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
Po' Boy
Bob Dylan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He says, "Your wife", I say, "She's busy in the kitchen cookin'"
Poor boy where you been?
I already tol' you won't tell you again
I say, "How much you want for that?", I go into the store
The man says, "Three dollars", "All right", I say, "Will you take four?"
Poor boy - never say die
Workin' like on the mainline, workin' like the devil
The game is the same it's just up on a different level
Poor boy, dressed in black
Police at your back
Poor boy in a red hot town
Out beyond the twinklin' stars
Ridin' first class trains making the rounds
Tryin' to keep from fallin' between the cars
Othello told Desdemona, "I'm cold, cover me with a blanket
By the way, what happened to that poison wine?"
She says, "I gave it to you, you drank it"
Poor boy, layin' 'em straight pickin' up the cherries fallin' off the plate
Time and love has branded me with its claws
Had to go to Florida, dodgin' them Georgia laws
Poor boy, in the hotel called the Palace of Gloom
Calls down to room service, says, "Send up a room"
My mother was a daughter of a wealthy farmer
My father was a traveling salesman, I never met him
When my mother died, my uncle took me in, he ran a funeral parlor
He did a lot of nice things for me and I won't forget him
All I know is that I'm thrilled by your kiss
I don't know any more than this
Poor boy, pickin' up sticks
Build ya a house out of mortar and bricks
Knockin' on the door, I say, "Who is it and where are you from?"
Man says, "Freddy!" I say, "Freddy who?" He says, "Freddy or not here I come."
Poor boy 'neath the stars that shine
Washin' them dishes, feedin' them swine
In Bob Dylan's song Po' Boy, the lyrics describe the life of a young man who is trying to make a living in a difficult world. The song begins with a man coming to the door asking for the singer's wife, but she is busy cooking in the kitchen. The lyrics suggest that the singer is frustrated with his situation, but he keeps a positive outlook on life: "Poor boy where you been? I already tol' you won't tell you again / Poor boy - never say die / Things will be all right by and by."
As the song progresses, the singer talks about working hard and trying to stay out of trouble. He sings about the police being after him and trying to avoid getting caught. The lyrics also touch on the idea of love and loss, with the singer reflecting on his mother's death and his own experiences with romance.
Overall, the song paints a picture of a young man who is trying to navigate the challenges of life with resilience and a sense of humor. While the lyrics can be interpreted in a number of ways, they seem to suggest that even in hard times, it's important to keep moving forward and stay positive.
Line by Line Meaning
Man came to the door I say, "For whom are you looking?"
A man knocked on the door looking for someone, and I asked who he was searching for.
He says, "Your wife", I say, "She's busy in the kitchen cookin'"
The man replied that he was looking for my wife, and I informed him that she was preoccupied with cooking in the kitchen.
Poor boy where you been?
I asked the poor boy where he has been.
I already tol' you won't tell you again
Though the poor boy has been asked before, I tell him that I won't repeat myself again.
I say, "How much you want for that?", I go into the store
I inquire about the price of an item, then enter the store.
The man says, "Three dollars", "All right", I say, "Will you take four?"
The shopkeeper quotes three dollars, to which I offer four dollars instead.
Poor boy - never say die
Despite his circumstances, the poor boy should never give up hope.
Things will be all right by and by
Eventually, things will work out for the better.
Workin' like on the mainline, workin' like the devil
I am working tirelessly and furiously, like a demon on a railroad.
The game is the same it's just up on a different level
Although the stakes are higher, the rules of the game remain the same.
Poor boy, dressed in black
The poor boy is wearing all black.
Police at your back
The police are pursuing the poor boy.
Poor boy in a red hot town
The poor boy is in a city known for its passion and heat.
Out beyond the twinklin' stars
Beyond the glimmering stars, in the vastness of space.
Ridin' first class trains making the rounds
Traveling on the best available trains and visiting various places.
Tryin' to keep from fallin' between the cars
Trying not to fall between the train cars while moving from place to place.
Othello told Desdemona, "I'm cold, cover me with a blanket
A reference to a scene in Shakespeare's Othello, where Othello asks his wife to cover him with a blanket.
By the way, what happened to that poison wine?"
Desdemona asks about the poison wine that she gave to Othello earlier.
She says, "I gave it to you, you drank it"
Desdemona reveals that she had given Othello the poison wine, and that he had already consumed it.
Poor boy, layin' 'em straight pickin' up the cherries fallin' off the plate
The poor boy is doing his best to pick up the cherries that have fallen off his plate.
Time and love has branded me with its claws
The passage of time and the experiences of love have left their marks on me.
Had to go to Florida, dodgin' them Georgia laws
I had to go to Florida in order to evade the legal authorities in Georgia.
Poor boy, in the hotel called the Palace of Gloom
The poor boy is staying in a hotel with a foreboding and depressing name.
Calls down to room service, says, "Send up a room"
I call the hotel service to request a new room.
My mother was a daughter of a wealthy farmer
My mother was born to a rich farmer.
My father was a traveling salesman, I never met him
My father was a salesman who was never there for me, so I never had a chance to meet him.
When my mother died, my uncle took me in, he ran a funeral parlor
After my mother's passing, my uncle was kind enough to take me in; he owned and operated a funeral home.
He did a lot of nice things for me and I won't forget him
My uncle did many kind deeds for me, and I'm grateful for them; I'll never forget his kindness.
All I know is that I'm thrilled by your kiss
I do not have any further knowledge beyond the fact that kisses from you bring me joy.
I don't know any more than this
My knowledge is limited to this one piece of information.
Poor boy, pickin' up sticks
The poor boy is gathering sticks.
Build ya a house out of mortar and bricks
I will construct a sturdy building for you using bricks and mortar.
Knockin' on the door, I say, "Who is it and where are you from?"
I ask the person knocking on the door their name and place of origin.
Man says, "Freddy!" I say, "Freddy who?" He says, "Freddy or not here I come."
The man identifies himself as Freddy, to which I respond by asking for further clarification; he responds with a pun, 'Freddy' or not (here) I come.
Poor boy 'neath the stars that shine
The poor boy is situated beneath the shining stars.
Washin' them dishes, feedin' them swine
The poor boy is washing dishes and feeding pigs.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BOB DYLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@juancamacho5746
Man came to the door I say, "For whom are you looking?"
He says, "Your wife", I say, "She's busy in the kitchen cookin'"
Poor boy where you been?
I already tol' you won't tell you again
I say, "How much you want for that?", I go into the store
The man says, "Three dollars", "All right", I say, "Will you take four?"
Poor boy - never say die
Things will be all right by and by
Workin' like on the mainline, workin' like the devil
The game is the same it's just up on a different level
Poor boy, dressed in black
Police at your back
Poor boy in a red hot town
Out beyond the twinklin' stars
Ridin' first class trains making the rounds
Tryin' to keep from fallin' between the cars
🎵🎶🎵🎶
Othello told Desdemona, "I'm cold, cover me with a blanket
By the way, what happened to that poison wine?"
She says, "I gave it to you, you drank it"
Poor boy, layin' 'em straight pickin' up the cherries fallin' off the plate
Time and love has branded me with its claws
Had to go to Florida, dodgin' them Georgia laws
Poor boy, in the hotel called the Palace of Gloom
Calls down to room service, says, "Send up a room"
My mother was a daughter of a wealthy farmer
My father was a traveling salesman, I never met him
When my mother died, my uncle took me in, he ran a funeral parlor
He did a lot of nice things for me and I won't forget him
All I know is that I'm thrilled by your kiss
I don't know any more than this
Poor boy, pickin' up sticks
Build ya a house out of mortar and bricks
Knockin' on the door, I say, "Who is it and where are you from?"
Man says, "Freddy!" I say, "Freddy who?" He says, "Freddy or not here I come."
Poor boy 'neath the stars that shine
Washin' them dishes, feedin' them swine
@lynncohen2897
Man came to the door I say, "For whom are you looking?"
He says, "Your wife", I say, "She's busy in the kitchen cookin'"
Poor boy where you been?
I already tol' you won't tell you again
I say, "How much you want for that?", I go into the store
The man says, "Three dollars", "All right", I say, "Will you take four?"
Poor boy - never say die
Things will be all right by and by
Workin' like on the mainline, workin' like the devil
The game is the same it's just up on a different level
Poor boy, dressed in black
Police at your back
Poor boy in a red hot town
Out beyond the twinklin' stars
Ridin' first class trains making the rounds
Tryin' to keep from fallin' between the cars
Othello told Desdemona, "I'm cold, cover me with a blanket
By the way, what happened to that poison wine?"
She says, "I gave it to you, you drank it"
Poor boy, layin' 'em straight pickin' up the cherries fallin' off the plate
Time and love has branded me with its claws
Had to go to Florida, dodgin' them Georgia laws
Poor boy, in the hotel called the Palace of Gloom
Calls down to room service, says, "Send up a room"
My mother was a daughter of a wealthy farmer
My father was a traveling salesman, I never met him
When my mother died, my uncle took me in, he ran a funeral parlor
He did a lot of nice things for me and I won't forget him
All I know is that I'm thrilled by your kiss
I don't know any more than this
Poor boy, pickin' up sticks
Build ya a house out of mortar and bricks
Knockin' on the door, I say, "Who is it and where are you from?"
Man says, "Freddy!" I say, "Freddy who?" He says, "Freddy or not here I come."
Poor boy 'neath the stars that shine
Washin' them dishes, feedin' them swine
@freewheelin173
I always loved how Bob slipped a knock-knock joke into this song. Such a beautiful track though, one of my favorites.
@vickymyers8673
"the game is the same it's just aboard another level" Perfectly captures the plight of the working poor in this country and beyond. Unbelievable poignant, yet powerful lyrics.
@Tobykeithmusicinc
Hello Dear, it’s nice meeting you on here
@kingoftheseamusic
Up on another level.
@theflamingfatman
In absolute top form. A wonderful song, like a more mature version of his playful early songs, and one of his great vocal performances.
@songdanceman1608
Song, voice, lyrics, band, chord progression...only you Bob. Much love.
@mariamartin94
Love his voice so much on this song.
@Tobykeithmusicinc
Hello Dear, it’s nice meeting you on here!
@mariamartin94
@Bob Dylan Creep🤮
@timharper4246
Reminds me of Tom Waits