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
Real Real Gone
Bob Dylan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But it looks like it don't
I'd like to get you to change your mind
But it looks like you won't.
From now on I'll be busy
Ain't going nowhere fast
I'm just glad it's over
Well, didn't I risk my neck for you
Didn't I take chances?
Didn't I rise above all
Most unfortunate circumstances?
Well, I had some rotten nights
Didn't think that they would pass
I'm just thankful and grateful
To be seeing the real you at last.
I'm hungry and irritable
And I'm tired of this bag of tricks
At one time there was nothing wrong with me
That you could not fix.
Well, I sailed through the storm
Strapped to the mast
Oh, but our time has come
And I'm seeing the real you at last.
When I met you, baby
You didn't show no visible scars
You could ride like Annie Oakley
You could shoot like Belle Star.
Well, I don't mind a reasonable amount of trouble
Trouble always comes to pass
All I care for about now
Is that I'm seeing the real you at last.
Oh, yes I am.
Well I'm gonna quit this baby talk now
I guess I should have known
I got troubles, I think maybe you got troubles
I think maybe we'd better leave each other alone.
Whatever you gonna do
Please do it fast
I'm still trying to get used to
Seeing the real you at last.
Oh, yes I am.
Bob Dylan's song "Real Real Gone" paints a picture of a relationship that has reached its breaking point. Through the lyrics, Dylan expresses his frustration with his partner who has seemingly become someone he no longer recognizes. He states that he thought the rain would cool things down, but it hasn't. He wants his partner to change their mind, but they won't. This could be interpreted as Dylan wanting the relationship to work, but his partner is unwilling or unable to meet him halfway.
The chorus speaks of Dylan being glad that things are over and that he can finally see the "real you" at last. It appears that he feels like he has been deceived or misled by his partner for some time, and now he is finally seeing them for who they truly are. He reflects on the sacrifices he has made for this person, taking risks and rising above difficult circumstances, only to realize that he has been wasting his time.
In the final verse, Dylan suggests that they both have troubles and that it may be better for them to go their separate ways. He acknowledges that he is still trying to get used to seeing the real version of his partner, indicating that he has been blinded by their facade for some time. The song ends with a sense of uncertainty, with Dylan unsure of what the future holds.
Overall, "Real Real Gone" is a powerful commentary on the frustrations and difficulties inherent in romantic relationships. It is a raw and honest portrayal of a situation that many people can relate to, and Dylan's lyrics capture the pain and confusion that come with realizing that someone you once loved is not who you thought they were.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I thought that the rain would cool things down
I believed that the rain would have a calming effect
But it looks like it don't
But it seems like it is not the case
I'd like to get you to change your mind
I hope to convince you to reconsider
But it looks like you won't.
But it appears that you are determined not to
From now on I'll be busy
I have a lot to do going forward
Ain't going nowhere fast
I will not be making quick progress
I'm just glad it's over
I am relieved that it has ended
And I'm seeing the real you at last.
And I am finally seeing your true self
Well, didn't I risk my neck for you
Didn't I take significant risks for you
Didn't I take chances?
Didn't I take risks?
Didn't I rise above all
Didn't I overcome all
Most unfortunate circumstances?
Difficult situations?
Well, I had some rotten nights
I experienced some unpleasant nights
Didn't think that they would pass
I didn't expect them to end
I'm just thankful and grateful
I am appreciative and grateful
To be seeing the real you at last.
To finally see your genuine self
I'm hungry and irritable
I am hungry and easily annoyed
And I'm tired of this bag of tricks
I am weary of these games
At one time there was nothing wrong with me
I used to be fine
That you could not fix.
That you could not repair
Well, I sailed through the storm
I weathered the storm
Strapped to the mast
Tied to the mast
Oh, but our time has come
Our time has arrived
And I'm seeing the real you at last.
And I am finally witnessing your true self
When I met you, baby
When I encountered you, honey
You didn't show no visible scars
I did not see any noticeable wounds on you
You could ride like Annie Oakley
You could ride impressively, like Annie Oakley
You could shoot like Belle Star.
You could shoot expertly, like Belle Star
Well, I don't mind a reasonable amount of trouble
I can handle an appropriate level of difficulty
Trouble always comes to pass
Difficulties always eventually end
All I care for about now
All that is important to me at present
Is that I'm seeing the real you at last.
Is to finally observe your genuine self
Oh, yes I am.
Oh, absolutely
Well I'm gonna quit this baby talk now
I will now stop using simplistic language
I guess I should have known
I suppose I should have realized
I got troubles, I think maybe you got troubles
I have problems, and I believe you do too
I think maybe we'd better leave each other alone.
I think perhaps we should end our relationship
Whatever you gonna do
Whatever you decide to do
Please do it fast
Please act quickly
I'm still trying to get used to
I am still acclimating to
Seeing the real you at last.
Finally seeing your true self
Oh, yes I am.
Oh, absolutely
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BOB DYLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mark H
Wow! This version of Van Morrison's 'Real Real Gone' got me down to the very marrow! It is a glorious piece of uptempo R&B delivered here with considerable and idiosyncratic style by Dylan. A real real surprise and delight!
demian machado
Fantastic....
Hans Laterveer
Hey Bob sings Van. Special.