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
License To Kill
Bob Dylan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And if things don't change soon, he will
Oh, man has invented his doom
First step was touching the moon
Now, there's a woman on my block
She just sit there as the night grows still
She say who gonna take away his license to kill?
Now, they take him and they teach him and they groom him for life
And they set him on a path where he's bound to get ill
Then they bury him with stars
Sell his body like they do used cars
Now, there's a woman on my block
She just sit there facin' the hill
She say who gonna take away his license to kill?
Now, he's hell-bent for destruction, he's afraid and confused
And his brain has been mismanaged with great skill
All he believes are his eyes
And his eyes, they just tell him lies
But there's a woman on my block
Sitting there in a cold chill
She say who gonna take away his license to kill?
Every noisemaker, spirit maker
Heartbreaker, backbreaker
Leave no stone unturned
May be an actor in a plot
That might be all that you got
'Til your error you clearly learn
Now he worships at an altar of a stagnant pool
And when he sees his reflection, he's fulfilled
Oh, man is opposed to fair play
He wants it all and he wants it his way
Now, there's a woman on my block
She just sit there as the night grows still
She say who gonna take away his license to kill?
In "License to Kill", Dylan comments on the arrogance of humanity, warning us about the dangers of unchecked power and the exploitation of nature. In the first verse, Dylan suggests that humans are incapable of controlling their own desire for power to such an extent that the planet is doomed. With the line "First step was touching the moon," Dylan is referring to the beginning of space exploration, which he sees as a sign of human arrogance and a distraction from more pressing issues.
The chorus of the song focuses on a woman who is mourning the state of the world, asking who has the power to take away the destructive "license to kill" that humans have assumed. The second verse criticizes the institutions that shape our society - education and consumerism - suggesting they are designed to produce docile citizens who are easily controlled. Dylan suggests that when we die, we are reduced to mere commodities, just another product to be bought and sold.
The final verse shows how humans have replaced the natural world with their own twisted version of reality, worshipping at an "altar of a stagnant pool." The song finishes with one more appearance of the woman who asks the same question: "who gonna take away his license to kill?"
Line by Line Meaning
Man thinks 'cause he rules the earth he can do with it as he please
Humanity often believes they have unlimited power over the earth without consequences.
And if things don't change soon, he will
If humanity continues to mistreat the earth, it will result in catastrophic consequences.
Oh, man has invented his doom
Humanity has brought about its own destruction through its actions.
First step was touching the moon
Humanity's ability to explore space served as a catalyst for its misuse of resources on earth.
Now, there's a woman on my block
She just sit there as the night grows still
She say who gonna take away his license to kill?
There are those who recognize the destructive nature of humanity's actions and are questioning who has the power to stop it.
Now, they take him and they teach him and they groom him for life
And they set him on a path where he's bound to get ill
Then they bury him with stars
Sell his body like they do used cars
Society often manipulates and molds individuals, leading them towards self-destructive behavior and ultimately exploiting them for profit.
Now, he's hell-bent for destruction, he's afraid and confused
And his brain has been mismanaged with great skill
All he believes are his eyes
And his eyes, they just tell him lies
Individuals who have been indoctrinated and misled are often self-destructive and unable to see the truth.
But there's a woman on my block
Sitting there in a cold chill
She say who gonna take away his license to kill?
Despite the destructive and manipulative nature of society, there are those who are still questioning who has the power to stop it.
Every noisemaker, spirit maker
Heartbreaker, backbreaker
Leave no stone unturned
May be an actor in a plot
That might be all that you got
'Til your error you clearly learn
Every individual has the power to make a difference and should take responsibility for their actions in order to learn from their mistakes.
Now he worships at an altar of a stagnant pool
And when he sees his reflection, he's fulfilled
Oh, man is opposed to fair play
He wants it all and he wants it his way
Humanity is content to live in a stagnant and self-serving society, where fairness and equality are not priorities.
Now, there's a woman on my block
She just sit there as the night grows still
She say who gonna take away his license to kill?
Despite the societal and individual flaws, there is still a glimmer of hope and those questioning who will take responsibility for their actions.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bob Dylan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@harrietspeaks563
I’ve been a fan for 60 years, I’m 80 and listen to him everyday!
@peterc2497
Bob Dylan is a Gift to us All- Salute
@mavictoriagz
<3
@westcoastfan123
Me, too.
@KidCatypus
@remi boncouer Same!
@davidkirtland6855
me too.
@ely_oh
I'm sincerely grateful that I'm alive in a time where Bob Dylan is still going strong and releasing never-before-seen/heard materials.
@haydenwilliams1114
That's like an 80-year wide window.
@zimmy4971
Ikr ❤️❤️ Bob forever ❤️
@tvviewer4500
RIght on! Not to mention putting out new records and touring (going to see him in Chicago in a month) He is surely setting a terrific example.