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
Rollin
Bob Dylan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I rolled and I tumbled, I cried the whole night long
Woke up this mornin', I must have bet my money wrong
I got troubles so hard, I can't stand the strain
I got troubles so hard, I can't stand the strain
Some young lazy slut has charmed away my brains
The landscape is glowin', gleamin' in the golden light of day
I ain't holding nothin' back now, I ain't standin' in anybody's way
Well, I did all I know just to keep you off my mind
Well, I did all I know just to keep you off my mind
Well, I paid and I paid and my sufferin' heart is always on the line
Well, I get up in the dawn and I go down and lay in the shade
I get up in the dawn and I go down and lay in the shade
I ain't nobody's house boy, I ain't nobody's well trained maid
I'm flat out spent, this woman been drivin' me to tears
I'm flat out spent, this woman been drivin' me to tears
This woman so crazy, I swear I ain't gonna touch on another one for years
Well, the warm weather is comin' and the buds are on the vine
The warm weather is comin' and the buds are on the vine
Ain't nothing so depressing as trying to satisfy this woman of mine
I got up this mornin', saw the rising sun return
Well, I got up this mornin', saw the rising sun return
Sooner or later, you too shall burn
The night's filled with shadows, the years are filled with early doom
The night's filled with shadows, the years are filled with early doom
I've been conjuring up all these long dead souls from their crumblin' tombs
Let's forgive each other darlin', let's go down to the greenwood glen
Let's forgive each other darlin', let's go down to the greenwood glen
Let's put our heads together, let's put old matters to an end
Now I rolled and I tumbled and I cried the whole night long
Ah, I rolled and I tumbled and I cried the whole night long
I woke up this morning, I think I must be traveling wrong
Bob Dylan's "Rollin’ and Tumblin’" is a blues song about a man going through tough times with his lover. The opening verse "I rolled and I tumbled, I cried the whole night long, woke up this mornin', I must have bet my money wrong" sets a melancholic tone, indicating that the singer is going through a rough patch. He's lost all his money and is crying all night. The second verse reveals that his troubles are related to his love life, as he sings, "Some young lazy slut has charmed away my brains". The woman he has been involved with has driven him to the point of exhaustion, and he is now seeking solitude.
The landscape represents a metaphorical shift as the song moves on to brighter and more optimistic possibilities. The singer refuses to hold back and states that he is no longer willing to stand in anyone's way. He explains that he has done everything to keep his lover out of his mind, but his heart is still suffering. The greenery surrounding him symbolizes growth and a new beginning, though he remains trapped by his past relationship. The final verse seems to be an acceptance of the man's fate, recognizing that sooner or later, everyone will have to face their reckoning, including his former lover.
Line by Line Meaning
I rolled and I tumbled, I cried the whole night long
I struggled and suffered through the night, shedding tears of sorrow and frustration.
Woke up this mornin', I must have bet my money wrong
Upon awakening, I realize that I have made some sort of costly mistake.
I got troubles so hard, I can't stand the strain
My problems are so intense and overwhelming that I can barely handle them.
Some young lazy slut has charmed away my brains
I have been foolishly bewitched and manipulated by a deceitful, lazy woman who has stolen my wits.
The landscape is glowin', gleamin' in the golden light of day
The natural world radiates with beauty and vibrancy as the sun rises and bathes everything in golden light.
I ain't holding nothin' back now, I ain't standin' in anybody's way
I am no longer holding anything back or obstructing anyone, and am fully embracing my true self and desires.
Well, I did all I know just to keep you off my mind
I have exhausted all my resources in order to forget about you and remove you from my thoughts.
Well, I paid and I paid and my sufferin' heart is always on the line
I have given everything and sacrificed greatly, and yet my heart continues to endure great pain and vulnerability.
I get up in the dawn and I go down and lay in the shade
I rise early in the day and retreat to a cool, shady spot to rest and find respite.
I ain't nobody's house boy, I ain't nobody's well trained maid
I refuse to be anyone's subservient servant or domestic worker.
I'm flat out spent, this woman been drivin' me to tears
I am completely exhausted, drained and emotionally devastated by this woman's actions and behavior.
This woman so crazy, I swear I ain't gonna touch on another one for years
This particular woman's insanity has turned me off from relationships and I vow to avoid women altogether for some time.
Ain't nothing so depressing as trying to satisfy this woman of mine
There is no greater downer or bummer than the impossible task of trying to please and appease this woman who is mine.
I got up this mornin', saw the rising sun return
I wake up and witness the sun's return, a reminder of the cyclical nature of life and the inevitability of change.
Sooner or later, you too shall burn
Inevitably, everyone will experience some sort of downfall or catastrophe, no one is immune from life's tragedies.
The night's filled with shadows, the years are filled with early doom
Darkness pervades my nights and my future looks bleak and foreboding.
I've been conjuring up all these long dead souls from their crumblin' tombs
I have been summoning the spirits and memories of those long gone, perhaps as a way to assuage my own sense of loneliness and isolation.
Let's forgive each other darlin', let's go down to the greenwood glen
We should both forgive each other and move on, perhaps by venturing into a natural, peaceful place together.
Let's put our heads together, let's put old matters to an end
We should work together to find a resolution and closure to our old disputes and problems.
Now I rolled and I tumbled and I cried the whole night long
Once again, I have struggled, suffered and wept throughout the night.
I woke up this morning, I think I must be traveling wrong
Upon awakening, I realize that I am lost or off-course in my journey, either metaphorically or literally.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, AUDIAM, INC
Written by: Bob Dylan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Tom Swift
I rolled and I tumbled, I cried the whole night long
I rolled and I tumbled, I cried the whole night long
Woke up this mornin', I must have bet my money wrong
I got troubles so hard, I can't stand the strain
I got troubles so hard, I can't stand the strain
Some young lazy slut has charmed away my brains
The landscape is glowin', gleamin' in the golden light of day
The landscape is glowin', gleamin' in the golden light of day
I ain't holding nothin' back now, I ain't standin' in anybody's way
Well, I did all I know just to keep you off my mind
Well, I did all I know just to keep you off my mind
Well, I paid and I paid and my sufferin' heart is always on the line
Well, I get up in the dawn and I go down and lay in the shade
I get up in the dawn and I go down and lay in the shade
I ain't nobody's house boy, I ain't nobody's well trained maid
I'm flat out spent, this woman been drivin' me to tears
I'm flat out spent, this woman been drivin' me to tears
This woman so crazy, I swear I ain't gonna touch on another one for years
Well, the warm weather is comin' and the buds are on the vine
The warm weather is comin' and the buds are on the vine
Ain't nothing so depressing as trying to satisfy this woman of mine
I got up this mornin', saw the rising sun return
Well, I got up this mornin', saw the rising sun return
Sooner or later, you too shall burn
The night's filled with shadows, the years are filled with early doom
The night's filled with shadows, the years are filled with early doom
I've been conjuring up all these long dead souls from their crumblin' tombs
Let's forgive each other darlin', let's go down to the greenwood glen
Let's forgive each other darlin', let's go down to the greenwood glen
Let's put our heads together, let's put old matters to an end
Now I rolled and I tumbled and I cried the whole night long
Ah, I rolled and I tumbled and I cried the whole night long
I woke up this morning, I think I must be traveling wrong
m st
Bob Dylan never stopped to appreciate blues music ( I hope I m not wrong...)! And than he comes with his own compositions,wich are real master pieces!!!! What a beautiful album: Modern Times!!!!! I can't stop the comment whithout mentioning that some of Bob Dylan s greatest songs are still almost unknown.....I ll never forget the first time I listened to "Blind Willie Mc Tell" played on an obscure radio station....
Frosty Frances
You're NOT wrong in the least if you meant he never stopped appreciating blues music. Its only the phrase 'stopped to' that's somewhat problematic in its literal form.
Maria da Conceição Figueira
Meu Deus! Não durmo sem ouvir pelo menos uma música de Bob Dylan.
Christian Allen
Absalute Legend.. One of the best artists to walk the face of this earth
Thomas Perry
This is an obra maestra, one of an unmatched 60 year rollout by a trancendent genius. No other singer/songwriter/ musician can in any way come close to the great Bob Dylan. 10th American to get the Nobel rize in literature. (The others all novelist or playwrights). Idolized by Jimmy Carter, Bill Cinton, Barrack Obama, Jack Nicholson, Bruce Sringsteen.
The beat lifts me u to dance! The lyrics are channeled through spiritus mundi. It is such a blessing to know his body of work. Precious Angel, Has Anybody Seen My Love?, Wedding Song, Thunder on the Mountain, My Back Pages, Shelter from the Storm, Soon After Midnight, Tempest, Mr. Tambourine Man. . . . .The rocketing success he had in NYC in 1962 announced to the world that this man is for real, and through 6 decades all the bog expectations were continuously confirmed.
I listened to other versions of Rollin ‘‘and tumblin’ and they were dead compared to this newly released, for you tube studio production.
Thank you again, Mr. Dylan.
edna gentry
Can’t stop movin soooo awesome first time hearing this magical song 😊😂
Sandra Wadsworth
I love it Bob!❤️
Cornelia Kapelinski
" I woke up this morning and I think I must be traveling wrong .".That' s so great..can' t believe it..
Lasse Kørner Petersen
the actual lyrics are "Woke up this mornin', I must have bet my money wrong" but yeah this song is great and bob takes the old fashion blues formula and improves it by using these amazingly poetic lines
gymrat22able
I don't suppose anyone out there has written( besides Bob of course) down these new lyrics? 🌹🌹🌹