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
Sugar Baby
Bob Dylan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can see what everybody in the world is up against
You can't turn back you can't come back, sometimes we push too far
One day you'll open up your eyes and you'll see where we are
Sugar Baby get on down the road
You ain't got no brains, no how
You went years without me
Some of these bootleggers, they make pretty good stuff
Plenty of places to hide things here if you want to hide 'em bad enough
I'm staying with Aunt Sally, but you know, she's not really my aunt
Some of these memories you can learn to live with and some of them you can't
Sugar Baby get on down the line
You ain't got no brains, no how
You went years without me
You might as well keep going now
The ladies down in Darktown, they're doing the Darktown Strut
You always got to be prepared but you never know for what
There ain't no limit to the amount of trouble women bring
Love is pleasing, love is teasing, love's not an evil thing
Sugar Baby, get on down the road
You ain't got no brains, no how
You went years without me
Might as well keep going now
Every moment of existence seems like some dirty trick
Happiness can come suddenly and leave just as quick
Any minute of the day the bubble could burst
Try to make things better
For someone, sometimes you just end up making it a thousand times worse
Sugar Baby, get on down the road
You ain't got no brains no how
You went years without me
Might as well keep going now
Your charms have broken many a heart and mine is surely one
You got a way of tearing a world apart, love, see what you done
Just as sure as we're living, just as sure as you're born
Look up, look up seek your Maker 'fore Gabriel blows his horn
Sugar Baby, get on down the line
You ain't got no sense, no how
You went years without me
Might as well keep going now
In "Sugar Baby," Bob Dylan sings about a road-weary man, who has seen a lot of the world and has experienced all kinds of love and heartbreak. He uses the metaphor of the sun being too intense and having to turn away from it to describe how overwhelming life can be. The man has seen what everyone is up against, and at times, people push too far, and there is no turning back. But, he believes there is still hope for people to wake up and see where they are.
The title "Sugar Baby" is a term of endearment often used for a young woman or a small child. In this song, Dylan could be using it sarcastically, as the man serenades the sugar baby, urging her to keep moving on down the road since she had gone years without him anyway. He seems to be using the term sugar baby to describe the frivolousness and lack of substance he sees in some people, especially those who choose to ignore him.
Dylan's line, "Every moment of existence seems like some dirty trick," can be seen as a commentary on the fleeting nature of happiness and how it can be taken away too quickly. On the other hand, love can be unsettling, but it can also be a source of joy when it is not tainted with bitterness and jealousy. The line about seeking your Maker before Gabriel blows his horn seems to relate to the idea of judgment day and being ready for eternal life. Overall, Dylan's song is a sobering reflection on the ups and downs of life.
Line by Line Meaning
I got my back to the sun 'cause the light is too intense
The world is too much for me to handle, so I'm avoiding the harsh reality by not facing the sun.
I can see what everybody in the world is up against
I understand the struggles that everyone is going through in life.
You can't turn back you can't come back, sometimes we push too far
In life, we often make decisions that can't be undone, and those decisions can lead us down difficult paths.
One day you'll open up your eyes and you'll see where we are
Someday, you'll wake up and realize the reality of your situation.
Sugar Baby get on down the road
Move on with your life and leave me behind.
You ain't got no brains, no how
You don't have the intelligence or the sense to understand what you're missing.
You went years without me
You've managed to survive without me for years.
Might as well keep going now
It's best for you to keep going without me, now that you've come this far.
Some of these bootleggers, they make pretty good stuff
Illegal activities can sometimes produce high-quality results.
Plenty of places to hide things here if you want to hide 'em bad enough
There are many places to hide things if you're determined to keep them hidden.
I'm staying with Aunt Sally, but you know, she's not really my aunt
I'm staying with someone who isn't really family, but they're providing me with temporary shelter.
Some of these memories you can learn to live with and some of them you can't
Some memories will always be with you, whether you like it or not.
The ladies down in Darktown, they're doing the Darktown Strut
The women in my community have a unique way of moving that is specific to our area.
You always got to be prepared but you never know for what
Life is unpredictable, so you have to be ready for anything.
There ain't no limit to the amount of trouble women bring
Women can bring a lot of trouble, and there's no limit to the amount of trouble they can bring.
Love is pleasing, love is teasing, love's not an evil thing
Love can be pleasurable and playful, even if it can also be difficult at times.
Every moment of existence seems like some dirty trick
Life can often feel unfair and like it's playing a cruel joke on us.
Happiness can come suddenly and leave just as quick
Sadness can follow happiness just as easily as it arrives, leaving us feeling down again.
Any minute of the day the bubble could burst
Any moment, things can go wrong and the good times can come to an end.
Try to make things better
Make an effort to improve the situation.
For someone
For the benefit of another person.
Sometimes you just end up making it a thousand times worse
Despite our best intentions, our attempts to improve things can sometimes make them much worse.
Your charms have broken many a heart and mine is surely one
Your attractive qualities have led to the destruction of many relationships, and mine is likely to be no exception.
You got a way of tearing a world apart, love, see what you done
Love can be incredibly destructive and has the power to ruin lives and tear apart communities.
Just as sure as we're living, just as sure as you're born
As sure as we are alive, we will also eventually die.
Look up, look up seek your Maker 'fore Gabriel blows his horn
Take the time to reflect on your life and seek guidance from a higher power before it's too late.
You ain't got no sense, no how
You don't have a clue what's going on.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BOB DYLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bryan Keisling
Lyrics:
I got my back to the sun ’cause the light is too intense
I can see what everybody in the world is up against
You can’t turn back—you can’t come back, sometimes we push too far
One day you’ll open up your eyes and you’ll see where we are
Sugar Baby get on down the road
You ain’t got no brains, no how
You went years without me
Might as well keep going now
Some of these bootleggers, they make pretty good stuff
Plenty of places to hide things here if you wanna hide ’em bad enough
I’m staying with Aunt Sally, but you know, she’s not really my aunt
Some of these memories you can learn to live with and some of them you can’t
Sugar Baby get on down the line
You ain’t got no brains, no how
You went years without me
You might as well keep going now
The ladies down in Darktown, they’re doing the Darktown Strut
You always got to be prepared but you never know for what
There ain’t no limit to the amount of trouble women bring
Love is pleasing, love is teasing, love’s not an evil thing
Sugar Baby, get on down the road
You ain’t got no brains, no how
You went years without me
You might as well keep going now
Every moment of existence seems like some dirty trick
Happiness can come suddenly and leave just as quick
Any minute of the day the bubble could burst
Try to make things better for someone, sometimes, you just end up making it a thousand times worse
Sugar Baby, get on down the road
You ain’t got no brains, no how
You went years without me
Might as well keep going now
Your charms have broken many a heart and mine is surely one
You got a way of tearing the world apart. Love, see what you done
Just as sure as we’re living, just as sure as you’re born
Look up, look up—seek your Maker—’fore Gabriel blows his horn
Sugar Baby, get on down the line
You ain’t got no sense, no how
You went years without me
Might as well keep going now
Juan Camacho
I got my back to the sun 'cause the light is too intense
I can see what everybody in the world is up against
You can't turn back you can't come back, sometimes we push too far
One day you'll open up your eyes and you'll see where we are
Sugar Baby get on down the road
You ain't got no brains, no how
You went years without me
Might as well keep going now
Some of these bootleggers, they make pretty good stuff
Plenty of places to hide things here if you want to hide 'em bad enough
I'm staying with Aunt Sally, but you know, she's not really my aunt
Some of these memories you can learn to live with and some of them you can't
Sugar Baby get on down the line
You ain't got no brains, no how
You went years without me
You might as well keep going now
🎵🎶🎵🎶
The ladies down in Darktown, they're doing the Darktown Strut
You always got to be prepared but you never know for what
There ain't no limit to the amount of trouble women bring
Love is pleasing, love is teasing, love's not an evil thing
Sugar Baby, get on down the road
You ain't got no brains, no how
You went years without me
Might as well keep going now
Every moment of existence seems like some dirty trick
Happiness can come suddenly and leave just as quick
Any minute of the day the bubble could burst
Try to make things better
For someone, sometimes you just end up making it a thousand times worse
Sugar Baby, get on down the road
You ain't got no brains no how
You went years without me
Might as well keep going now
🎵🎶🎵🎶
Your charms have broken many a heart and mine is surely one
You got a way of tearing a world apart, love, see what you done
Just as sure as we're living, just as sure as you're born
Look up, look up seek your Maker 'fore Gabriel blows his horn
Sugar Baby, get on down the line
You ain't got no sense, no how
You went years without me
Might as well keep going now
Bryan Keisling
Lyrics:
I got my back to the sun ’cause the light is too intense
I can see what everybody in the world is up against
You can’t turn back—you can’t come back, sometimes we push too far
One day you’ll open up your eyes and you’ll see where we are
Sugar Baby get on down the road
You ain’t got no brains, no how
You went years without me
Might as well keep going now
Some of these bootleggers, they make pretty good stuff
Plenty of places to hide things here if you wanna hide ’em bad enough
I’m staying with Aunt Sally, but you know, she’s not really my aunt
Some of these memories you can learn to live with and some of them you can’t
Sugar Baby get on down the line
You ain’t got no brains, no how
You went years without me
You might as well keep going now
The ladies down in Darktown, they’re doing the Darktown Strut
You always got to be prepared but you never know for what
There ain’t no limit to the amount of trouble women bring
Love is pleasing, love is teasing, love’s not an evil thing
Sugar Baby, get on down the road
You ain’t got no brains, no how
You went years without me
You might as well keep going now
Every moment of existence seems like some dirty trick
Happiness can come suddenly and leave just as quick
Any minute of the day the bubble could burst
Try to make things better for someone, sometimes, you just end up making it a thousand times worse
Sugar Baby, get on down the road
You ain’t got no brains, no how
You went years without me
Might as well keep going now
Your charms have broken many a heart and mine is surely one
You got a way of tearing the world apart. Love, see what you done
Just as sure as we’re living, just as sure as you’re born
Look up, look up—seek your Maker—’fore Gabriel blows his horn
Sugar Baby, get on down the line
You ain’t got no sense, no how
You went years without me
Might as well keep going now
ofer wexenfeld
tnxalot
Samuele Conficoni
The greatest poet of our times.
yama penny
Jackson Browne comes very close
Dan Fate
Certo che lo è ma cambia commento ogni tanto.
Spirit Move
No doubt in my mind…
ofer wexenfeld
sure
Jack Wendigo
A song that grew on me with each listen - at first, it didn't stick, especially coming at the end of a hefty album like "Love & Theft", but over time, it's become a favorite. Shares a couple of lines that dropped from the early recordings of "Can't Wait".
Sam Lewis
What a beautiful tune. The lyrics are are fantastic, the music is great and Bob sounds so natural it's like a walk in the bush by the water. Very relaxing and informative. Love it.
Paul Edmiston
I like your reading of this song! (from a lifelong Dylan person...>