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
Ragged & Dirty
Bob Dylan Lyrics
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Broke and hungry, ragged and dirty too
If I clean up sweet mama, can I stay all night with you.
Lord, I went to my window, babe, I couldn't see through my blinds
Went to my window, babe I couldn't see through my blinds
Heard my best friend coming around I thought I heard my baby cry.
If I can't come in here baby then just let me sit down in your door
And I would leave so soon that your man won't never know.
How can I live here baby, Lord, and feel at ease ?
How can I live here baby, Lord, and feel at ease ?
Well, that woman I got, man, she do just what she feels.
Lord you shouldn't mistreat me, baby, because I'm young and wild
Shouldn't mistreat me, baby, because I'm young and wild
You must always remember, baby, you was once a child.
'Cause I'm leaving in the morning, if I have to ride the blind
Leaving in the morning, if I have to ride the blinds
Well, I've been mistreated and I swear, I don't mind dyin'.
The song Ragged & Dirty by Bob Dylan can be interpreted as a plea of a disheveled and desperate man to a woman, asking to be let in to use her house as a refuge from his current circumstances. He is broke, hungry, ragged, and dirty, seeking help and a place to lay his head for the night. The man sweet-talks the woman, hoping to convince her to let him in by promising to leave before her man even knows he was there. He alludes to the fact that he can hear his friend approaching and that he may have heard his baby cry, possibly indicating that he is on the run from someone or something.
The man acknowledges that his situation is precarious, and he cannot help but feel uneasy. He sings that the woman he has, does just what she feels, and he cannot live with ease, which may imply that he is being used in some way. He pleads with the woman not to mistreat him because he is young and wild, and she must remember that she was once a child too. However, the man's demeanor changes, and he becomes morose, announcing that he is leaving in the morning, willing to ride the train blindly, and that he doesn't mind dying because he has been mistreated.
The song is a blues classic and has been covered by several artists over the years. It was first recorded by Blind Lemon Jefferson in 1927, and Bob Dylan's version was recorded in 1990 for his album "World Gone Wrong." Dylan's version is said to have been influenced by the rendition previously recorded by Mississippi John Hurt.
Line by Line Meaning
Lord I'm broke, I'm hungry, ragged and dirty too
I am impoverished, starving, poorly dressed and unclean.
If I clean up sweet mama, can I stay all night with you.
May I spend the night with you if I tidy up, dear?
Lord, I went to my window, babe, I couldn't see through my blinds
I peered out of my window but couldn't see properly due to the blinds.
Heard my best friend coming around I thought I heard my baby cry.
I believed I heard my friend approaching, but it turned out to be my child crying.
Lord, if I can't come in here, baby then just let me sit down in your door
If I can't enter your abode, may I sit near your entrance?
And I would leave so soon that your man won't never know.
I would depart before your partner is aware I was here.
How can I live here baby, Lord, and feel at ease ?
How can I feel comfortable residing here, my dear Lord?
Well, that woman I got, man, she do just what she feels.
My female companion does precisely as she pleases.
Lord you shouldn't mistreat me, baby, because I'm young and wild
My youth and spirited nature should not result in ill-treatment, my dear Lord.
You must always remember, baby, you was once a child.
Remember, my child, you were once a youth.
'Cause I'm leaving in the morning, if I have to ride the blind
I am departing in the morning, even if it requires traveling incognito.
Well, I've been mistreated and I swear, I don't mind dyin'.
Despite the abuse I've experienced, I would not object to death.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BOB DYLAN TRADITIONAL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind