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 âfor having created new poetic expressions within the great American song traditionâ. 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' World War III Blues
Bob Dylan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I dreamt I was walkin' into World War Three,
I went to the doctor the very next day
To see what kinda words he could say
He said it was a bad dream
I wouldn't worry 'bout it none, though
They were my own dreams and they're only in my head
He said, "Nurse, get your pad, this boy's insane"
He grabbed my arm, I said "Ouch!"
As I landed on the psychiatric couch
He said, "Tell me about it"
Well, the whole thing started at 3 o'clock fast
It was all over by quarter past
I was down in the sewer with some little lover
When I peeked out from a manhole cover
Wondering who turned the lights on
Well, I got up and walked around
And up and down the lonesome town
I stood a-wondering which way to go
I lit a cigarette on a parking meter
And walked on down the road
It was a normal day
Well, I rung the fallout shelter bell
And I leaned my head and I gave a yell
"Give me a string bean, I'm a hungry man"
A shotgun fired and away I ran
I don't blame them too much though
I know I look funny
Down at the corner by a hot-dog stand
I seen a man, I said, "Howdy friend
I guess there's just us two"
He screamed a bit and away he flew
Thought I was a Communist
Well, I spied a girl and before she could leave
"Let's go and play Adam and Eve"
I took her by the hand and my heart it was thumpin'
When she said, "Hey man, you crazy or sumpin'
You see what happened last time they started"
Well, I seen a Cadillac window uptown
And there was nobody aroun'
I got into the driver's seat
And I drove 42nd Street
In my Cadillac
Good car to drive after a war
Well, I remember seein' some ad
So I turned on my Conelrad
But I didn't pay my Con Ed bill
So the radio didn't work so well
Turned on my player
It was Rock-A-Day, Johnny singin'
"Tell your ma, tell your pa
our loves are gonna grow ooh-wah, ooh-wah"
I was feelin' kinda lonesome and blue
I needed somebody to talk to
So I called up the operator of time
Just to hear a voice of some kind
"When you hear the beep
It will be three o'clock"
She said that for over an hour
And I hung it up
Well, the doctor interrupted me just about then
Sayin', "Hey I've been havin' the same old dreams
But mine was a little different, you see
I dreamt that the only person left after the war was me
I didn't see you around"
Well, now time passed and now it seems
Everybody's having them dreams
Everybody sees themselves walkin' around with no one else
Half of the people can be part right all of the time
Some of the people can be all right part of the time
But all the people can't be all right all the time
I think Abraham Lincoln said that
"I'll let you be in my dreams if I can be in yours"
I said that
The lyrics of Bob Dylan's song "Talkin' World War III Blues" appear to be a hallucinatory account of a potential nuclear war, as narrated by the singer in the song. The singer recounts a dream he had about World War III breaking out, and his subsequent visit to a doctor to discuss the dream. The singer then goes on to describe bizarre scenarios of walking around a deserted city, encountering frightened strangers, and trying to make sense of the chaos around him. The song also includes references to the Cold War, with a call-out to the civil defense system (Conelrad) and a mention of the radio not working due to an unpaid electricity bill.
Overall, the lyrics seem to convey a sense of dread and uncertainty about the future, and the possibility of a nuclear catastrophe. The singer's disjointed narrative and odd encounters suggest a world turned upside-down by the threat of war. The final lines of the song, where the singer quotes Abraham Lincoln and offers to share his dreams with others, may be interpreted as a call for unity and a desire for a more peaceful world.
Line by Line Meaning
Some time ago a crazy dream came to me
Bob Dylan had a dream which appeared crazy to him
I dreamt I was walkin' into World War Three,
In his dream, Bob Dylan was in the middle of World War III
I went to the doctor the very next day
Bob Dylan went to the doctor immediately after the dream
To see what kinda words he could say
He wanted to know if the doctor had an explanation for his dream
He said it was a bad dream
The doctor called it a 'bad dream'
I wouldn't worry 'bout it none, though
The doctor advised him not to worry about it
They were my own dreams and they're only in my head
The doctor concluded that the dream was just in Bob Dylan's head
I said, "Hold it, doc, a World War passed through my brain"
Bob Dylan corrected the doctor that it was a World War in his dream
He said, "Nurse, get your pad, this boy's insane"
The doctor thought Bob Dylan was insane when corrected him
He grabbed my arm, I said "Ouch!"
The doctor grabbed Bob Dylan's arm and it hurt a little
As I landed on the psychiatric couch
Bob Dylan fell on the couch after the doctor grabbed him
He said, "Tell me about it"
The doctor asked him for more details about his dream
Well, the whole thing started at 3 o'clock fast
Bob Dylan's dream started quickly at 3 in the morning
It was all over by quarter past
The dream was finished within fifteen minutes
I was down in the sewer with some little lover
In the dream, Bob Dylan was in the sewer with a partner
When I peeked out from a manhole cover
He looked out to the outside from the manhole cover
Wondering who turned the lights on
He was wondering what was happening outside
Well, I got up and walked around
Bob Dylan stood up and moved around
And up and down the lonesome town
He wandered around the deserted town
I stood a-wondering which way to go
He was confused about where to go
I lit a cigarette on a parking meter
Bob Dylan started smoking a cigarette
And walked on down the road
He continued walking down the road
Well, I rung the fallout shelter bell
He rang the fallout shelter's bell
And I leaned my head and I gave a yell
He yelled to get someone's attention
"Give me a string bean, I'm a hungry man"
He was asking for food
A shotgun fired and away I ran
Someone fired a shotgun, and he ran away
I don't blame them too much though
He didn't blame them for firing the shotgun
I know I look funny
He thought he looked funny
Down at the corner by a hot-dog stand
Bob Dylan was at the corner near the hot-dog stand
I seen a man, I said, "Howdy friend"
He saw a man and greeted him
I guess there's just us two"
Bob Dylan thought there were only two people left
He screamed a bit and away he flew
The man screamed and ran away
Thought I was a Communist
The man thought he was a Communist
Well, I spied a girl and before she could leave
Bob Dylan saw a girl and stopped her from leaving
"Let's go and play Adam and Eve"
Bob Dylan wanted them to play Adam and Eve
I took her by the hand and my heart it was thumpin'
His heart was racing with excitement
When she said, "Hey man, you crazy or sumpin'
The girl thought he was crazy
You see what happened last time they started"
She referred to the last time they played Adam and Eve
Well, I seen a Cadillac window uptown
Bob Dylan saw a Cadillac window at uptown
And there was nobody aroun'
No one was around the Cadillac window
I got into the driver's seat
Bob Dylan entered the driver's seat
And I drove 42nd Street
He drove down 42nd Street
In my Cadillac
He was driving a Cadillac
Good car to drive after a war
He thought that Cadillac was a suitable car to drive post-war
Well, I remember seein' some ad
He remembered an advertisement he saw
So I turned on my Conelrad
He turned on his Conelrad radio
But I didn't pay my Con Ed bill
He wasn't paying his Con Edison bill
So the radio didn't work so well
The radio wasn't working properly
Turned on my player
He switched on his music player
It was Rock-A-Day, Johnny singin'
Bob Dylan listened to Rock-A-Day, Johnny's song
"Tell your ma, tell your pa
Johnny's song had the lyrics 'tell your ma, tell your pa'
our loves are gonna grow ooh-wah, ooh-wah"
The song was about love, and it had the words 'ooh-wah, ooh-wah'
I was feelin' kinda lonesome and blue
Bob Dylan was feeling lonely and sad
I needed somebody to talk to
He felt like talking to someone
So I called up the operator of time
He called the operator of time
Just to hear a voice of some kind
Bob Dylan just wanted to listen to somebody's voice
"When you hear the beep
The operator told him about the beep
It will be three o'clock"
The beep sound indicated that it was three o'clock
She said that for over an hour
The operator kept repeating the same thing for over an hour
And I hung it up
Bob Dylan hung up the phone
Well, the doctor interrupted me just about then
The doctor interrupted him at that point
Sayin', "Hey I've been havin' the same old dreams
The doctor shared that he was having similar dreams
But mine was a little different, you see
The doctor's dream was slightly different from Bob Dylan's
I dreamt that the only person left after the war was me
The doctor had a dream where he was the only person left after the war
I didn't see you around"
The doctor didn't see Bob Dylan in his dream
Well, now time passed and now it seems
The time has passed, and things have changed
Everybody's having them dreams
Nowadays, everyone is having such dreams
Everybody sees themselves walkin' around with no one else
People are seeing themselves walking around without anyone else
Half of the people can be part right all of the time
Only half of the people can be right all the time
Some of the people can be all right part of the time
Some people are only right some of the time
But all the people can't be all right all the time
No one can be right all the time
I think Abraham Lincoln said that
Bob Dylan thinks Abraham Lincoln said that
"I'll let you be in my dreams if I can be in yours"
Bob Dylan said he would let someone be in his dream if he could be in theirs
I said that
Bob Dylan said what Abraham Lincoln famously said
Lyrics © Special Rider Music
Written by: BOB DYLAN, ROBERT ALLEN ZIMMERMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@juancamacho5746
Some time ago a crazy dream came to me
I dreamt I was walkinâ into World War Three
I went to the doctor the very next day
To see what kinda words he could say
He said it was a bad dream
"I wouldnât worry about it none, though
Them old dreams were only in your head"
I said, âHold it, Doc, a World War passed through my brainâ
He said, âNurse, get your pad, this boyâs insaneâ
He grabbed my arm, I said, âOuch!â
As I landed on the psychiatric couch
He said, âTell me about itâ
Well, the whole thing started at 3 oâclock fast
It was all over by quarter past
I was down in the sewer with some little lover
When I peeked out from a manhole cover
Wondering who turned the lights on
Well, I got up and walked around
And up and down the lonesome town
I stood a-wondering which way to go
I lit a cigarette on a parking meter and walked on down the road
It was a normal day
Well, I rung the fallout shelter bell
And I leaned my head and I gave a yell
âGive me a string bean, Iâm a hungry manâ
A shotgun fired and away I ran
I donât blame them too much though, he didn't know me
Down at the corner by a hot-dog stand
I seen a man
I said, âHowdy friend, I guess thereâs just us twoâ
He screamed a bit and away he flew
Thought I was a Communist
Well, I spied a girl and before she could leave
âLetâs go and play Adam and Eveâ
I took her by the hand and my heart it was thumpinâ
When she said, âHey man, you crazy or something?
You see what happened last time they startedâ
đ”đ¶đ”đ¶
Well, I seen a Cadillac window uptown
And there was nobody arounâ
I got into the driverâs seat
And I drove down 42nd Street
In my Cadillac. Good car to drive after a war
Well, I remember seeinâ some ad
So I turned on my Conelrad
But I didnât pay my Con Ed bill
So the radio didnât work so well
Turned on my record playerâ
It was Rock-a-day Johnny singinâ, âTell Your Ma, Tell Your Pa
Our Loveâs A-gonna Grow Ooh-wah, Ooh-wahâ
I was feelinâ kinda lonesome and blue
I needed somebody to talk to
So I called up the operator of time
Just to hear a voice of some kind
âWhen you hear the beep it will be three oâclockâ
She said that for over an hour
And I hung up
Well, the doctor interrupted me just about then
Sayinâ, âHey Iâve been havinâ the same old dreams
But mine was a little different you see
I dreamt that the only person left after the war was me
I didnât see you aroundâ
Well, now time passed and now it seems
Everybodyâs having them dreams
Everybody sees themselves
Walkinâ around with no one else
Half of the people can be part right all of the time
Some of the people can be all right part of the time
But all of the people canât be all right all of the time
I think Abraham Lincoln said that
âIâll let you be in my dreams if I can be in yoursâ
I said that
@alanknight3503
I grew up listening to this & all of B.Dylan's music. It's pretty hilarious yet rings sadly, especially in a time such
As the 60-70 with the Vietnam War...
Yes times are uncertain for our future in this 21st century
A bit surreal yet terrifying
But this song mostly just makes me laugh
His candid, satirical, poetic storytelling style and his strange but relatable sense of humor rife with political ideas & actions and hard to swallow& comprehend for most ppl . His unique sense of humor was something that many Dylan fans could relate to or help them accept the harshness of the world climate...laughter over nervous breakdowns as a result of the unfathomable insanity, destruction, death and indescribable acts that haunted so many.
I laughed the first time I heard this song 20 yrs ago. It is funny in a bizarre telling of the most dream like occurances that were beyond real life and that really incited laughter it being stranger than fiction as life does not happen in a dream like manner. It was truly satirical yet comedic, whether out pplmsy not have really hot His humor.
Nonetheless less I love this song
Puts a huge laugh/,smile on my face
You are a card Bob Dylan
@saviomaia1704
Some time ago a crazy dream came to me
I dreamt I was walkinâ into World War Three
I went to the doctor the very next day
To see what kinda words he could say
He said it was a bad dream
I wouldnât worry âbout it none, though
They were my own dreams and theyâre only in my head
I said, âHold it, Doc, a World War passed through my brainâ
He said, âNurse, get your pad, this boyâs insaneâ
He grabbed my arm, I said, âOuch!â
As I landed on the psychiatric couch
He said, âTell me about itâ
Well, the whole thing started at 3 oâclock fast
It was all over by quarter past
I was down in the sewer with some little lover
When I peeked out from a manhole cover
Wondering who turned the lights on
Well, I got up and walked around
And up and down the lonesome town
I stood a-wondering which way to go
I lit a cigarette on a parking meter and walked on down the road
It was a normal day
Well, I rung the fallout shelter bell
And I leaned my head and I gave a yell
âGive me a string bean, Iâm a hungry manâ
A shotgun fired and away I ran
I donât blame them too much though, I know I look funny
Down at the corner by a hot-dog stand
I seen a man
I said, âHowdy friend, I guess thereâs just us twoâ
He screamed a bit and away he flew
Thought I was a Communist
Well, I spied a girl and before she could leave
âLetâs go and play Adam and Eveâ
I took her by the hand and my heart it was thumpinâ
When she said, âHey man, you crazy or sumpinâ
You see what happened last time they startedâ
Well, I seen a Cadillac window uptown
And there was nobody arounâ
I got into the driverâs seat
And I drove down 42nd Street
In my Cadillac. Good car to drive after a war
Well, I remember seeinâ some ad
So I turned on my Conelrad
But I didnât pay my Con Ed bill
So the radio didnât work so well
Turned on my record playerâ
It was Rock-a-day Johnny singinâ, âTell Your Ma, Tell Your Pa
Our Loveâs A-gonna Grow Ooh-wah, Ooh-wahâ
I was feelinâ kinda lonesome and blue
I needed somebody to talk to
So I called up the operator of time
Just to hear a voice of some kind
âWhen you hear the beep it will be three oâclockâ
She said that for over an hour
And I hung up
Well, the doctor interrupted me just about then
Sayinâ, âHey Iâve been havinâ the same old dreams
But mine was a little different you see
I dreamt that the only person left after the war was me
I didnât see you aroundâ
Well, now time passed and now it seems
Everybodyâs having them dreams
Everybody sees themselves
Walkinâ around with no one else
Half of the people can be part right all of the time
Some of the people can be all right part of the time
But all of the people canât be all right all of the time
I think Abraham Lincoln said that
âIâll let you be in my dreams if I can be in yoursâ
I said that
@gustav4821
"I'll let you be in dream if I can be in yours
I said that"
One of my favorite closing lines
@idiotsavant751
Me too
@matthewsmith5374
I use it all the time.
@philharrison5242
I said that
@juliecrane9647
@@philharrison5242 Hey !!! I think I said that !!!
@lauriemulroony9061
YEP
@calebbasile2219
You can really hear the Woody Guthrie in his older tunes. Bob clearly mastered the school of Woody
@henrywilliams8291
No, I've been listening to him since the 60s. Sadly, it's one of my favourites. As we stand on the precipice of an unstoppable disaster, i myself appreciate what we have and savor every day of peace.
@SoldierAmber
WW3 blues.. relevant now than ever
@struthersboyz4990
I feel like bob Dylanâs music will be relevant no matter what decade u listen to itâŠ.