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
Mozambique
Bob Dylan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The sunny sky is aqua blue
And all the couples dancing cheek to cheek
It's very nice to stay a week or two
And maybe fall in love, just me and you
There's lots of pretty girls in Mozambique
And plenty time for good romance
And everybody likes to stop and speak
To give the special one you seek a chance
And maybe say hello with just a glance
Lying next to her by the ocean
Reaching out and touching her hand
Whispering your secret emotion
Magic in a magical land
And when it's time for leaving Mozambique
To say goodbye to sand and sea
You turn around to take a final peek
And you see why it's so unique to be
Among the lovely people living free
Upon the beach of sunny Mozambique
The lyrics to Bob Dylan's song "Mozambique" depict the beauty and allure of the southern African country. Dylan sings about the aqua blue skies, the romantic couples dancing cheek to cheek, and the abundance of pretty girls ready for good romance. The singer expresses the desire to spend a week or two in Mozambique, perhaps hoping to fall in love with someone special.
The lyrics convey an image of relaxation, freedom, and pleasure. Dylan sings about the magic of the land, the feeling of lying next to a loved one by the ocean, and the powerful emotions that come with being in such a beautiful place. The song captures the essence of traveling and experiencing new cultures, and the sense of longing that comes with leaving a beautiful place behind.
Overall, "Mozambique" is a celebration of love, freedom, travel, and the beauty of the African continent. Dylan's poetic lyrics and catchy melody make the song a classic addition to his already impressive discography.
Line by Line Meaning
I like to spend some time in Mozambique
I feel happy and content when I visit Mozambique
The sunny sky is aqua blue
The sky in Mozambique is a beautiful shade of blue
And all the couples dancing cheek to cheek
It's wonderful to see people in Mozambique enjoy each other's company and dance closely
It's very nice to stay a week or two
Taking a vacation in Mozambique for a couple of weeks is a great way to relax
And maybe fall in love, just me and you
Perhaps we might even fall in love while staying in Mozambique together
There's lots of pretty girls in Mozambique
There are many attractive women in Mozambique
And plenty time for good romance
There is ample opportunity to engage in romantic activities in Mozambique
And everybody likes to stop and speak
People in Mozambique are friendly and enjoy talking to each other
To give the special one you seek a chance
You have a chance to connect with someone special you may be seeking
And maybe say hello with just a glance
Eye contact can be a powerful way to communicate in Mozambique
Lying next to her by the ocean
Being near the water with a companion is a peaceful experience
Reaching out and touching her hand
Physical contact with a partner is a way to build intimacy and trust
Whispering your secret emotion
Sharing your deepest feelings can create a special bond between partners
Magic in a magical land
There is a unique and enchanting quality to Mozambique that enhances romantic experiences
And when it's time for leaving Mozambique
When it's time to depart from Mozambique
To say goodbye to sand and sea
To bid farewell to the beaches and ocean of Mozambique
You turn around to take a final peek
It's hard to fully leave behind the special place and people of Mozambique
And you see why it's so unique to be
Leaving Mozambique emphasizes the rare qualities that make it special
Among the lovely people living free
The people of Mozambique embody a carefree spirit and add to the overall enjoyable experience of the country
Upon the beach of sunny Mozambique
The sandy beaches and sunny climate of Mozambique are further appreciated upon leaving the country
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Dylan Bob, Levy Jacques
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@juancamacho5746
I like to spend some time in Mozambique
The sunny sky is aqua blue
And all the couples dancing cheek to cheek
It's very nice to stay a week or two
And maybe fall in love, just me and you
There's lots of pretty girls in Mozambique
And plenty time for good romance
And everybody likes to stop and speak
To give the special one you seek a chance
And maybe say hello with just a glance
Lying next to her by the ocean
Reaching out and touching her hand
Whispering your secret emotion
Magic in a magical land
And when it's time for leaving Mozambique
To say goodbye to sand and sea
You turn around to take a final peek
And you see why it's so unique to be
Among the lovely people living free
Upon the beach of sunny Mozambique
@skakazulo
My name is Tyrone and I am 10 years old . My mummy was born in Mozambique and she said that when I turn 15 she will take me there on holiday. Just looking forward. And thank you Mr Bob Dylan for this amazing song.
@SamuThete
Can we be friends??
@juliaprofil3332
Welcome to Mozambique little boy❤️❤️❤️
@eileenmunson3647
You'll have a great time!
@christopherrussell2611
Hey there, Tyrone. My brother worked in Mozambique in the mid 1970’s. We had always been thought of as twins when we were young. I got married, just before he left with all my family. This track reminds me of him.
I do hope you have a great adventure when you get there. All the best, Jane Russell.
@oleggorky906
I’ve been there. It’s a great place is Maputo - formerly Lourenco Marques.
Let’s just hope that that Frelimo-Renamo business is all over for good. And that Capo Delgado gets rid of the trouble makers.
Still, you’re a young man and your folks will tell you all about that when the time is right; until then, I hope that you get to enjoy it without the politics. 👍
@digor_gekyume
I'm Mozambican, this song makes me feel better always. Thank you ❤
@quimby_33rd
Maningue 😂
@vincentt.5040
Bob has a song for almost anyone's emotional state of mind/affairs. This man is pure genius.
@user-ym4vc7xr6l
For me it's Forever Young.😢. Makes me think of My Daughter Alyssa.