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
Lay Lady Lay
Bob Dylan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lay across my big brass bed
Lay, lady, lay
Lay across my big brass bed
Whatever colors you have in your mind
I show them to you and you'll see them shine
Lay across my big brass bed
Stay, lady, stay
Stay with your man a while
Until the break of day
Let me see you make him smile
His clothes are dirty but his, his hands are clean
And you're the best thing that he's ever seen
Stay, lady, stay
Stay with your man a while
Why wait any longer for the world to begin
You can have your cake and eat it too
Why wait any longer for the one you love
When he's standing in front of you
Lay, lady, lay
Lay across my big brass bed
Stay, lady, stay
Stay while the night is still ahead
I long to see you in the morning light
I long to reach for you in the night
Stay, lady, stay
Stay while the night is still ahead
"Lay Lady Lay" is one of Bob Dylan's most iconic and recognizable songs. The song's simple, easy-to-remember lyrics make it instantly memorable, while the soft, soothing melody underscores the song's intimacy and emotional depth. The song is essentially a love song that speaks to the power of attraction and the desire for companionship.
The song's opening lines, "Lay Lady Lay, lay across my big brass bed" immediately evoke a sense of romance and intimacy. The image of the "big brass bed" is an iconic symbol of luxury and indulgence, and the song's narrator invites the woman he desires to lie across it. The song's narrator is clearly smitten with the woman in question, and he is eager to show her all the colors in his mind. The line "Whatever colors you have in your mind, I'll show them to you and you'll see them shine" speaks to the idea of emotional openness and personal vulnerability between two people in love.
The singer of the song also makes it clear that he hopes the woman will stay with him for a while. He tells her to "stay with your man a while, until the break of day" and encourages her to make him smile. This can be interpreted as a plea for the woman to give the singer a chance to show her his love and devotion.
The song's chorus repeats the invitation for the woman to "lay across my big brass bed" and "stay with your man a while", underscoring the singer's desire for emotional and physical closeness. The song's overall message is one of connection and intimacy, highlighting the power of love to bring people together.
Line by Line Meaning
Lay, lady, lay
Come and rest beside me, woman
Lay across my big brass bed
Lie down on this bed with me
Lay, lady, lay
I am asking you once again to lay beside me
Stay, lady, stay
Do not go away just yet
Stay with your man a while
Spend some time with me
Until the break of day
Stay with me till the morning light
Let me see you make him smile
Please make me happy by making him smile
His clothes are dirty but his, his hands are clean
He may not be dressed well, but he is a good man
And you're the best thing that he's ever seen
You mean more to him than anything else
Why wait any longer for the world to begin
Do not be afraid to start living your life
You can have your cake and eat it too
You can have everything that you desire
Why wait any longer for the one you love
Do not hesitate to express your love
When he's standing in front of you
Just tell him that you love him
Stay while the night is still ahead
Spend more time with me before the night ends
I long to see you in the morning light
I want to wake up next to you
I long to reach for you in the night
I want to hold you close to me
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bob Dylan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
jaywhofan
Possibly the best live version.
Tessa Muncey
I remember it well. Kept us waiting until around midnight. Unforgettable for so many reasons. The shortage of toilets, the brilliant line up, the air thick with marijuana smoke, sleeping on Ryde pier in a queue to get off the island …
PianoMan's Bird
I am 14 years old
I wish I can watch this Concert on heaven or hell
Susan Brockhurst
I was there too 😊
LetItBleedAdam
It’s so fascinating how much Dylan changes from ‘66 to ‘69 (even between 66 and 67, really). Everything—demeanor, look, music. It’s like he grew up very rapidly after 66.
PianoMan's Bird
His music like magic.He is my legendary artist all the time.
lucalone
that's because of his motor bike crash in 66. he was completely changed after that.
Oscar
Incredible recording of this incredible song
Tomás Orellana
At last!! the Isle of the Wight live version.
PianoMan's Bird
https://youtu.be/pIAyCc4S2ec New footage from ısle of wight