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
Man Gave Names to All the Animals
Bob Dylan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the beginning, in the beginning.
Man gave names to all the animals
In the beginning, long time ago.
He saw an animal that liked to growl,
Big furry paws and he liked to howl,
Great big furry back and furry hair.
Man gave names to all the animals
In the beginning, in the beginning.
Man gave names to all the animals
In the beginning, long time ago.
He saw an animal up on a hill
Chewing up so much grass until she was filled.
He saw milk comin' out but he didn't know how.
"Ah, think I'll call it a cow."
Man gave names to all the animals
In the beginning, in the beginning.
Man gave names to all the animals
In the beginning, long time ago.
He saw an animal that liked to snort,
Horns on his head and they weren't too short.
It looked like there wasn't nothin' that he couldn't pull.
"Ah, think I'll call it a bull."
Man gave names to all the animals
In the beginning, in the beginning.
Man gave names to all the animals
In the beginning, long time ago.
He saw an animal leavin' a muddy trail,
Real dirty face and a curly tail.
He wasn't too small and he wasn't too big.
"Ah, think I'll call it a pig."
Man gave names to all the animals
In the beginning, in the beginning.
Man gave names to all the animals
In the beginning, long time ago.
Next animal that he did meet
Had wool on his back and hooves on his feet,
Eating grass on a mountainside so steep.
"Ah, think I'll call it a sheep."
Man gave names to all the animals
In the beginning, in the beginning.
Man gave names to all the animals
In the beginning, long time ago.
He saw an animal as smooth as glass
Slithering his way through the grass.
Saw him disappear by a tree near a lake . . .
Bob Dylan's Man Gave Names to All the Animals is a song about the creation of the animal kingdom. As the title suggests, the song suggests that man gave names to all the animals that populate the universe. The lyrics begin with the repetition of the title line, "Man gave names to all the animals." There is a strong sense of repetition throughout the lyrics, which is a typical feature of Dylan's songwriting. In the first verse, Dylan describes an animal that growls and howls, which he calls a bear. In the second verse, he talks about an animal munching on grass, which he calls a cow. The third verse talks about a snorting animal with horns, which he calls a bull. The fourth verse mentions an animal with a muddy trail and a curly tail, which he calls a pig. The final verse talks about a smooth animal slithering through the grass that he doesn't give a name to, leaving open the possibility that there are some animals that man cannot or should not name.
The song can be interpreted as a playful and whimsical ode to the animal kingdom, but it can also be seen as a commentary on man's relationship with animals. In the song, man has the power to name the animals, which suggests that humans have the power to dominate the natural world. However, the song also suggests that there are some animals that are beyond human control or understanding. The final verse, which leaves the smooth animal unnamed, may be a nod to the idea that there are some elements of the natural world that should remain a mystery or that are beyond human comprehension.
Line by Line Meaning
Man gave names to all the animals
Humans assigned a label to each and every creature
In the beginning, in the beginning.
This occurred at the start of time
Man gave names to all the animals
Humans assigned a label to each and every creature
In the beginning, long time ago.
This happened a while back
He saw an animal that liked to growl,
He observed a creature that made a loud, low-pitched sound
Big furry paws and he liked to howl,
Its feet were large and hairy, and it enjoyed making a prolonged, mournful cry
Great big furry back and furry hair.
It had a large, fur-covered body and hair all over
"Ah, think I'll call it a bear."
The individual decided to call it a bear
He saw an animal up on a hill
He observed a creature on the top of a hill
Chewing up so much grass until she was filled.
It was eating such an extraordinary amount of grass that it was entirely sated
He saw milk comin' out but he didn't know how.
He observed milk exiting the animal, but he was not sure regarding the mechanics of this process
"Ah, think I'll call it a cow."
The individual decided to name it a cow
He saw an animal that liked to snort,
He observed a creature that enjoyed making a snorting noise
Horns on his head and they weren't too short.
It had horns on its head that were not particularly short
It looked like there wasn't nothin' that he couldn't pull.
It seemed like there was nothing that it couldn't drag
"Ah, think I'll call it a bull."
The individual decided to give it the name bull
He saw an animal leavin' a muddy trail,
He observed an animal that was creating a dirty path
Real dirty face and a curly tail.
It had a genuinely filthy face and a contorted tail
He wasn't too small and he wasn't too big.
The animal was neither too little nor excessively large
"Ah, think I'll call it a pig."
The individual determined to label it a pig
Next animal that he did meet
The following animal that he encountered
Had wool on his back and hooves on his feet,
It had fur on its back and hooves on its feet
Eating grass on a mountainside so steep.
It was consuming grass on a very steep incline
"Ah, think I'll call it a sheep."
The individual chose to call it a sheep
He saw an animal as smooth as glass
He observed an animal that appeared entirely smooth
Slithering his way through the grass.
It was making its way through the grass by slithering
Saw him disappear by a tree near a lake . . .
He watched the animal vanish by a tree adjacent to a body of water
Lyrics © BOB DYLAN MUSIC CO
Written by: BOB DYLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@abdulkarimismail1708
Lyrics man gave names to all animals
Man gave names to all the animals
In the beginning, in the beginning
Man gave names to all the animals
In the beginning, long time ago
He saw an animal that liked to growl
Big furry paws and he liked to howl
Great big furry back and furry hair
Ah, think I'll call it a bear
Man gave names to all the animals
In the beginning, in the beginning
Man gave names to all the animals
In the beginning, long time ago
He saw an animal up on a hill
Chewing up so much grass until it was filled
He saw milk coming out but he didn't know how
Ah, think I'll call it a cow
Man gave names to all the animals
In the beginning, in the beginning
Man gave names to all the animals
In the beginning, long time ago
He saw an animal that liked to snort
Horns on his head and they weren't too short
It looked like there wasn't nothing that he couldn't pull
Oh, I'll think I'll call it a bull
Man gave names to all the animals
In the beginning, in the beginning
Man gave names to all the animals
In the beginning, long time ago
He saw an animal leaving a muddy trail
Real dirty face and a curly tail
He wasn't too small and he wasn't too big
Ah, think I'll call him a pig
Man gave names to all the animals
In the beginning, in the beginning
Man gave names to all the animals
In the beginning, long time ago
Next animal that he did meet
Had wool on his back and hooves on his feet
Eating grass on a mountainside so steep
Oh, think I'll call it a sheep
Man gave names to all the animals
In the beginning, in the beginning
Man gave names to all the animals
In the beginning, long time ago
He saw an animal as smooth as glass
Slithering his way through the grass
He saw him dissappear by a tree near a lake
@TheRealForrestGeorge
Man gave names to all the animals
In the beginning, in the beginning
Man gave names to all the animals
In the beginning, long time ago
He saw an animal that liked to growl
Big furry paws and he liked to howl
Great big furry back and furry hair
Ah, think I'll call it a bear
Man gave names to all the animals
In the beginning, in the beginning
Man gave names to all the animals
In the beginning, long time ago
He saw an animal up on a hill
Chewing up so much grass until it was filled
He saw milk coming out but he didn't know how
Ah, think I'll call it a cow
Man gave names to all the animals
In the beginning, in the beginning
Man gave names to all the animals
In the beginning, long time ago
He saw an animal that liked to snort
Horns on his head and they weren't too short
It looked like there wasn't nothing that he couldn't pull
Oh, I'll think I'll call it a bull
Man gave names to all the animals
In the beginning, in the beginning
Man gave names to all the animals
In the beginning, long time ago
He saw an animal leaving a muddy trail
Real dirty face and a curly tail
He wasn't too small and he wasn't too big
Ah, think I'll call him a pig
Man gave names to all the animals
In the beginning, in the beginning
Man gave names to all the animals
In the beginning, long time ago
Next animal that he did meet
Had wool on his back and hooves on his feet
Eating grass on a mountainside so steep
Oh, think I'll call it a sheep
Man gave names to all the animals
In the beginning, in the beginning
Man gave names to all the animals
In the beginning, long time ago
He saw an animal as smooth as glass
Slithering his way through the grass
He saw him disappear by a tree near a lake
@user-ip9yu7lp1q
Man gave names to all the animals In the beginning, long time ago.
아주 오래 전 세상이 시작될때, 사람이 동물들에게 이름을 붙였지
He saw an animal that liked to growl,
그는 으르렁대는 동물을 봤어
Big furry paws and he liked to howl,
크고 털난 발을 가지고 울어댔지
Great big furry back and furry hair.
엄청 큰 털달린 등과 머리카락을 가졌어
"Ah, think I'll call it a bear."
"아, 이걸 곰이라고 불러야겠다"
He saw an animal up on a hill.
그는 언덕 위에 있는 동물을 보았어
Chewing up so much grass until she was filled.
배가 찰 때까지 무지 많은 풀을 뜯어 먹었지
He saw milk comin' out but he didn't know how.
그는 우유가 나오는걸 봤지만 어떻게 해야 할지 몰랐어
"Ah, think I'll call it a cow."
"아, 이걸 젖소라고 불러야겠다"
He saw an animal that liked to snort,
그는 콧방귀를 뀌어대는 동물을 봤어
Horns on his head and they weren't too short.
뿔은 머리위에 있었고 그렇게 짧지도 않았어
It looked like there wasn't nothin' that he couldn't pull.
그런데 아무것도 없는 것 같아서 그는 당겨볼 수가 없었지
"Ah, think I'll call it a bull."
"아, 이건 황소라고 불러야겠다"
He saw an animal leavin' a muddy trail,
그는 진흙 자국을 남기며 지나가는 동물을 봤어
Real dirty face and a curly tail.
엄청 더러운 얼굴에 꼬부라진 꼬리
He wasn't too small and he wasn't too big.
그건 그렇게 작지도 크지도 않았어
"Ah, think I'll call it a pig."
"아, 이건 돼지라고 불러야겠다"
Next animal that he did meet
그가 다음에 만난 동물은
Had wool on his back and hooves on his feet,
등에 털이 달려있고 발에는 발굽이 있었어
Eating grass on a mountainside so steep.
경사진 산등성이에서 풀을 뜯어먹고 있었지
"Ah, think I'll call it a sheep."
"아, 이걸 양이라고 불러야겠다"
He saw an animal as smooth as glass
그는 유리처럼 매끄러운 동물을 봤어
Slithering his way through the grass.
풀잎들 사이로 주르르 미끄러지듯 나아갔지
Saw him disappear by a tree near a lake . . .
그것이 호수 근처 나무로 사라지는 것을 봤어...
Ah...
아...
@juancamacho5746
Man gave names to all the animals
In the beginning, in the beginning
Man gave names to all the animals
In the beginning, long time ago
He saw an animal that liked to growl
Big furry paws and he liked to howl
Great big furry back and furry hair
Ah, think I'll call it a bear
He saw an animal up on a hill
Chewing up so much grass until it was filled
He saw milk coming out but he didn't know how
Ah, think I'll call it a cow
He saw an animal that liked to snort
Horns on his head and they weren't too short
It looked like there wasn't nothing that he couldn't pull
Oh, I'll think I'll call it a bull
He saw an animal leaving a muddy trail
Real dirty face and a curly tail
He wasn't too small and he wasn't too big
Ah, think I'll call him a pig
Next animal that he did meet
Had wool on his back and hooves on his feet
Eating grass on a mountainside so steep
Oh, think I'll call it a sheep
He saw an animal as smooth as glass
Slithering his way through the grass
He saw him dissappear by a tree near a lake
@marko-pz4kg
I love this song. I used to listen this when I was 5 or so with my brother every night before sleeping.Nothing remindes me more of innocent childhood
@fionagreig9392
I'm so glad this song had such a grounding influence on you. It's a great song. I think Bob was going through a change in his life at this time becoming Christian. It unsettled a lot if folk .😊
@user-ct4ty8ty4s
Some of his best work. On this album
@Dziricani
Love how he ends the song without ending the verse to let you guess what name man gave to that animal.
Beautiful composition and poetry😇
@copwatchImperial
Oh, God. Guess?! 🤣
@copwatchImperial
Hmm…what slithers in the grass and rhymes with “lake?” Let. Me. Guess? Rake? No, wait. Think I’ll call it a fake. Woohoo 🎉
@Dziricani
@@copwatchImperial lol
@LoretaBG
@@copwatchImperial lake - Snake ;) And here the story is finish, so the point is in the simbol of snake....
@TheDaveMaybe
I don't care what people say, I love this song
@ac8907
You are right. Dylan is a poete And A great musician.