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
Jolene
Bob Dylan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Walking in the sun
You make a dead man rise and holler she's the one
Jolene
Jolene
Baby I am the king and you're the queen
Don't ever end
I got a Saturday Night Special, I'm back again
I'll sleep by your door, lay my life on the line
You probably don't know but I'm gonna make you mine
Jolene
Jolene
Baby I am the king and you is the queen
I keep my hands in my pocket
I'm movin' along
People think they know, but they're all wrong
You're something nice, I'm gonna bet my dice
I can't say I haven't paid the price
Jolene
Jolene
Baby I am the king and you is the queen
Well I found out the hard way
I've had my fill
You can't fight somebody with his back to a hill
Those big brown eyes, they set off a spark
If you hold me in your arms, things don't look so dark
Jolene
Jolene
Baby I am the king and you is the queen
The song "Jolene" by Bob Dylan is a romantic ballad that tells the story of a man who is deeply in love with Jolene, who he believes is the queen of his heart. The first verse of the song describes the man seeing Jolene walking down High Street and feeling as if she makes a dead man rise and holler that she is the one. This shows the impact that Jolene has on the man and how he thinks of her as the love of his life.
In the second verse, the man talks about how the journey to find his love Jolene is a long one, but he is determined to make her his own. He mentions his Saturday Night Special, suggesting that he is willing to do whatever it takes to protect and keep Jolene. The verse ends with the man making a vow to lay his life on the line for Jolene, indicating how much he loves her.
The third verse depicts the man keeping his hands in his pocket as he moves along because people think they know him, but they are all wrong about him. It describes Jolene as something nice, and he is willing to bet his dice on his love for her. Even though he has paid the price in past relationships, he believes that Jolene is worth fighting for.
The final verse talks about the man finding out the hard way that he has had his fill but realizes that he cannot fight someone with their back to a hill. He then goes on to describe the impact that Jolene has on him, saying that her big brown eyes set off a spark in him, and when she holds him in her arms, things don't look so dark. The verse ends with the man reaffirming his love for Jolene and declaring her as the queen of his heart.
Line by Line Meaning
Well you're coming down High Street
Walking in the sun
You make a dead man rise and holler she's the one
You have an alluring energy about you, as if the sun bows down to you as you walk down the street. Your beauty and presence can awaken even the dead and affirm that you are the one for me.
Jolene
Jolene
Baby I am the king and you're the queen
Jolene, you are the object of my affection and admiration. I see us as a royal couple, with me as the king and you as the queen.
Well it's a long old highway
Don't ever end
I got a Saturday Night Special, I'm back again
I'll sleep by your door, lay my life on the line
You probably don't know but I'm gonna make you mine
Life is a long journey, but I am here to stay. I have come prepared to fight for you with a Saturday Night Special. I am willing to put my life on the line for you and sleep by your door. Although you may not know it yet, I am determined to win over your heart.
Jolene
Jolene
Baby I am the king and you is the queen
Jolene, you are the object of my affection and admiration. I see us as a royal couple, with me as the king and you as the queen.
I keep my hands in my pocket
I'm movin' along
People think they know, but they're all wrong
You're something nice, I'm gonna bet my dice
I can't say I haven't paid the price
I appear calm and collected while moving forward, even though people think they know what's best for me, they are all wrong. I am willing to take a chance on you, and I am willing to gamble everything. Although I may have faced hardship along the way, it doesn't deter me from pursuing you.
Jolene
Jolene
Baby I am the king and you is the queen
Jolene, you are the object of my affection and admiration. I see us as a royal couple, with me as the king and you as the queen.
Well I found out the hard way
I've had my fill
You can't fight somebody with his back to a hill
Those big brown eyes, they set off a spark
If you hold me in your arms, things don't look so dark
I have experienced numerous struggles, but I have no more energy to fight. However, I know that it is futile to fight someone backed up against a hill. Your eyes captivate me, and it brings a light amidst the darkness. In your embrace, everything seems promising.
Jolene
Jolene
Baby I am the king and you is the queen
Jolene, you are the object of my affection and admiration. I see us as a royal couple, with me as the king and you as the queen.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BOB DYLAN, ROBERT HUNTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jack Sheridan
I never really thought my favorite rockabilly song would be by old Bob you just never know keep it up Bobby I'm five years behind you and I hope I never catch ya
Michael Miller
great album..."Hell is my wife's hometown" knocks me out too...love Jolene!
joleen sanders
I love this joleen song!!!
Thanks Bob!!
song&danceman
Dá-lhe Bob.
David Main
A good gift for a new beginning
William Clark
My wife's name is Johlene (pronounced the same) and we named our son Dylan
MA Jones
...more under-appreciated Bob.
Helen Bostock
I glad you found your match in life. I got blue eyes. We might have helped horses to gether but that's don't worry me.
Helen Bostock
Paty say hit me with your best shot
yama penny
💋