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
Honey Babe
Bob Dylan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You don't treat me like you used to do.
You know you know I love you anyhow
Honey babe it's all over now.
Well all the stars ??
Will give me ten dollars, will give me nine.
You don't do me like you used to do.
In Bob Dylan's song "Honey Babe", the singer seems to be expressing his frustration with his partner, who he claims "doesn't treat [him] like [she] used to do". He is tired of her behavior and declares that their relationship is over. Despite this, he also admits that he still loves her ("you know I love you anyhow"). The lyrics suggest that the singer has been wronged or let down in some way, but it's unclear exactly what has happened.
The second verse of the song is somewhat puzzling, as it refers to a situation where "all the stars" would give the singer money. It's unclear what this means, and some have interpreted it to be a metaphor for some kind of cosmic reckoning or judgment. Others have suggested that it's simply a fanciful or surreal image that doesn't have a specific meaning. Regardless, the verse ends with the same refrain as the first: "Honey babe, it's all over you".
Overall, the song is a sad and somewhat bitter reflection on a failed relationship. The singer seems to be grappling with conflicting emotions, as he both loves and is frustrated by his partner. The meaning of the lyrics is somewhat open to interpretation, but the emotions they convey are universal.
Line by Line Meaning
Honey babe, I'm tired of you
My dearest love, I'm exhausted with the way you treat me.
You don't treat me like you used to do.
The love and affection you bestowed upon me is nowhere to be found in your actions.
You know you know I love you anyhow
Although I know I love you, it is frustrating to not receive the same level of love and attention from your end.
Honey babe it's all over now.
Our relationship has come to an end, my sweet love.
Well all the stars ??
As much as I wish for any form of support or help, the stars would only give me either ten or nine dollars.
Will give me ten dollars, will give me nine.
I am left futilely seeking for aid from anyone but the amount of assistance they can provide is minuscule and ineffective.
You don't do me like you used to do.
The level of love and care you provide is not the same as it was once before.
Honey babe, it's all over you.
My love for you has dissipated, making it evident that we are no longer together.
Contributed by Evan S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
msunbear
Dear H.D.O.T.
I’m sorry to hear about your parents’ struggles. I know that it’s rare indeed these days to find a whole, loving family. Your family of origin is the bow, you are the arrow and Life is the path of flight through which you soar…
All the Best!
Kahlil Gibran on children:
And a woman who held a babe against her bosom said
"Speak to us of children"
Your children are not your children
They are the sons and daughters of life's longing for itself
They come through you but not from you
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you
You may give them your love but not your thoughts
For they have their own thoughts
You may house their bodies but not their souls
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow
Which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams
You may strive to be like them
But seek not to make them like you
For life goes not backward, nor tarries with yesterday
You are the bows from which your children
As living arrows are sent forth
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite
And he bends you with his might
That his arrows may go swift and far
Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness
For even as he loves the arrow that flies
So he loves also the bow that is stable
Sujoy Das
I ain't lookin' to compete with you
Beat or cheat or mistreat you
Simplify you, classify you
Deny, defy or crucify you
All I really want to do
Is, baby, be friends with you
No, and I ain't lookin' to fight with you
Frighten you or uptighten you
Drag you down or drain you down
Chain you down or bring you down
All I really want to do
Is, baby, be friends with you
I ain't lookin' to block you up
Shock or knock or lock you up
Analyze you, categorize you
Finalize you or advertise you
All I really want to do
Is, baby, be friends with you
I don't want to straight-face you
Race or chase you, track or trace you
Or disgrace you or displace you
Or define you or confine you
All I really want to do
Is, baby, be friends with you
I don't want to meet your kin
Make you spin or do you in
Or select you or dissect you
Or inspect you or reject you
All I really want to do
Is, baby, be friends with you
I don't want to fake you out
Take or shake or forsake you out
I ain't lookin' for you to feel like me
See like me or be like me
All I really want to do
Is, baby, be friends with you
Joshua Stephens
A simple song about a healthy platonic relationship
Bob Dylan is truly the best songwriter ever
John Mc Cann
He captured it all so perfectly! How amazing! All I really wanna do is listen to this song forever!😅
Donald Cameron
One of my favorite (relatively) early songs by the Bobster. Always makes me smile! And Bob may have had a glass or two when he recorded this one. Very nice.
Jacky Van Hal
This album is one big masterpiece! Thanks again master of words.
Patrick Monaghan
This song is what pure love sounds like
Hey That One Dude
I wish this was how my parents felt when they split up, lifes rough with 2 parents that fight over me all the time. I love how music can really open me up to my feelings, thank you Bob dylan for this gift you have given us. I look up to you like no other. You inspire me. Thank you so much for being there for me with your wise poetic words.
msunbear
Dear H.D.O.T.
I’m sorry to hear about your parents’ struggles. I know that it’s rare indeed these days to find a whole, loving family. Your family of origin is the bow, you are the arrow and Life is the path of flight through which you soar…
All the Best!
Kahlil Gibran on children:
And a woman who held a babe against her bosom said
"Speak to us of children"
Your children are not your children
They are the sons and daughters of life's longing for itself
They come through you but not from you
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you
You may give them your love but not your thoughts
For they have their own thoughts
You may house their bodies but not their souls
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow
Which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams
You may strive to be like them
But seek not to make them like you
For life goes not backward, nor tarries with yesterday
You are the bows from which your children
As living arrows are sent forth
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite
And he bends you with his might
That his arrows may go swift and far
Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness
For even as he loves the arrow that flies
So he loves also the bow that is stable
Wes Stublen
Good call wise poetic poetry at it’s best love your comments!!!
MaggieMayheim
I love him. He is brilliant! 👏
Dwayne Wladyka
The last of Bob Dylan's completely folk albums, before he went electric. Cheers!