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
I'll Remember You
Bob Dylan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I've forgotten all the rest
You to me were true
You to me were the best
When there is no more
You cut to the core
Quicker than anyone I knew
When I'm all alone
I'll remember you.
I'll remember you
At the end of the trail
I had so much left to do
I had so little time to fail
There's some people that
You don't forget
Even though you've only seen 'em
One time or two
When the roses fade
And I'm in the shade
I'll remember you.
Didn't I, didn't I try to love you?
Didn't I, didn't I try to care?
Didn't I sleep, didn't I weep beside you
With the rain blowing in your hair.
I'll remember you
When the wind blows through the piny wood
It was you who came right through
It was you who understood
Though I'd never say
That I done it the way
That you'd have liked me to
In the end
My dear sweet friend
I'll remember you.
Bob Dylan's "I'll Remember You" is a ballad about a lost love that the singer will always cherish. In the first verse, Dylan talks about how he'll remember his love even when he's forgotten everyone else, and how that person always cut to the core of him whenever they were together. In the second verse, he muses about how he had so much left to do and so little time to fail, but that there are some people you never forget, no matter how few times you've seen them. Finally, in the last verse, he speaks to his "dear sweet friend" and reaffirms his deep affection for them.
What makes this song so poignant is its vulnerability. Dylan is reflecting on a lost love that he'll never get back and is coming to terms with the inevitable passage of time. He is nostalgic for something that he can never have again, and the song functions as a kind of elegy for lost loves everywhere.
Overall, "I'll Remember You" is one of Dylan's most heartfelt songs, a true testament to his songwriting abilities and to the depth of his feeling. The lyrics convey a complex mix of emotions - joy, sadness, regret, and hope - and the melody is haunting and beautiful, perfectly fitting the mood of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll remember you
The singer will always remember someone who was true and the best to them.
When I've forgotten all the rest
The memory of this person will be the only one to survive and endure in the singer's mind.
You to me were true
The person was loyal and sincere to the singer.
You to me were the best
The artist considers this person to be greater than anyone else.
When there is no more
In the end, when there is nothing left.
You cut to the core
This person could get to the heart of things quicker than anyone the singer ever knew.
Quicker than anyone I knew
This person had a unique ability to cut through to the essential.
When I'm all alone
In times of solitude.
In the great unknown
In the uncertainty and mystery of life.
I'll remember you.
The person will be always present in the artist's memory and heart.
At the end of the trail
In the final moments of life.
I had so much left to do
The artist had many things they wanted to accomplish.
I had so little time to fail
There wasn't much time to try things again or recover from mistakes.
There's some people that
There are certain individuals who are unforgettable.
You don't forget
Their memory endures in your mind and heart.
Even though you've only seen 'em
Even if you met them only once or twice.
One time or two
Just a few brief encounters can leave an indelible impression.
When the roses fade
When youth and beauty are gone.
And I'm in the shade
When the singer is feeling down or out of luck.
When the wind blows through the piny wood
In moments of reflection and contemplation.
It was you who came right through
This person was always there for the artist, even in challenging times.
It was you who understood
This person had a deep knowledge of and empathy for the artist's struggles.
Though I'd never say
The singer never stated aloud how much this person meant to them.
That I done it the way
The artist didn't always handle things perfectly or how the other person would have wanted.
That you'd have liked me to
This person had certain expectations for the singer which they didn't always meet.
In the end
Ultimately.
My dear sweet friend
The singer addresses this person directly and fondly, revealing their strong bond.
I'll remember you.
This person will always be in the artist's heart and mind, regardless of what happens in life.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BOB DYLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@dennisyusko6252
thinking of my dad and how much he meant to us.
I'll remember you
When I've forgotten all the rest
You to me were true
You to me were the best
When there is no more
You cut to the core
Quicker than anyone I knew
When I'm all alone
In the great unknown
I'll remember you.
@jillyb100
My brother died way too young, he was a Dylan fanatic. We played this at his funeral. When the pain of losing him begins to overwhelm me too much I listen to this and the grief pours out leaving me a tiny bit alleviated from my heartbreak.
@sup393
I'm so sorry. I had a friend sing Every Grain of Sand at my Mom's funeral. Dylan conveys all our emotions
@harrytaylor1968
No words.Thats love coming out,he catches it❤️
@helenbostock2350
I can copy. Don't worry. You ok too. You got this I know so have I.
@robertreynolds1606
A great song can do that. Peace
@martinhanley9524
❤️🙏☮️ god bless your brother and may you find solace in prayer
@garymauro8869
Dylan wasn't the voice of a generation he was the voice of every generation.He may be America's greatest poet,and America's most prolific songwriter. He expressed the inexpressible,the silent wounds of the soul.
@inverterville
He has been my constant for over forty years, Dylan is the voice of every generation this much is true, love from the Emerald Isle
@henryboy565
Why for me Bob Dylan is the best singer in the world? I love Bob Dylan 💙
Because if you listen to his songs and pay attention, Bob Dylan has a song that it seems he wrote for each of the moments in our lives.
Whether it's the best moments, or the most difficult moments, there will always be a Dylan work involved...
@sa-zq8mc
I completely agree;)