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
Roll on John
Bob Dylan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Another bottle's empty, another penny spent
He turned around and he slowly walked away
They shot him in the back and down he went
Shine your light
Movin' on
You burned so bright
From the Liverpool docks to the red-light Hamburg streets
Down in the quarry with the Quarry men
Playing to the big crowds, playing to the cheap seats
Another day in the life on your way to your journey's end
Shine your light
Movin' on
You burned so bright
Roll on, John
Sailin' through the trade winds bound for the south
Rags on your back just like any other slave
They tied your hands and they clamped your mouth
Wasn't no way out of that deep dark cave
Shine your light
Movin' on
You burned so bright
Roll on, John
I heard the news today, oh boy
They hauled your ship up on the shore
Now the city gone dark, there is no more joy
They tore the heart right out and cut him to the core
Shine your light
Movin' on
You burned so bright
Roll on, John
Put on your bags and get 'em packed
Leave right now, you won't be far from wrong
The sooner you go the quicker you'll be back
You've been cooped up on an island far too long
Shine your light
Movin' on
You burned so bright
Roll on, John
Slow down you're moving way too fast
Come together right now over me
Your bones are weary, you're about to breathe your last
Lord, you know how hard that it can be
Shine your light
Movin' on
You burned so bright
Roll on, John
Roll on, John, roll through the rain and snow
Take the right-hand road and go where the buffalo roam
They'll trap you in an ambush before you know
Too late now to sail back home
Shine your light
Movin' on
You burned so bright
Roll on, John
Tyger, tyger burning bright
I pray the Lord my soul to keep
In the forests of the night
Cover 'em over and let him sleep
Shine your light
Movin' on
You burned so bright
Roll on, John
"Roll on John," by Bob Dylan is a tribute to John Lennon, the former Beatle and musician who was shot and killed outside of his New York apartment in 1980. The song is an elegy filled with references to Lennon's past, present and future, and includes a number of allusions to his life and work. The lyrics are both poetic and personal, reflecting Dylan's deep admiration for Lennon and the profound impact he had on music and culture.
The song opens with the lines "Doctor, doctor tell me the time of day / Another bottle's empty, another penny spent / He turned around and he slowly walked away / They shot him in the back and down he went." These lines describe the moment when Lennon was fatally shot by Mark David Chapman, who approached him from behind and fired several shots into his back. The lyrics then shift to the theme of light, which is a recurring motif throughout the song. "Shine your light / Movin' on / You burned so bright / Roll on, John," sings Dylan, in a homage to Lennon's life, work and legacy.
The song also references various points in Lennon's life, such as his time in Liverpool, playing with the Beatles in Hamburg, and his activism against war and injustice. The final verse of the song is a reference to William Blake's poem "The Tyger," which Lennon had quoted in a song on his solo album, "Mind Games."
Line by Line Meaning
Doctor, doctor tell me the time of day
A request for information- implying a desperate need to know what's happening
Another bottle's empty, another penny spent
Feeling of defeat and manipulation of life in exchange for empty vices
He turned around and he slowly walked away
Describing someone either accepting an unavoidable fate or expressing that there are no more options left
They shot him in the back and down he went
A violent ending that was seemingly inevitable
From the Liverpool docks to the red-light Hamburg streets
A journey to from one city to another full of its own challenges and challenges
Down in the quarry with the Quarry men
A descriptive scene of camaraderie and togetherness
Playing to the big crowds, playing to the cheap seats
The inevitability of performing to both high and low classes
Another day in the life on your way to your journey's end
Expressing that each day can be as significant as an entire lifetime
Sailin' through the trade winds bound for the south
A sense of freedom but also an acknowledgement of the power dynamics at play
Rags on your back just like any other slave
There are degrees of freedom and slavery that everyone must contend with, regardless of station
They tied your hands and they clamped your mouth
The cruelty and violence of both physical and cultural captivity
Wasn't no way out of that deep dark cave
Struggling to find a solution to an incredibly significant problem
I heard the news today, oh boy
Receiving a shock that shatters one's worldview
They hauled your ship up on the shore
Implying the end of a journey, but a forced one
Now the city gone dark, there is no more joy
A sense of an era in life having reached its end and leaving way for something darker
They tore the heart right out and cut him to the core
A soul-crushing event that may end up defining one's existence
Put on your bags and get 'em packed
Pressing to go, a sense of urgency
Leave right now, you won't be far from wrong
A deep conviction that leaving is the only viable option left
The sooner you go the quicker you'll be back
The desire for one to come quickly back to their base despite external forces
You've been cooped up on an island far too long
Finally realizing that one has been stuck in a single place of hardship for too long
Slow down you're moving way too fast
One needs to scrutinize their path and direction so they can avoid pitfalls
Come together right now over me
An appeal for unity and peace
Your bones are weary, you're about to breathe your last
Implying an approaching mortality, a sort of exhaustion tinged with despair
Lord, you know how hard that it can be
A desperate prayer for strength and resilience to make it through such a trying time
Roll on, John, roll through the rain and snow
Urging someone to be steadfast and persevere through hardship and challenges
Take the right-hand road and go where the buffalo roam
Follow a certain path, a way of life that will lead to eventual freedom
They'll trap you in an ambush before you know
There will always be obstacles and traps laid along the way- expected or unexpected
Too late now to sail back home
The realization of a loss of feasible options and the only way forward is to continue to progress from this point on
Tyger, tyger burning bright
Referencing William Blake's poem "The Tyger" which describes the impressions of beauty in seemingly dangerous animals
I pray the Lord my soul to keep
Asking a higher power to exert an influence over your being
In the forests of the night
An imaginative scene of natural darkness where a threat may await
Cover 'em over and let him sleep
Letting a person rest, in some cases implying a permanent rest
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BOB DYLAN TRADITIONAL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bryankeisling132
Lyrics:
Doctor, doctor tell me the time of day
Another bottle's empty, another penny spent
He turned around and he slowly walked away
They shot him in the back and down he went
Shine your light
Movin' on
You burned so bright
Roll on, John
From the Liverpool docks to the red-light Hamburg streets
Down in the quarry with the Quarry men
Playing to the big crowds, playing to the cheap seats
Another day in the life on your way to your journey's end
Shine your light
Movin' on
You burned so bright
Roll on, John
Sailin' through the trade winds bound for the south
Rags on your back just like any other slave
They tied your hands and they clamped your mouth
Wasn't no way out of that deep dark cave
Shine your light
Movin' on
You burned so bright
Roll on, John
I heard the news today, oh boy
They hauled your ship up on the shore
Now the city gone dark, there is no more joy
They tore the heart right out and cut him to the core
Shine your light
Movin' on
You burned so bright
Roll on, John
Put on your bags and get 'em packed
Leave right now, you won't be far from wrong
The sooner you go the quicker you'll be back
You've been cooped up on an island far too long
Shine your light
Movin' on
You burned so bright
Roll on, John
Slow down you're moving way too fast
Come together right now over me
Your bones are weary, you're about to breathe your last
Lord, you know how hard that it can be
Shine your light
Movin' on
You burned so bright
Roll on, John
Roll on, John, roll through the rain and snow
Take the right-hand road and go where the buffalo roam
They'll trap you in an ambush before you know
Too late now to sail back home
Shine your light
Movin' on
You burned so bright
Roll on, John
Tyger, tyger burning bright
I pray the Lord my soul to keep
In the forests of the night
Cover 'em over and let him sleep
Shine your light
Movin' on
You burned so bright
Roll on, John
@janzijlstra943
Doctor, doctor tell me the time of day
Another bottle's empty, another penny spent
He turned around and he slowly walked away
They shot him in the back and down he went
Shine your light
Movin' on
You burned so bright
Roll on, John
From the Liverpool docks to the red-light Hamburg streets
Down in the quarry with the Quarry men
Playing to the big crowds, playing to the cheap seats
Another day in the life on your way to your journey's end
Shine your light
Movin' on
You burned so bright
Roll on, John
Sailin' through the trade winds bound for the south
Rags on your back just like any other slave
They tied your hands and they clamped your mouth
Wasn't no way out of that deep dark cave
Shine your light
Movin' on
You burned so bright
Roll on, John
I heard the news today, oh boy
They hauled your ship up on the shore
Now the city gone dark, there is no more joy
They tore the heart right out and cut him to the core
Shine your light
Movin' on
You burned so bright
Roll on, John
Put on your bags and get 'em packed
Leave right now, you won't be far from wrong
The sooner you go the quicker you'll be back
You've been cooped up on an island far too long
Shine your light
Movin' on
You burned so bright
Roll on, John
Slow down you're moving way too fast
Come together right now over me
Your bones are weary, you're about to breathe your last
Lord, you know how hard that it can be
Shine your light
Movin' on
You burned so bright
Roll on, John
Roll on, John, roll through the rain and snow
Take the right-hand road and go where the buffalo roam
They'll trap you in an ambush before you know
Too late now to sail back home
Shine your light
Movin' on
You burned so bright
Roll on, John
Tyger, tyger burning bright
I pray the Lord my soul to keep
In the forests of the night
Cover 'em over and let him sleep
Shine your light
Movin' on
You burned so bright
Roll on, John
@Pensfold
Tyger! Tyger! burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
The Tyger
William Blake - 1757-1827
John Lennon would have had to learn this poem in his first year at Grammar School like many of us. Maybe Dylan too.
@HelianaSuper
Pure emotion... A tribute of a great poet Dylan to another great poet, Jonh Lennon. My God... Oh my heart...
@Ad-Ac
Yes the song is great, however, I'd argue whether it's really a tribute. I see it more as a song about Lennon, and his difficult life. One guy wrote an article on a website, and here's one part of it: "Roll On John isn't a sad song about a friend that died. And it's not a sonic fist-bump from one icon to another. It's Dylan acknowledging that Lennon has become legend—another mythic character to populate his songs."
@HelianaSuper
@@Ad-Ac Hello, William. When i read the lyrics I thought this also... But we can consider the two or more... versions. The important this history is Jonh is a true brithly Light like Dylan...
@Ad-Ac
@@HelianaSuper Yes, I just wanted to share my view on this song. I've been trying to understand it for a long time now, and I still get confused in some parts... ;-)
@HelianaSuper
@@Ad-Ac I know... I have reading about it. Some parts of the lyrics is about another situation... But the chorus say all: brith, Jonh!
@Ad-Ac
@@HelianaSuper "In Roll on John Dylan looks at Lennon as a myth more than a man. The musician once compared himself to Jesus Christ and Dylan takes it a step further by lionizing him in song, pushing him towards a mythic status of sorts. Though some of the lyrics directly reference Lennon’s life, much of the song is ripe for interpretation. The men weren’t close friends by any means, but there are very few people who loom close to Dylan in terms of their impact on popular music. Though the song may ramble over seven minutes, there is something entrancing about Dylan’s meanderings, especially when the words 'I heard the news today, oh boy' cut through the cryptic text like a bright beacon." - David Harris, found on the internet!
@louiseluna4024
Sung from Dylan's heart for John Lennon, our light....he was so bright! Bless you wherever you may be!
@Carlossantanamusicinc
Hello Dear, it’s nice meeting you on here!
@louiseluna4024
@@Carlossantanamusicinc Thank you kindly. Hope all is good and understood. Luna
@Carlossantanamusicinc
@@louiseluna4024 Yes all is well thanks 🙏🏽.. So have you ever been to our concerts?