or being cool?
You remember only about the brass ring
You forget all about the golden rule
You can mislead a man
You can take ahold of his heart with your eyes
You can mislead a man
Take ahold of his heart with your eyes
But there's only one authority
That's the authority on high
🎵🎶🎵🎶
Now I got a God-fearing woman
One I can easily afford
I got a God-fearing woman
One I can easily afford
She can do the Georgia Crawl
She can walk in the Spirit of the Lord
Jesus said, "Be ready"
"For you know not the hour in which I come"
Jesus said, "Be ready"
"For you know not the hour in which I come"
He said, "He who is not for Me is against Me"
Just so you know where He's coming from
🎵🎶🎵🎶
There's a kingdom called Heaven
A place where there is no pain of birth
There's a place called Heaven
A place where there is no pain of birth
Well the Lord created it, mister
About the same time that He made the earth
비정한세상
"Gonna Change My Way Of Thinking"
Gonna change my way of thinking
Make myself a different set of rules
Gonna put my good foot forward
And stop being influenced by fools.
So much oppression
Can't keep track of it no more
Sons becoming husbands to their mothers
And old men turning young daughters into whores.
Stripes on your shoulders
Stripes on your back and on your hands
Swords piercing your side
Blood and water flowing through the land.
Well don't know which one is worse
Doing your own thing or just being cool
You remember only about the brass ring
You forget all about the golden rule.
You can mislead a man
You can take ahold of his heart with your eyes
But there's only one authority
And that's the authority on high.
I got a God-fearing woman
One I can easily afford
She can do the Georgia crawl
She can walk in the spirit of the Lord.
Jesus said, "Be ready
For you know not the hour in which I come"
He said, "He who is not for Me is against Me"
Just so you know where He's coming from.
There's a kingdom called Heaven
A place where there is no pain of birth
Well the Lord created it, mister
About the same time He made the earth.
Dee Hubler
What a brilliant mind. He can write anything. How he has so much inspiration in one mind is beyond my understanding. He truly is gifted. Continually writing songs his whole life and nothing ever sounds like any other song he has ever written. And every song is so wonderful in it's own right.
IMMATERIAL IMMATERIAL
Yeah!!!! So true. There is no one like him. A creative genius who continues to inspire those who listen. Such diversity and range! Amazing isn't it!?!
Thefunksoulbro
You could do the same , should you wish to. Mediate if you want to.
deedeechur
One cool thing about Dylan is that his texts are easily understandable for a non-native speaker with an average level of english. Brilliant bright enlightening writing 💖
derek farrell Music on the Isle Of Wight
Hear, hear.
Bertie Wooster
Gonna change my way of thinking
Make myself a different set of rules
Gonna change my way of thinking
Make myself a different set of rules
Gonna put my good foot forward
And stop being influenced by fools
So much oppression
Can’t keep track of it no more
So much oppression
Can’t keep track of it no more
Sons becoming husbands to their mothers
And old men turning young daughters into whores
Stripes on your shoulders
Stripes on your back and on your hands
Stripes on your shoulders
Stripes on your back and on your hands
Swords piercing your side
Blood and water flowing through the land
Well don’t know which one is worse
Doing your own thing or just being cool
Well don’t know which one is worse
Doing your own thing or just being cool
You remember only about the brass ring
You forget all about the golden rule
You can mislead a man
You can take ahold of his heart with your eyes
You can mislead a man
You can take ahold of his heart with your eyes
But there’s only one authority
And that’s the authority on high
I got a God-fearing woman
One I can easily afford
I got a God-fearing woman
One I can easily afford
She can do the Georgia crawl
She can walk in the spirit of the Lord
Jesus said, “Be ready
For you know not the hour in which I come”
Jesus said, “Be ready
For you know not the hour in which I come”
He said, “He who is not for Me is against Me”
Just so you know where He’s coming from
There’s a kingdom called Heaven
A place where there is no pain of birth
There’s a kingdom called Heaven
A place where there is no pain of birth
Well the Lord created it, mister
About the same time He made the earth
Shivaji Dasgupta
Blows your mind
deedeechur
My first Dylan album. Bought it in 1987 for the "Animals" song. Loved the whole album straight away, love it even more today. Powerful !
Dwayne Wladyka
This is a really good gospel album. A really powerful song. Cheers!
Juan Camacho
Change my way of thinking
Make myself a different set of rules
Gonna change my way of thinking
Make myself a different set of rules
Going to put my good foot forward
Stop being influenced by fools
So much oppression
Can't keep track of it no more
Said there is so much oppression
Can't keep track of it no more
Sons becoming husbands to their mothers
Old men turning young daughters into whores
Stripes on your shoulders
Stripes on your back and on your hands
Stripes on your shoulders
Stripes on your back and on your hands
Swords piercing your side
Blood and water flowing through the land
Well, I don't know which one is worse
Doing your own thing or just being cool?
Don't know which is worse
Doing your own thing or being cool?
You remember only about the brass ring
You forget all about the golden rule
You can mislead a man
You can take ahold of his heart with your eyes
You can mislead a man
Take ahold of his heart with your eyes
But there's only one authority
That's the authority on high
🎵🎶🎵🎶
Now I got a God-fearing woman
One I can easily afford
I got a God-fearing woman
One I can easily afford
She can do the Georgia Crawl
She can walk in the Spirit of the Lord
Jesus said, "Be ready"
"For you know not the hour in which I come"
Jesus said, "Be ready"
"For you know not the hour in which I come"
He said, "He who is not for Me is against Me"
Just so you know where He's coming from
🎵🎶🎵🎶
There's a kingdom called Heaven
A place where there is no pain of birth
There's a place called Heaven
A place where there is no pain of birth
Well the Lord created it, mister
About the same time that He made the earth