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
Series of Dreams
Bob Dylan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where nothing comes up to the top
Everything stays down where it's wounded
And comes to a permanent stop
Wasn't thinking of anything specific
Like in a dream, when someone wakes up and screams
Nothing too very scientific
Just thinking of a series of dreams
Thinking of a series of dreams
Where the time and the tempo fly
And there's no exit in any direction
'Cept the one that you can't see with your eyes
Wasn't making any great connection
Wasn't falling for any intricate scheme
Nothing that would pass inspection
Just thinking of a series of dreams
Dreams where the umbrella is folded
Into the path you are hurled
And the cards are no good that you're holding
Unless they're from another world
In one, the surface was frozen
In another, I witnessed a crime
In one, I was running, and in another
All I seemed to be doing was climb
Wasn't looking for any special assistance
Not going to any great extremes
I'd already gone the distance
Just thinking of a series of dreams
Dreams where the umbrella is folded
Into the path you are hurled
And the cards are no good that you're holding
Unless they're from another world
I'd already gone the distance
Just thinking of a series of dreams
"Series of Dreams" is a song by Bob Dylan that explores the concept of dreams and how they can be interpreted. The lyrics describe a series of dreams that are not connected to each other, but rather are individual snapshots of different experiences. Dylan suggests that dreams can be both confusing and enlightening, and that they can reveal things about the individual that may not be easily accessible in the waking world.
The song appears to be autobiographical, with Dylan describing his own dreams as a way of exploring his inner thoughts and feelings. He suggests that dreams can be a sort of escape from reality, allowing him to explore different parts of himself that he might not otherwise have access to. However, he also acknowledges that dreams can be unsettling, with nightmarish imagery and confusing symbolism.
Line by Line Meaning
I was thinking of a series of dreams
I was contemplating about a chain of images playing in my head while asleep
Where nothing comes up to the top
No one dream is more relevant than the other
Everything stays down where it's wounded
The dreams consist of suppressed emotions and feelings
And comes to a permanent stop
No closure is achieved, and nothing understandable comes out of them
Wasn't thinking of anything specific
I wasn't imagining anything extraordinary, just random occurrences
Like in a dream, when someone wakes up and screams
Just like a nightmare, the dreams aren't pleasant, and there is no control over them
Nothing too very scientific
The dreams aren't based on empirical evidence or scientific facts
Just thinking of a series of dreams
My mind is jumbled up with these unconnected and unclear dreams
Where the time and the tempo fly
The dreams pass in a blur, and there is no sense of time
And there's no exit in any direction
There is a feeling of being stuck with the dreams and no way to escape them
'Cept the one that you can't see with your eyes
The only escape is through the unconscious mind, which is not perceivable through the physical senses
Wasn't making any great connection
I wasn't trying to associate the dreams with any significant event or memory
Wasn't falling for any intricate scheme
I wasn't falling for any elaborate plan or conspiracy associated with the dreams
Nothing that would pass inspection
No logical explanation can justify the dreams
Just thinking of a series of dreams
My mind is cluttered with these disorienting dreams
Dreams where the umbrella is folded
The dreams consist of absurd and surreal images
Into the path you are hurled
The dreams throw you into unexpected situations without any warning
And the cards are no good that you're holding
The plans you have made are useless in such situations
Unless they're from another world
The solutions to your problems can only be found in another realm
In one, the surface was frozen
One dream has a frozen surface, hinting at the emotions I have suppressed for a long time
In another, I witnessed a crime
In another dream, I witnessed a wrongdoing, signifying an unsettling feeling
In one, I was running, and in another
In one dream, I was in a hurry, whereas, in another, I was taking my time, showcasing the erratic nature of these dreams
All I seemed to be doing was climb
In many dreams, I'm trying to reach a higher goal or state of mind
Wasn't looking for any special assistance
I wasn't actively seeking any help or support in regards to these dreams
Not going to any great extremes
I wasn't going through extreme lengths to decipher the dreams
I'd already gone the distance
I had already exhausted all avenues to understand these dreams
Just thinking of a series of dreams
These dreams are still plaguing my mind
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BOB DYLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
ESTREMONIAS
Very exciting song that is gradually growing in intensity towards an apotheosis end
Only a genius can so easily convey emotion and feelings.
Congratulations Bob, you are the best.
I was thinking of a series of dreams
Where nothing comes up to the top.
Everything stays down where it's wounded
And comes to a permanent stop.
Wasn't thinking of anything specific,
Like in a dream, when someone wakes up and screams.
Nothing truly very scientific,
Just thinking of a series of dreams.
Thinking of a series of dreams
Where the time and the tempo drag,
And there's no exit in any direction
'Cept the one that you can't see with your eyes.
Wasn't making any great connections,
Wasn't falling for any intricate schemes.
Nothing that would pass inspection,
Just thinking of a series of dreams.
Dreams where the umbrella is folded,
And into the path you are hurled,
And the cards are no good that you're holding
Unless they're from another world.
In one, the surface was frozen.
In another, I witnessed a crime.
In one, I was running, and in another
All I seemed to be doing was climb.
Wasn't looking for any special assistance,
Not going to any great extremes.
I'd already gone the distance,
Just thinking of a series of dreams.
Dreams where the umbrella is folded,
And into the path you are hurled,
And the cards are no good that you're holding
Unless they're from another world.
I'd already gone the distance,
Just thinking of a series of dreams.
Just thinking of a series of dreams.
Just thinking of a series of dreams.
Mark
I was thinking of a series of dreams
Where nothing comes up to the top
Everything stays down where it's wounded
And comes to a permanent stop
Wasn't thinking of anything specific
Like in a dream, when someone wakes up and screams
Nothing too very scientific
Just thinking of a series of dreams
Thinking of a series of dreams
Where the time and the tempo fly
And there's no exit in any direction
'Cept the one that you can't see with your eyes
Wasn't making any great connection
Wasn't falling for any intricate scheme
Nothing that would pass inspection
Just thinking of a series of dreams
Dreams where the umbrella is folded
Into the path you are hurled
And the cards are no good that you're holding
Unless they're from another world
In one, the surface was frozen
In another, I witnessed a crime
In one, I was running, and in another
All I seemed to be doing was climb
Wasn't looking for any special assistance
Not going to any great extremes
I'd already gone the distance
Just thinking of a series of dreams
Dreams where the umbrella is folded
Into the path you are hurled
And the cards are no good that you're holding
Unless they're from another world
I'd already gone the distance
Just thinking of a series of dreams
Marcelo Aguilar
Letra Series Of Dreams de Bob Dylan en español (traducción)
Yo estaba pensando en una serie de sueños
Donde nada se acerca a la cima
Todo lo que queda abajo donde es herido
Y llega a una parada permanente
Sin pensar en nada específico
Como en un sueño, cuando alguien se despierta y grita
Nada muy científico
Pensando en una serie de sueños
Pensando en una serie de sueños
Donde el tiempo y el tempo vuela
Y no hay salida en ninguna dirección
'excepto la que no puedes ver con tus ojos
No hace ninguna gran conexión
No fue la caída de cualquier intrincado sistema
Nada de lo que pasaría la inspección
Pensando en una serie de sueños
Los sueños, donde se dobla el paraguas
En el camino que fuiste lanzado
Y las cartas no son buenas aquellas que estás sosteniendo
A menos que sean de otro mundo
En uno, los números se queman
En otro, fui testigo de un crimen
En uno, yo estaba corriendo, y en otro
Todo lo que parecía hacer era subir
No estaba buscando ninguna ayuda especial
No va a ninguno de los grandes extremos
Yo ya había ido a la distancia
Pensando en una serie de sueños
Carlos Eduardo
Pouco importa se estou escrevendo em português. Esta mensagem representa um agradecimento ao cantor que modificou meus sonhos, que moldou novos caminhos para que eu seguisse; nada de intromissão, somente meus próprios pés e sua música na cabeça, um verso ou uma prosa, algo.
Passei anos descobrindo e perdendo minha essência, respectivamente, sem nunca saber se eu tinha firmeza suficiente para existir sem a presença de alguém ou alguma ideia, um ideal ou uma obrigação. Contudo, as músicas de Dylan preencheram minha mente de desejos e vontades, autonomia para seguir adiante.
Nada nesse mundo faria essa mensagem chegar ao Dylan. Primeiro, porque ele é uma pessoa preocupada com outros assuntos - instrumentos, poemas, o próximo jantar. Segundo, porque esta mensagem não precisa ser mais que uma tentativa, um fragmento que escapou no meio da madrugada e perdeu sentido, perdeu sentimentos, perdeu tudo. Terceiro, porque a música de Dylan parece passageira, com um começo, meio e fim, contudo, provoca uma sensação de nostalgia. Com essa música, Dylan se tornou mais do que um cantor ou um formador de caminho ou mesmo um fomentador de uma série de sonhos. Bob Dylan (Robert Zimmermann) será sempre meu amigo.
Até mais, velho amigo.
Obrigado por fazer com que eu me reencontrasse e descobrisse minha vocação.
∆ C.E.F.O
Matteo Ambrosi
When I’m depressed, when nothin’ seems to be in the right place and I feel all wrong, when events pass me by tumultuously, I listen to Bob. He is one of the few lights of my life and even if I don’t know him, he speaks to me with his music words. May God bless him forever.
Eman
True words.
Ezp
May God bless you aswell!❤️
Max Cecco
Amen friend
nicholas adams
@Steve Swartz bob and van morrison
nicholas adams
You may enjoy van morrision
Days like this and sometimes we cry
Me To you
The song and music are beautiful like a rainbow and a field of summer flowers 💐
Yazan Shrouf
What a brilliant poet.
kermit
This song sounds like it can really transcend time and space… odd but that’s the exact feeling I have since I heard it the first time
Rajesh Pahwa
Totally agree. Felt that very way when I first heard it. Still feel that way today. Most songs are, often subconsciously, tied to a time in our minds. This one just isn't.