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
Trouble
Bob Dylan Lyrics
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You got your rabbit's foot, you got your good-luck charm
But they can't help you none when there's trouble.
Trouble
Trouble, trouble, trouble
Nothing but trouble.
Go all the way to the other side of the world, you'll find trouble there
Revolution even ain't no solution for trouble.
Trouble
Trouble, trouble, trouble
Nothing but trouble.
Drought and starvation, packaging of the soul
Persecution, execution, governments out of control
You can see the writing on the wall inviting trouble.
Trouble
Trouble, trouble, trouble
Nothing but trouble.
Put your ear to the train tracks, put your ear to the ground
You ever feel like you're never alone even when there's nobody else around?
Since the beginning of the universe man's been cursed by trouble.
Trouble
Trouble, trouble, trouble
Nothing but trouble.
Nightclubs of the broken-hearted, stadiums of the damned
Legislature, perverted nature, doors that are rudely slammed
Look into infinity, all you see is trouble.
Trouble
Trouble, trouble, trouble
Nothing but trouble.
Bob Dylan's song "Trouble" delves into the omnipresence of the concept of trouble in everyday life. The opening lines of the song highlight the fact that trouble exists both in urban and rural areas and that good luck charms cannot provide any help in times of trouble. The repetition of the word "trouble" emphasizes the all-encompassing nature of the issue at hand.
The song goes on to discuss how trouble exists not only locally but on a global scale. Even revolutionary movements, which seek to bring about change and potentially solve issues that lead to trouble end up becoming a part of the problem. The lyrics urge listeners to consider that trouble exists regardless of individual effort or collective action.
Dylan raises various issues in the song, including drought, starvation, persecution, and government control, among others. The lyrics point out that trouble exists even when one can see the writing on the wall, indicating the impending danger. The song then shifts to a more personal level, asking whether individuals feel like they are never alone, even in isolation. This contributes to a sense of helplessness that individuals experience in the face of trouble.
Overall, the song delivers a powerful message that trouble is inherent in everyday life and that its scope is pervasive. Dylan's repetition of the word "trouble" throughout the song emphasizes the all-encompassing nature of this issue in society.
Line by Line Meaning
Trouble in the city, trouble in the farm
Difficulties arise everywhere, whether in urban or rural areas.
You got your rabbit's foot, you got your good-luck charm
Superstitious beliefs and objects provide a false sense of security.
But they can't help you none when there's trouble.
Luck is useless in the face of real trouble.
Trouble, trouble, trouble
Trouble is an omnipresent force.
Trouble in the water, trouble in te air
Difficulties affect all aspects of life.
Go all the way to the other side of the world, you'll find trouble there
Trouble exists in every corner of the world.
Revolution even ain't no solution for trouble.
Even violent change cannot eradicate trouble.
Drought and starvation, packaging of the soul
Trouble comes in many forms, including poverty and spiritual emptiness.
Persecution, execution, governments out of control
Oppressive political regimes create trouble for their citizens.
You can see the writing on the wall inviting trouble.
Warning signs of impending trouble are often visible.
Put your ear to the train tracks, put your ear to the ground
Trouble can be felt or predicted through intuition and observation.
You ever feel like you're never alone even when there's nobody else around?
Trouble can make a person feel isolated and vulnerable.
Since the beginning of the universe man's been cursed by trouble.
Trouble is a fundamental part of the human experience.
Nightclubs of the broken-hearted, stadiums of the damned
Places of leisure and entertainment can be symbols of suffering and despair.
Legislature, perverted nature, doors that are rudely slammed
Corrupt institutions, distorted values, and hostile interactions are sources of trouble.
Look into infinity, all you see is trouble.
No matter how far one looks, trouble remains a constant presence.
Trouble, trouble, trouble
Trouble is an inescapable reality of life.
Nothing but trouble.
Trouble is all there is.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BOB DYLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind