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
Restless Farewell
Bob Dylan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Be it mine right or wrongfully
I let it slip gladly to friends
To tie up the time most forcefully
But the bottles are done
We've killed each one
And the table's full and overflowed
And the corner sign
So I'll bid farewell and be down the road
Oh, ev'ry girl that ever I've touched
I did not do it harmfully
And ev'ry girl that ever I've hurt
I did not do it knowin'ly
But to remain as friends
You need the time to make amends
And stay behind
And since my feet are now fast
And point away from the past
I'll bid farewell and be down the line
Oh, ev'ry foe that ever I faced
The cause was there before we came
And ev'ry cause that ever I fought
I fought it full without regret or shame
But the dark does die
As the curtain is drawn and somebody's eyes
Must meet the dawn
And if I see the day
I'd only have to stay
So I'll bid farewell in the night and be gone
Oh, ev'ry thought that's strung a knot in my mind
I might go insane if it couldn't be sprung
But it's not to stand naked under unknowin' eyes
It's for myself and my friends my stories are sung
But the time ain't tall
Yet on time you depend and no word is possessed
By no special friend
And though the line is cut
It ain't quite the end
I'll just bid farewell till we meet again
Oh, a false clock tries to tick out my time
To disgrace, distract, and bother me
And the dirt of gossip blows into my face
And the dust of rumors covers me
But if the arrow is straight
And the point is slick
It can pierce through dust no matter how thick
So I'll make my stand
And remain as I am
And bid farewell and not give a damn
The song "Farewell" by Bob Dylan from "The Bootleg Series, Vols. 1-3 (Rare & Unreleased) 1961-1991" was likely written in 1964 and subsequently recorded a few times throughout the 60s, but never officially released until 1991. The song has a clear structure of the singer bidding farewell to different aspects of their life and the world. Each verse covers a different topic. The singer starts with their money, saying that they spent it mostly on friends, even if it wasn't necessarily earned rightfully. They then move on to all the girls they have touched, explaining that they didn't mean to harm or hurt anyone and need time to make amends, but are now moving on. The next verse covers their foes, explaining that every fight they fought was done so wholeheartedly and with no regrets or shame. However, they know that the darkness dies and they have to say goodbye. The fourth verse covers the singer's thoughts, how they need to untangle them to remain sane, but the stories are ultimately for themselves and their friends. The final verse is perhaps the most defiant, calling out false clocks, gossip and rumors, and saying that they'll stand their ground and bid farewell without giving a damn.
As with many Bob Dylan songs, "Farewell" is lyrically dense and filled with meaning to decipher. It seems to be a reflection on the singer's past and a declaration that they are moving on from it all, but not without acknowledging and bidding farewell to each aspect. The idea of bidding farewell is about closure, saying goodbye to what has been and leaving space for new things, but it's also about taking control of the narrative and the direction of one's life.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, all the money that in my whole life I did spend
Reflecting on all the money he spent throughout his lifetime
Be it mine right or wrongfully
Regardless of whether he obtained the money rightfully or wrongfully
I let it slip gladly to friends
He willingly gave away his money to his friends
To tie up the time most forcefully
In order to make the most of his time, he spent his money on things to keep himself occupied
But the bottles are done
Drinking is over
We've killed each one
They've finished all the bottles
And the table's full and overflowed
The table is covered in empty bottles and glasses
And the corner sign
The bar's sign in the corner
Says it's closing time
The bar is closing
So I'll bid farewell and be down the road
He's saying goodbye and leaving
Oh, ev'ry girl that ever I've touched
Reflecting on every girl he's been intimate with
I did not do it harmfully
He never intended to harm any of the girls he was with
And ev'ry girl that ever I've hurt
Every girl he's hurt emotionally or otherwise
I did not do it knowin'ly
He didn't hurt anyone on purpose
But to remain as friends
To stay friends despite any issues they had
You need the time to make amends
Sometimes you need time to mend relationships
And stay behind
To remain in one's past
And since my feet are now fast
Because he's moving on quickly
And point away from the past
He's moving on and leaving things behind him
I'll bid farewell and be down the line
He's saying goodbye and leaving
Oh, ev'ry foe that ever I faced
Every person that has ever been his enemy
The cause was there before we came
The issue existed before they became foes
And ev'ry cause that ever I fought
Every issue he fought against
I fought it full without regret or shame
He fought for what he believed in and is proud of it
But the dark does die
The dark times eventually come to an end
As the curtain is drawn and somebody's eyes
As the night comes to an end and the morning begins
Must meet the dawn
The morning will come whether he likes it or not
And if I see the day
If he's still alive to see another day
I'd only have to stay
He'd have to stay and face whatever comes his way
So I'll bid farewell in the night and be gone
He's leaving in the night and saying goodbye
Oh, ev'ry thought that's strung a knot in my mind
Every thought that's troubled him
I might go insane if it couldn't be sprung
If he can't get rid of his troubled thoughts, he might go insane
But it's not to stand naked under unknowin' eyes
He won't put himself in a vulnerable position in front of strangers
It's for myself and my friends my stories are sung
He tells his stories to himself and his close friends
But the time ain't tall
Time is running out
Yet on time you depend and no word is possessed
Time is important and can't be saved, and no one can take their words back
By no special friend
Even a close friend can't save time or take back words
And though the line is cut
The relationship is over
It ain't quite the end
It may seem like the end, but there's still hope
I'll just bid farewell till we meet again
He's saying goodbye, but leaving the possibility open to meet again in the future
Oh, a false clock tries to tick out my time
A fake sense of urgency is stressing him out
To disgrace, distract, and bother me
The urgency is meant to shame, distract, and irritate him
And the dirt of gossip blows into my face
People are spreading rumors about him and it's getting back to him
And the dust of rumors covers me
The rumors are sticking to him like dust
But if the arrow is straight
If he stays true to himself
And the point is slick
And he's careful with his words and actions
It can pierce through dust no matter how thick
He can rise above the rumors and not let them affect him
So I'll make my stand
He's taking a stand for himself
And remain as I am
He's staying true to himself
And bid farewell and not give a damn
He's not letting the rumors get to him and he's leaving without a care in the world
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bob Dylan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Juan Camacho
Oh, all the money that in my whole life I did spend
Be it mine right or wrongfully
I let it slip gladly to my friends
To tie up the time most forcefully
But the bottles are done
We've killed each one
And the table's full and overflowed
And the corner sign
Says it's closing time
So I'll bid farewell and be down the road
Oh, ev'ry girl that ever I've touched
I did not do it harmfully
And ev'ry girl that ever I've hurt
I did not do it knowin'ly
But to remain as friends
You need the time to make amends
And stay behind
And since my feet are now fast
And point away from the past
I'll bid farewell and be down the line
Oh, ev'ry foe that ever I faced
The cause was there before we came
And ev'ry cause that ever I fought
I fought it full without regret or shame
But the dark does die
As the curtain is drawn and somebody's eyes
Must meet the dawn
And if I see the day
I'd only have to stay
So I'll bid farewell in the night and be gone
Oh, ev'ry thought that's strung a knot in my mind
I might go insane if it couldn't be sprung
But it's not to stand naked under unknowin' eyes
It's for myself and my friends my stories are sung
But the time ain't tall
Yet on time you depend and no word is possessed
By no special friend
And though the line is cut
It ain't quite the end
I'll just bid farewell till we meet again
Oh, a false clock tries to tick out my time
To disgrace, distract, and bother me
And the dirt of gossip blows into my face
And the dust of rumors covers me
But if the arrow is straight
And the point is slick
It can pierce through dust no matter how thick
So I'll make my stand
And remain as I am
And bid farewell and not give a damn
ESTREMONIAS
Magnificent version of the traditional Scottish song: "The Parting Glass".
Oh, all the money that in my whole life I did spend
Be it mine right or wrongfully
I let it slip gladly to friends
To tie up the time most forcefully
But the bottles are done
We've killed each one
And the table's full and overflowed
And the corner sign
Says it's closing time
So I'll bid farewell and be down the road
Oh, ev'ry girl that ever I've touched
I did not do it harmfully
And ev'ry girl that ever I've hurt
I did not do it knowin'ly
But to remain as friends
You need the time to make amends
And stay behind
And since my feet are now fast
And point away from the past
I'll bid farewell and be down the line
Oh, ev'ry foe that ever I faced
The cause was there before we came
And ev'ry cause that ever I fought
I fought it full without regret or shame
But the dark does die
As the curtain is drawn and somebody's eyes
Must meet the dawn
And if I see the day
I'd only have to stay
So I'll bid farewell in the night and be gone
Oh, ev'ry thought that's strung a knot in my mind
I might go insane if it couldn't be sprung
But it's not to stand naked under unknowin' eyes
It's for myself and my friends my stories are sung
But the time ain't tall
Yet on time you depend and no word is possessed
By no special friend
And though the line is cut
It ain't quite the end
I'll just bid farewell till we meet again
Oh, a false clock tries to tick out my time
To disgrace, distract, and bother me
And the dirt of gossip blows into my face
And the dust of rumors covers me
But if the arrow is straight
And the point is slick
It can pierce through dust no matter how thick
So I'll make my stand
And remain as I am
And bid farewell and not give a damn
Ramon bernaus esteve
La mayoría de sus canciones son profundas. Y su voz ayuda aumentar el interés de escucharlas. Todavía tenemos la suerte de poder disfrutarlo en vivo.
Marie-Cruz Martinez
J'aime beaucoup cet album. Le poète chante par nécessité, mais jamais pour lui seul. Il clame haut et fort la beauté et l'horreur. Merci
Patricia Delicia
Incredible how such a young man with a voice many denied was singing could keep on keeping on. He made our private world's public yet succeeded in keeping his private world away from the public. He possessed a wisdom and an ability to understand what was around him that ppl of seventy at the time could not see. I'm tipsy now on v v v cheap but ok cider so hope am making some sorta sense. I've loved him since I was sweet sixteen
Lilo Ukulele
❤❤❤
Donns Copman
Agree
Glenn Lawrence
Great:)
Din Djarum
You make a most eloquent case, young lady.
Miketron5000
He had more to say than could be silenced.
HelianaSuper
What a wonderful song! I love this young Bob and his harmonica and his sweet voice and acoustic guitar.💖
mike bolding
You got it babe