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
Nobody Knows You
Bob Dylan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's nothing 'round here to be that better 'cept you, yeah you
You're the one that reaches me, you're the one that I admire
Every time we meet together I feel like I'm on fire
'Cept you, yeah you
Nothing 'round here I care to try for 'cept you, yeah you
Got nothing here to live or die for 'cept you, yeah you
There's a hymn I used to hear in the churches all the time
Make me feel so good inside, so peaceful, so sublime
Now there's nothing that reminds me of that old familiar chime
'Cept you, yeah you
Used to roll in the cemetery
Dance and run and sing when I was a child
And it never seemed strange, now I just pass mournfully
By that place where the bones of life are piled
I know somethin' has changed
I'm a stranger here and no one sees me 'cept you, yeah you
Nothing any more seems to please me 'cept you, yeah you
Nothing hypnotizes me or holds me in a spell
Everything runs by me just like water from a well
Everybody wants my attention
Everybody's got something to sell
'Cept you, yeah you, I'm in love with you
The lyrics of Bob Dylan's song Nobody 'Cept You express a sense of devotion and admiration towards an individual who is seemingly the only source of meaning and fulfillment in the singer's life. With a simple guitar melody accompanying Dylan's husky voice, the song speaks about the way this person uplifts him and makes him feel alive. Describing the individual as sacred, the lyrics convey the idea that there's nothing else in the world that holds as much significance as this one person. The lines "Every time we meet together I feel like I'm on fire" and "Nothing hypnotizes me or holds me in a spell / Everything runs by me just like water from a well" illustrate the fervor and passion with which the singer regards this person and his sense of disinterest in the world outside of this relationship.
The song then takes a turn towards nostalgia as Dylan reminisces about a hymn he used to hear in churches as a child. He mentions how that hymn used to make him feel peaceful and sublime, but nothing else in the world holds that same familiarity and comfort as this person. The lines "Used to roll in the cemetery / Dance and run and sing when I was a child / And it never seemed strange, now I just pass mournfully / By that place where the bones of life are piled" speak about how the world has changed around him and how he's become an adult in a world that seems increasingly unfamiliar and strange.
The last verses of the song convey the theme of the perpetual distractions of the world and how nothing seems to hold the singer's attention, except for this one person. The lines "Everybody wants my attention / Everybody's got something to sell / 'Cept you, yeah you, I'm in love with you" exhibit how amidst the chaos of life and the constant demands for attention, there's one person who stands out as the only one who matters.
This song is a unique departure from Dylan's usual style, as it adopts a more pop-flavored, upbeat melody and rhythm, compared to the more politically charged and socially conscious lyrics for which the musician is known.
Line by Line Meaning
Nothing 'round here to me that's sacred 'cept you, yeah you
There's nothing in this world that holds such a holy meaning to me except you, yes, you.
You're the one that reaches me, you're the one that I admire
You're the only one who touches my soul, you're the one I look up to with great respect.
Every time we meet together I feel like I'm on fire
Whenever we're together, sparks fly and I feel electrified by your presence.
Nothing matters to me and there's nothing I desire
Nothing in this world holds any importance to me, nor do I crave anything else except you.
'Cept you, yeah you
Except you, yes, you.
Nothing 'round here I care to try for 'cept you, yeah you
There's nothing else in this world I'm willing to try for, except for you, yes, you.
Got nothing here to live or die for 'cept you, yeah you
I have nothing for which I wish to live or die, except you, yes, you.
There's a hymn I used to hear in the churches all the time
I remember a song of praise I heard constantly in church.
Make me feel so good inside, so peaceful, so sublime
It was soulful and comforting, giving me a sense of inner peace and tranquility.
Now there's nothing that reminds me of that old familiar chime
But nowadays, nothing else reminds me of that familiar tune, except you, yes, you.
'Cept you, yeah you
Except you, yes, you.
Used to roll in the cemetery, Dance and run and sing when I was a child
I used to play in the graveyard as a child, dancing, singing, and running without any hesitation.
And it never seemed strange, now I just pass mournfully, By that place where the bones of life are piled
It never felt odd before, but nowadays, I just pass that place with a heavy heart and solemn mood where the remains of life are stacked.
I know somethin' has changed, I'm a stranger here and no one sees me 'cept you, yeah you
I'm certain something has altered my perception, because I feel like a stranger here, and you are the only one who acknowledges my presence, yes, you.
Nothing any more seems to please me 'cept you, yeah you
Nothing else in this world gives me pleasure or makes me happy, except for you, yes, you.
Nothing hypnotizes me or holds me in a spell
Nothing has the power to mesmerize me or put me under a trance.
Everything runs by me just like water from a well
Everything flows by me without any effect on me, like water from a well.
Everybody wants my attention, Everybody's got something to sell
Everyone craves my attention and has something to offer me.
'Cept you, yeah you, I'm in love with you
Except for you, yes, you, I'm deeply in love with you.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BOB DYLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ski4Ever
I don't think this is a love song as one thinks of a traditional love song...but rather it is more of a Gospel love song. At least that is how I interpret the lyrics. See below:
There’s nothing ’round here I believe in
’Cept you, yeah you
And there’s nothing to me that’s sacred
’Cept you, yeah you
You’re the one that reaches me
You’re the one that I admire
Every time we meet together
My soul feels like it’s on fire
Nothing matters to me
And there’s nothing I desire
’Cept you, yeah you
Nothing ’round here I care to try for
’Cept you, yeah you
Got nothing left to live or die for
'Cept you, yeah you
There’s a hymn I used to hear
In the churches all the time
Make me feel so good inside
So peaceful, so sublime
And there’s nothing to remind me of that
Old familiar chime
'Cept you, uh huh you
Used to play in the cemetery
Dance and sing and run when I was a child
Never seemed strange
But now I just pass mournfully by
That place where the bones of life are piled
I know somethin’ has changed
I’m a stranger here and no one sees me
’Cept you, yeah you
Nothing much matters or seems to please me
'Cept you, yeah you
Nothing hypnotizes me
Or holds me in a spell
Everything runs by me
Just like water from a well
Everybody wants my attention
Everybody’s got something to sell
’Cept you, yeah you
Jack Cutler
The way Bob used the imagery of the cemetery as a place that once held a certain positive nostalgia and then it became a place where only "bones of life are piled". The guy is an utter genius
D41087 Tagad
💯
Maggie Bryan
What a great song ❤
William R
If anyone wants to call this the best Dylan love song ever, they won't get any argument from me.
Jack Cutler
Such a special little song. It's difficult to believe Bob didn't feel it worthy
Nick Knee
I originally heard the 16 Horsepower cover of this song in a sledding video and that version moved me so hard. I looked around everywhere for Bob's original version and I finally found it some ten years later.
William Fever
Bob Dylan, a walking musical encyclopedia!
Monica Tolipan
Think Bob Dylan deserves to know that I've researched almost a third part of this fantastic Forever Young Music. Loved this ❤
łukasz basta
Beautiful song ❤
Ski4Ever
I don't think this is a love song as one thinks of a traditional love song...but rather it is more of a Gospel love song. At least that is how I interpret the lyrics. See below:
There’s nothing ’round here I believe in
’Cept you, yeah you
And there’s nothing to me that’s sacred
’Cept you, yeah you
You’re the one that reaches me
You’re the one that I admire
Every time we meet together
My soul feels like it’s on fire
Nothing matters to me
And there’s nothing I desire
’Cept you, yeah you
Nothing ’round here I care to try for
’Cept you, yeah you
Got nothing left to live or die for
'Cept you, yeah you
There’s a hymn I used to hear
In the churches all the time
Make me feel so good inside
So peaceful, so sublime
And there’s nothing to remind me of that
Old familiar chime
'Cept you, uh huh you
Used to play in the cemetery
Dance and sing and run when I was a child
Never seemed strange
But now I just pass mournfully by
That place where the bones of life are piled
I know somethin’ has changed
I’m a stranger here and no one sees me
’Cept you, yeah you
Nothing much matters or seems to please me
'Cept you, yeah you
Nothing hypnotizes me
Or holds me in a spell
Everything runs by me
Just like water from a well
Everybody wants my attention
Everybody’s got something to sell
’Cept you, yeah you