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
Talkin' New York
Bob Dylan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Leaving the towns I love best
Thought I'd seen some ups and down
'Till I come into New York town
People going down to the ground
Building going up to the sky
Wintertime in New York town
Walk around with nowhere to go
Somebody could freeze right to the bone
I froze right to the bone
New York Times said it was the coldest winter in seventeen years
I didn't feel so cold then
I swung on to my old guitar
Grabbed hold of a subway car
And after a rocking, reeling, rolling ride
I landed up on the downtown side
Greenwich Village
I walked down there and ended up
In one of them coffee-houses on the block
Got on the stage to sing and play
Man there said, come back some other day
You sound like a hillbilly
We want folksingers here
Well, I got a harmonica job, begun to play
Blowing my lungs out for a dollar a day
I blowed inside out and upside down
The man there said he loved my sound
He was raving about he loved my sound
Dollar a day's worth
After weeks and weeks of hanging around
I finally got a job in New York town
In a bigger place, bigger money too
Even joined the union and paid my dues
Now, a very great man once said
That some people rob you with a fountain pen
It don't take too long to find out
Just what he was talking about
A lot of people don't have much food on their table
But they got a lot of forks and knives
And they gotta cut something
So one morning when the sun was warm
I rambled out of New York town
Pulled my cap down over my eyes
And heated out for the western skies
So long New York
Howdy, East Orange
The lyrics to Bob Dylan's song "Talkin' New York" tell the story of Dylan's move from Minnesota to New York City. The first verse sets the stage: he leaves behind the towns he loves best and arrives in New York, where buildings rise up to the sky while people go down to the ground. In the second verse, he experiences the harsh winter and the frigid temperatures, but doesn't feel too cold, perhaps because he's too focused on his music. He then describes his early days in Greenwich Village, where he played in coffee houses and tried to establish himself as a musician. He was initially rejected and told he sounded like a "hillbilly," but eventually landed a job in a bigger place, joined the musician's union, and paid his dues.
The final verse reflects on a quote from a "very great man" who said that some people rob you with a fountain pen. Dylan seems to be referring to the exploitation of working-class people by corporations, and suggests that they're just as hungry as anyone else. He then decides to leave New York behind and head west.
One interpretation of the song is that it's a critique of the commercialization of the music industry. Early in the song, Dylan describes the rise of buildings and the fall of people, suggesting that big corporations are taking over while ordinary people struggle. Later, he describes being rejected by coffee houses and folk music venues that are looking for more commercial, polished singers. Finally, he reflects on the way that people can be exploited by the system, suggesting that musicians have to pay their dues just like anyone else.
Line by Line Meaning
Rambling out of the wild west
Leaving behind my old life and exploring new possibilities
Leaving the towns I love best
Saying farewell to places that hold precious memories
Thought I'd seen some ups and downs
Experienced highs and lows of life
Till I come into New York town
Arriving in the big city of New York
People going down to the ground
Busy sidewalks in New York City
Building going up to the sky
Tall skyscrapers that adorn the city landscape
Wintertime in New York town
The cold and snowy winters experienced in New York City
The wind blowing snow around
Strong winds that stir up snow and make it difficult to walk outside
Walk around with nowhere to go
Free time with no specific destination to go to
Somebody could freeze right to the bone
The extreme cold that can make one feel numb and can be dangerous to one's health
I froze right to the bone
Feeling extremely cold, perhaps to the point of hypothermia
New York Times said it was the coldest winter in seventeen years
The cold weather was unusual and significant enough to be mentioned in the New York Times
I didn't feel so cold then
Despite the cold, the singer was focused on other things and didn't feel the cold as much as others might have
I swung on to my old guitar
Playing music as a way to entertain oneself and pass the time
Grabbed hold of a subway car
Using the subway as a transportation method
And after a rocking, reeling, rolling ride
The bumpy and chaotic ride on the subway
I landed up on the downtown side
Arriving in the downtown area of the city
Greenwich Village
A neighborhood in New York City full of artists and creatives
I walked down there and ended up
Discovering new places and experiences
In one of them coffee-houses on the block
Visiting a cafe in the area
Got on the stage to sing and play
Performing music for others
Man there said, come back some other day
Being rejected and told to try again at a different time
You sound like a hillbilly
Being judged and criticized for one's style of music
We want folksingers here
Being told what kind of music is appropriate for the venue
Well, I got a harmonica job, begun to play
Finding new opportunities to play music
Blowing my lungs out for a dollar a day
Working hard for a low wage
I blowed inside out and upside down
Playing music with all my heart and soul
The man there said he loved my sound
Receiving praise and encouragement for one's music
He was raving about he loved my sound
The man was enthusiastic about the music
Dollar a day's worth
The small earnings were worth the joy of playing music
After weeks and weeks of hanging around
Spending an extended period of time in the city without a specific purpose
I finally got a job in New York town
Securing employment in the city
In a bigger place, bigger money too
Moving up to a more lucrative job
Even joined the union and paid my dues
Becoming part of a union and contributing to the community
Now, a very great man once said
Quoting a famous and influential person
That some people rob you with a fountain pen
People can use their power and influence to cheat and deceive others
It don't take too long to find out
Discovering the dishonesty and corruption in society
Just what he was talking about
Understanding the truth of the quote
A lot of people don't have much food on their table
Many people are struggling to make ends meet and cannot afford basic necessities like food
But they got a lot of forks and knives
People may have plenty of eating utensils but have little food to use them with
And they gotta cut something
People have to make due with what they have and stretch their resources as much as possible
So one morning when the sun was warm
Choosing to leave the city and start anew
I rambled out of New York town
Departing from the city with a sense of freedom and spontaneity
Pulled my cap down over my eyes
Hiding one's face and identity
And heated out for the western skies
Heading west, looking for new opportunities and adventures
So long New York
Saying goodbye to the city
Howdy, East Orange
Greeting a new place in contrast to the farewell to the previous one
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BOB DYLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@juancamacho5746
Rambling out of the Wild West
Leaving the towns I love the best
Thought I'd seen some ups and downs
'Till I come into New York town
People going down to the ground
Buildings going up to the sky
Wintertime in New York town
The wind blowing snow around
Walk around with nowhere to go
Somebody could freeze right to the bone
I froze right to the bone
New York Times said it was the coldest winter in seventeen years
I didn't feel so cold then
I swung on to my old guitar
Grabbed hold of a subway car
After rocking, reeling, rolling ride
I landed up on the downtown side
Greenwich Village
I walked down there and ended up
In one of them coffee-houses on the block
I get on the stage to sing and play
Man there said, "Come back some other day
You sound like a hillbilly
We want folksingers here"
Well, I got a harmonica job, begun to play
Blowing my lungs out for a dollar a day
I blowed inside out and upside down
The man there said he loved my sound
He was raving about he loved my sound
Dollar a day's worth
After weeks and weeks of hanging around
I finally got a job in New York town
In a bigger place, bigger money too
Even joined the Union and paid my dues
Now, a very great man once said
That some people rob you with a fountain pen
It don't take too long to find out
Just what he was talking about
A lot of people don't have much food on their table
But they got a lot of forks and knives
And they gotta cut somethin'
So one morning when the sun was warm
I rambled out of New York town
Pulled my cap down over my eyes
And headed out for the western skies
So long, New York
Howdy, East Orange
@jimw.4161
Whimsical... and brilliant!
Listening to this song brings back lots of pleasant memories.
I don't think there will ever be another Bob Dylan.
The influence he exerted over an entire generation is incalculable.
Thanks, Bob!
@lyrauny
Try not to laugh with joy listening to this piece of art! <3
@Anglynn74
I used to hang out in the village in the early 90s, a lot. been to all of the well known places there. best time of my life.
@craigoren4475
Haven't heard this song in over 50 years; my sister and I had the album when we were teen-agers. It was little-known; it was the next album, the Free-Wheelin' Bob Dylan, that really brought him to public attention. I also loved his Song to Woody and his version of House of the Rising Sun, also on this album.
@snowleopard5343
same <3
@mrsramsden
I love this! So witty and funny.
@727jk
You mean Dave van Ronk’s version of House of the Rising Sun
@craigoren4475
@@727jk I'm not sure what you're saying. I know that Dave van Ronk recorded the song first. All I was saying that the Dylan album had "his version of House of the Rising Sun;" I phrased it that way to make clear that I knew Dylan hadn't written it. I know that Woody Guthrie also recorded it, and (I understand) wrote a new melody for it. It's been a long time since I've had the album, but I think that in the liner notes Dylan credited van Ronk with bringing the song to his attention.
@tomparker6210
GOOD PICKIN BOB!!👍 GOOD HARP!! GOOD ALBUM!!
@desallen2174
The original Bob Dylan. Had the vinyl album. God knows where it is after almost 60 years. Still the best. Even Woody called him a folk singer, whilst Pete Seegar only sang folk songs.