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
Million Miles
Bob Dylan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I keep asking myself how long it can go on like this
You told yourself a lie
That's alright mama, I told myself one too
I try to get closer but I'm still a million miles from you
You took the silver, you took the gold
You left me standing out in the cold
Well I try to get closer but I'm still a million miles from you
I'm driftin' in and out of dreamless sleep
Somehow my memory's in a ditch so deep
Did so many things I never did intend to do
And I try to get closer but I'm still a million miles from you
I need your love so bad, turn your lamp down low
I need every bit of it for the places that I go
Sometimes I wonder, tell us just what its all coming to
Well I try to get closer but I'm still a million miles from you
Well I don't dare close my eyes and I don't dare wink
Maybe in the next life I'll be able to hear myself think
Feel like talking to somebody but I just don't know who
Well I try to get closer but I'm still a million miles from you
Yes the last thing you said before you hit the street
Gonna find me a janitor to sweep me off my feet
I said that's alright mama you, you do what you gotta do
Well I try to get closer I'm still a million miles from you
Rock me pretty baby rock me all at once
Rock me for a little while
Rock me for a couple of months
And I'll rock you too
I try to get closer but I'm still a million miles from you
Well there's voices in the night trying to be heard
I'm sittin' here listenin' to every mind-pollutin' word
I know plenty of people put me up for a day or two
Yes, I try to get closer but I'm still a million miles from you
Million Miles is a song by Bob Dylan that is about the feeling of being lost and lost love. The singer reflects on a past love and the pain of the separation. He wonders how long he can go on like this with a part of him missing. The singer admits that he has lied to himself to cope with the loss but the pain remains. He tries to get closer to the person he misses but he is still a million miles away from them.
The singer recounts how the other person took everything precious from him and left him out in the cold. He did not reveal everything he knew to the people that asked about the other person. The singer uses dreamless sleep as a metaphor for his current state. He has done many things he never intended to do and the feeling of loss is driving him to desperation.
The singer asks for the other person’s love, which he needs badly. He states that he needs every bit of it for the places that he goes. He wonders what it is all coming to, implying that he is losing hope. He tries to speak to someone but he does not know who, showing his confusion and loneliness. Throughout the song, he makes an effort to get closer to the other person but he remains a million miles away from them.
Line by Line Meaning
You took a part of me that I really miss
A significant part of the singer's life or person was taken by someone they miss dearly.
I keep asking myself how long it can go on like this
The singer is unsure how long they can continue living without that part of themselves or their life.
You told yourself a lie
The person who took that part of the singer's life or person made a dishonest excuse or story to justify their actions.
That's alright mama, I told myself one too
The artist acknowledges that they have also made excuses or told themselves lies to cope with the loss and make sense of the situation.
I try to get closer but I'm still a million miles from you
Despite their efforts, the artist remains far away from the person they miss and cannot fully close the gap between them.
You took the silver, you took the gold
The person who took the singer's part of themselves or their life also took everything valuable or precious from them.
You left me standing out in the cold
The person who took everything from the singer left them in a vulnerable and exposed state.
People asked about you, I didn't tell them everything I knew
The artist keeps secrets and does not reveal everything they know about the situation to others who inquire.
Well I don't dare close my eyes and I don't dare wink
The artist is afraid to let their guard down and become vulnerable or lose focus.
Maybe in the next life I'll be able to hear myself think
The artist feels overwhelmed and unable to process their thoughts and emotions in this life, maybe it will be easier in the afterlife.
Feel like talking to somebody but I just don't know who
The singer wants to open up to someone but is unsure who to trust or who would listen to them.
Yes, I try to get closer but I'm still a million miles from you
The repetition of this line emphasizes the ongoing struggle and reminds the listener of the distance between the artist and the person they miss.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Bob Dylan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Juan Camacho
You took a part of me that I really miss
I keep asking myself how long it can go on like this
You told yourself a lie; that's all right mama, I told myself one too
I'm trying to get closer but I'm still a million miles from you
You took the silver, you took the gold
You left me standing out in the cold
People ask about you; I didn't tell them everything I knew
Well I'm trying to get closer, but I'm still a million miles from you
I'm drifting in and out of dreamless sleep
Throwing all my memories in a ditch so deep
Did so many things I never did intend to do
Well I'm trying to get closer, but I'm still a million miles from you
I need your love so bad, turn your lamp down low
I need every bit of it for the places that I go
Sometimes I wonder just what it's all coming to
Well I'm tryin' to get closer, but I'm still a million miles from you
🎵🎶🎵🎶
Well I don't dare close my eyes and I don't dare wink
Maybe in the next life I'll be able to hear myself think
Feel like talking to somebody but I just don't know who
Well, I'm tryin' to get closer but I'm still a million miles from you
The last thing you said before you hit the street
"Gonna find me a janitor to sweep me off my feet"
I said, "That's all right mama... you... you do what you gotta do"
Well, I'm tryin' to get closer; I'm still a million miles from you
Rock me, pretty baby, rock me 'til everything gets real
Rock me for a little while, rock me for a couple of months
And I'll rock you too
I'm tryin' to get closer but I'm still a million miles from you
Well, there's voices in the night trying to be heard
I'm sitting here listening to every mind polluting word
I know plenty of people who would put me up for a day or two
Yes, I'm tryin' to get closer but I'm still a million miles from you
Marise T
Was going to watch a movie but would rather listen to Bob.A beautiful nostalgic experience ❤
Peggy Reid
Same here.
Final Fencing Ltd
Movie in your mind. Nothing wrong with that 😊
Joseph von bulow
❣️💗
Ralph Schnieders
Same 😂😂😊
Wendy Lou Eschbach
Bob is like watching a movie in your head. Great story telling.
Gina Jaffa
Wendy you put the words together so well. Dylan words paint such vivid pictures...
Gina Jaffa
Dylan , love this ..
Paul Pasquale
This has a nice jazzy/blues feel. Lyrics are Dylan and the music is extraordinary.
Simon D
Songs don't get better than this. "We live as we dream - alone."