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
Slow Train
Bob Dylan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can't help but wonder what's happenin' to my companions
Are they lost or are they found?
Have they counted the cost it'll take to bring down
All their earthly principles they're gonna have to abandon?
There's a slow, slow train comin' up around the bend
I had a woman down in Alabama
She said, "Boy, without a doubt, have to quit your mess and straighten out
You could die down here, be just another accident statistic"
There's a slow, slow train comin' up around the bend
All that foreign oil controlling American soil
Look around you, it's just bound to make you embarrassed
Sheiks walkin' around like kings, wearing fancy jewels and nose rings
Deciding America's future from Amsterdam and to Paris
And there's a slow, slow train comin' up around the bend
Man's ego is inflated, his laws are outdated, they don't apply no more
You can't rely no more to be standin' around waitin'
In the home of the brave, Jefferson turnin' over in his grave
Fools glorifying themselves, trying to manipulate Satan
And there's a slow, slow train comin' up around the bend
Big-time negotiators, false healers and woman haters
Masters of the bluff and masters of the proposition
But the enemy I see wears a cloak of decency
All non-believers and men-stealers talkin' in the name of religion
And there's a slow, slow train comin' up around the bend
People starving and thirsting, grain elevators are bursting
Oh, you know it costs more to store the food than it do to give it
They say lose your inhibitions, follow your own ambitions
They talk about a life of brotherly love
Show me someone who knows how to live it
There's a slow, slow train comin' up around the bend
Well, my baby went to Illinois with some bad-talkin' boy she could destroy
A real suicide case, but there was nothin' I could do to stop it
I don't care about economy, I don't care about astronomy
But it sure do bother me to see my loved ones turning into puppets
There's a slow, slow train comin' up around the bend
The song "Slow Train" by Bob Dylan and The Grateful Dead is a searing indictment of American society in the 1980s. The lyrics express the disillusionment and dissatisfaction felt by the generation that had grown up in the shadow of the Vietnam War and the Watergate scandal. The song highlights the many problems facing American society, including the loss of moral and spiritual values, the dominance of foreign oil companies, the rise of religious extremism, and the failure of political leadership.
The first verse addresses the singer's concern for his companions and whether they have abandoned their earthly principles. The slow train symbolizes a reckoning that is coming for those who have forsaken their principles. The second verse talks about a woman in Alabama who warns the singer to straighten up his life before he becomes another casualty. In the third verse, the singer rails against foreign oil companies and their influence on American soil. The fourth and fifth verses criticize American society's inflated ego, outdated laws, and the glorification of fools. The final verse touches on the issues of starvation and thirst in developing countries, the prevalence of suicide, and the loss of loved ones.
Though originally written and performed by Bob Dylan, the Grateful Dead played many of their own versions in their concerts. The song has become somewhat of a protest anthem over the years and is critically acclaimed. It is a commentary on blind hatred, greed, and corruption, and it offers a bleak picture of what the world could become if people continue down a path of self-destruction.
Line by Line Meaning
Sometimes I feel so low-down and disgusted
At times I get extremely sad and disappointed
Can't help but wonder what's happenin' to my companions
I cannot stop thinking about what's happening to my friends
Are they lost or are they found?
Are they still on the right path or have they lost their way?
Have they counted the cost it'll take to bring down
Have they thought about the sacrifices necessary to change things?
All their earthly principles they're gonna have to abandon?
Will they have to give up their beliefs to make things better?
There's a slow, slow train comin' up around the bend
Change is coming, but it's going to be slow
I had a woman down in Alabama
I once had a girlfriend in Alabama
She was a backwoods girl, but she sure was realistic
Although she was from the countryside, she was very practical
She said, "Boy, without a doubt, have to quit your mess and straighten out
She advised me to clean up my act and get my life together
You could die down here, be just another accident statistic"
Otherwise, I might end up dead like many others in that area
All that foreign oil controlling American soil
Foreign countries have too much control over America's resources
Look around you, it's just bound to make you embarrassed
The situation is so bad, it's shameful
Sheiks walkin' around like kings, wearing fancy jewels and nose rings
Foreign oil tycoons are flaunting their wealth
Deciding America's future from Amsterdam and to Paris
They are making decisions that impact America from overseas
And there's a slow, slow train comin' up around the bend
Things are going to change, but it's going to take time
Man's ego is inflated, his laws are outdated, they don't apply no more
Men are becoming more arrogant, and the laws that were once relevant are now obsolete
You can't rely no more to be standin' around waitin'
We can't rely on others to solve our problems, we have to take action ourselves
In the home of the brave, Jefferson turnin' over in his grave
Even America's founding fathers would be disappointed in the way things are going
Fools glorifying themselves, trying to manipulate Satan
People are becoming too self-centered, and some are even trying to control the devil
And there's a slow, slow train comin' up around the bend
Things are changing, but it's happening very slowly
Big-time negotiators, false healers and woman haters
There are people in power who are manipulative, deceitful, and sexist
Masters of the bluff and masters of the proposition
They are skilled at convincing others of their agenda
But the enemy I see wears a cloak of decency
The true enemy is hiding behind a mask of respectability
All non-believers and men-stealers talkin' in the name of religion
People are misusing religion to justify their cruel actions
And there's a slow, slow train comin' up around the bend
Change is happening, but it's happening slowly
People starving and thirsting, grain elevators are bursting
People are hungry and thirsty, but there is food available that is not being distributed properly
Oh, you know it costs more to store the food than it do to give it
The cost of storing food is higher than the cost of distributing it
They say lose your inhibitions, follow your own ambitions
People are encouraged to pursue their own goals without any limits
They talk about a life of brotherly love
People talk about living in harmony and helping each other
Show me someone who knows how to live it
However, not many people actually follow this way of living
There's a slow, slow train comin' up around the bend
Positive change is happening, but it's happening very slowly
Well, my baby went to Illinois with some bad-talkin' boy she could destroy
My girlfriend left me for a guy who had a bad reputation and was sure to cause trouble
A real suicide case, but there was nothin' I could do to stop it
I knew that being with him was a terrible idea, but there was nothing I could do to stop her
I don't care about economy, I don't care about astronomy
I don't care about things that don't affect me personally like the economy or astronomy
But it sure do bother me to see my loved ones turning into puppets
However, it bothers me a lot to see my family and friends being manipulated and controlled by others
There's a slow, slow train comin' up around the bend
Things are changing, but it's happening very slowly
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BOB DYLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bryan Keisling
Lyrics:
[Verse 1]
Sometimes
I feel so low-down and disgusted
Can't help but wonder what's happening to my companions
Are they lost or are they found?
Have they counted the cost it'll take to bring down
All their earthly principles they're going to have to abandon?
There's a slow, slow train coming up around the bend
[Verse 2]
I had a woman
Down in Alabama
She was a backwoods girl, but she sure was realistic
She said, "Boy, without a doubt
Have to quit your mess and straighten out
You could die down here, be just another accident statistic"
And there's a slow, slow train coming up around the bend
[Verse 3]
All that foreign oil
Controlling American soil
Look around you, it's just bound to make you embarrassed
Sheiks walking around like kings
Wearing fancy jewels and nose rings
Deciding America's future from Amsterdam and Paris
And there's a slow, slow train coming up around the bend
[Verse 4]
Man's ego is inflated
His laws are outdated,
They don't apply no more, you can't rely no more to be standing around waiting
In the home of the brave
Jefferson turning over in his grave
Fools glorifying themselves, trying to manipulate Satan
And there's a slow, slow train coming up around the bend
[Verse 5]
Big-time negotiators
False healers and woman-haters
Masters of the bluff and masters of the proposition
But the enemy I see
Wears a cloak of decency
All non-believers and men-stealers talking in the name of religion
And there's a slow, slow train coming up around the bend
[Verse 6]
People starving and thirsting
Grain elevators are bursting
Oh, you know it costs more to store the food than it do to give it
They say, "Lose your inhibitions
Follow your own ambitions"
They talk about a life of brotherly love; show me someone who knows how to live it
There's a slow, slow train coming up around the bend
[Verse 7]
Well, my baby went to Illinois
With some bad-talking boy she could destroy
A real suicide case, but there was nothing I could do to stop it
I don't care about economy
I don't care about astronomy
But it sure does bother me to see my loved ones turning into puppets
And there's a slow, slow train coming up around the bend
Kidei
Just around the bend,
its noise's getting intense
not to offend,
but this thing is beyond immense
terrible as a tornado,
there's no stopping it
but live or die,
it's come leap up unto it
Yeah, there was a slow train coming
now it's come, so grab on leap up unto it.
Martin & Guitar
LYRICS:
Sometimes I feel so low-down and disgusted
Can't help but wonder what's happening to my companions
Are they lost or are they found, have they counted the cost it'll take to bring down
All their earthly principles they're gonna have to abandon ?
There's slow, slow train coming up around the bend.
I had a woman down in Alabama
She was a backwoods girl, but she sure was realistic
She said, Boy, without a doubt, have to quit your mess and straighten out
You could die down here, be just another accident statistic
There's slow, slow train coming up around the bend.
All that foreign oil controlling American soil
Look around you, it's just bound to make you embarrassed
Sheiks walking around like kings, wearing fancy jewels and nose rings
Deciding America's future from Amsterdam and to Paris
And there's slow, slow train coming up around the bend.
Man's ego is inflated, his laws are outdated, they don't apply no more
You can't rely no more to be standing around waiting
In the home of the brave, Jefferson turning over in his grave
Fools glorifying themselves, trying to manipulate Satan
And there's slow, slow train coming up around the bend.
Big-time negotiators, false healers and woman haters
Masters of the bluff and masters of the proposition
But the enemy I see wears a cloak of decency
All non-believers and men stealers talking in the name of religion
And there's slow, there's slow train coming up around the bend.
People starving and thirsting, grain elevators are bursting
Oh, you know it costs more to store the food than it do to give it
They say loose your inhibitions, follow your own ambitions
They talk about a life of brotherly love, show me someone who knows how to live it
There's slow, slow train coming up around the bend.
Well, my baby went to Illinois with some bad-talking boy she could destroy
A real suicide case, but there was nothing I could do to stop it
I don't care about economy, I don't care about astronomy
But it's sure do bother me to see my loved ones turning into puppets
There's slow, slow train coming up around the bend.
Joey Dela Rosa
I had this in my teens. In my opinion this is one of the best studio album of Bob Dylan.
Craig Naylor
So good slow train, lyrics, alive funky, Bobbie singing up A storms
Dr Impatiens
It's inspired by the man upstairs, therfore it's his best art.
Freeman Griffin
Slow Train Coming is one of Bob's very best albums.
Sean O'Hare
I totally agree
Glasgow is blue
I didn't like it when i was a teenager! Now I'm 45 and i agree, It is a fantastic album.
Robert W. Cox
Killer album...what happenin' to my companions?
Clumsy Dad
lot of knopfler guitar as well , nice 70s late night rhythms on this one
Cute
ya think?
realbudgiesmuggler twohatsbluesattack
I bought this album on a cassette time may fly but Dylan is timeless 👌