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
Solid Rock
Bob Dylan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To a solid rock
Made before the foundation of the world
And I won't let go, and I can't let go
Won't let go and I can't let go
Won't let go and I can't let go no more
For me, He was chastised, for me, He was hated
Nations are angry, cursed are some
People are expecting a false peace to come
Well, I'm hangin' on
To a solid rock
Made before the foundation of the world
And I won't let go, and I can't let go
Won't let go and I can't let go
Won't let go and I can't let go no more
It's the ways of the flesh to war against the spirit
Twenty-four hours a day, you can feel it and you can hear it
Using every angle under the sun
And He never give up 'til the battle's lost or won
Well, I'm hangin' on
To a solid rock
Made before the foundation of the world
Won't let go and I can't let go
Won't let go and I can't let go
Won't let go and I can't let go no more
Won't let go and I can't let go
Won't let go and I can't let go
Won't let go and I can't let go
Won't let go and I can't let go
Won't let go and I can't let go
Won't let go and I can't let go
Won't let go and I can't let go
Won't let go and I can't let go
The lyrics to the Bob Dylan song Solid Rock are a reflection on the strength of faith and the unwavering commitment to one's beliefs. The singer describes himself as holding on to a “solid rock” that was made before the foundation of the world. It represents his firm conviction and steadfastness in his faith, which he cannot let go of, no matter what challenges he faces. The repetition of the phrase “won't let go and I can't let go” reinforces his determination to hold on to his belief no matter what happens.
The second verse of the song expands on the singer's faith, placing it in relation to the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross. He believes that Jesus suffered and died for him, and that he was rejected by the world he created. This rejection and the fact that people are “expecting a false peace to come” speak to the singer's disillusionment with society's moral values and its tendency to compromise beliefs for empty promises.
The final verse of the song shifts toward a more general commentary on the human condition, describing the ways in which our flesh struggles against the spirit. The singer notes that we are under constant attack from all angles, but that we must never give up until the battle is lost or won. The song ends with the repetition of the phrase “won't let go and I can't let go,” as a reaffirmation of the singer's commitment to his faith and his unwillingness to compromise his beliefs.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I'm hangin' on
I'm clinging tightly to something
To a solid rock
To something strong and unchanging
Made before the foundation of the world
Created before time began
And I won't let go, and I can't let go
I refuse to release my grip, it's impossible for me to do so
Won't let go and I can't let go
Repeating the previous line for emphasis
Won't let go and I can't let go no more
I will hold on forever, I have no other choice
For me, He was chastised, for me, He was hated
He endured punishment and rejection because of me
For me, he was rejected by a world that He created
Even though He made the world, it turned against Him
Nations are angry, cursed are some
Many countries are filled with rage and some are under a curse
People are expecting a false peace to come
Some are hoping for a deceitful and temporary peace
It's the ways of the flesh to war against the spirit
Human nature is in conflict with a higher spiritual nature
Twenty-four hours a day, you can feel it and you can hear it
This battle is constant and intense
Using every angle under the sun
Using every trick and tactic imaginable
And He never give up 'til the battle's lost or won
The spiritual side never gives up until either victory or defeat is achieved
Won't let go and I can't let go
Repeating the previous lines for emphasis
Won't let go and I can't let go
Repeating the previous lines for emphasis
Won't let go and I can't let go
Repeating the previous lines for emphasis
Won't let go and I can't let go
Repeating the previous lines for emphasis
Won't let go and I can't let go
Repeating the previous lines for emphasis
Won't let go and I can't let go
Repeating the previous lines for emphasis
Won't let go and I can't let go
Repeating the previous lines for emphasis
Won't let go and I can't let go
Repeating the previous lines for emphasis
Lyrics © SPECIAL RIDER MUSIC
Written by: BOB DYLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind