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
True Love Tends To Forget
Bob Dylan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When she's near me she's so hard to recognize.
I finally realize there's no room for regret,
True love, true love, true love tends to forget.
Hold me, baby be near,
You told me that you'd be sincere.
Every day of the year's like playin' Russian roulette,
I was lyin' down in the reeds without any oxygen
I saw you in the wilderness among the men.
Saw you drift into infinity and come back again
All you got to do is wait and I'll tell you when.
You're a tearjerker, baby, but I'm under your spell,
You're a hard worker, baby, and I know you well.
But this weekend in hell is making me sweat,
True love, true love, true love tends to forget,
True love, true love, true love tends to forget.
I was lyin' down in the reeds without any oxygen
I saw you in the wilderness among the men.
Saw you drift into infinity and come back again
All you got to do is wait and I'll tell you when.
You belong to me, baby, without any doubt,
Don't forsake me, baby, don't sell me out.
Don't keep me knockin' about from Mexico to Tibet,
True love, true love, true love tends to forget.
The lyrics to Bob Dylan’s “True Love Tends to Forget” are a reflection on the complexities of romantic relationships. The opening lines convey a sense of weariness and distance, with the singer struggling to recognize their partner. As the song progresses, the singer expresses doubts and concerns about the relationship, suggesting that while love might be true, it can also be forgetful and fickle. The line “Every day of the year's like playin' Russian roulette ” suggests that love can be a gamble, fraught with risk and uncertainty.
The song delves into the singer’s perception of their partner, using vivid imagery to convey a sense of distance and detachment. References to the “wilderness” and “infinity” suggest a sense of disorientation, as though the singer is struggling to keep up with their partner's moods and emotions. The song’s refrain, “True love, true love, true love tends to forget,” underscores these themes, acknowledging that even the most enduring relationships can be fraught with tension and uncertainty.
Overall, the song is a powerful meditation on the complicated nature of love, emphasizing the need for patience, trust, and communication. It suggests that true love can survive, even in the face of uncertainty and doubt, but that it requires dedication and perseverance to endure.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm getting weary looking in my baby's eyes
I am becoming tired of constantly searching for recognition in my beloved's eyes
When she's near me she's so hard to recognize
I struggle to recognize my beloved when she is close to me
I finally realize there's no room for regret
I have come to the realization that there is no need to regret (our love)
True love, true love, true love tends to forget
Genuine love often forgets the negative aspects of a relationship
Hold me, baby be near
Stay near me and hold me
You told me that you'd be sincere
You promised me that you would be genuine
Every day of the year's like playin' Russian roulette
Every day feels like a game of chance (in our love)
I was lyin' down in the reeds without any oxygen
I was lying in the reeds suffocating
I saw you in the wilderness among the men
I saw you alone in the wilderness
Saw you drift into infinity and come back again
I saw you lose yourself in thought and return
All you got to do is wait and I'll tell you when
Just be patient, I will inform you when the time is right
You're a tearjerker, baby, but I'm under your spell
You have a poignant effect on me, but I am under your influence
You're a hard worker, baby, and I know you well
You are a diligent individual and I am well acquainted with your character
But this weekend in hell is making me sweat
This terrible experience is causing me to worry
True love, true love, true love tends to forget
Genuine love often forgets the negative aspects of a relationship
You belong to me, baby, without any doubt
You are mine without any question
Don't forsake me, baby, don't sell me out
Do not abandon me or betray me
Don't keep me knockin' about from Mexico to Tibet
Do not continually subject me to wandering from place to place
True love, true love, true love tends to forget
Genuine love often forgets the negative aspects of a relationship
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BOB DYLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@juancamacho5746
I'm getting weary looking in my baby's eyes
When she's near me she's so hard to recognize
But I finally realize there's no room for regret
True love, true love, true love tends to forget.
Hold me, baby be near
You told me that you'd be sincere
But every day of the year's like playing Russian roulette
True love, true love, true love tends to forget.
I was lying down in the reeds without any oxygen
I saw you in the wilderness among the men
I saw you drift into infinity and come back again
All you got to do is wait 'till I'll tell you when.
You're a tearjerker, baby, but I'm under your spell
You're a hard worker, baby, and I know you well
At this weekend in hell is making me sweat
True love, true love, true love tends to forget.
I was lying down in the reeds without any oxygen
I saw you in the wilderness among the men
Saw you drift into infinity and come back again
All you got to do is wait and I'll tell you when.
You belong to me baby, without any doubt
Don't forsake me baby, don't sell me out
Don't keep me knocking about from Mexico to Tibet
True love, true love, true love tends to forget.
@Me-gs3uu
I'm getting weary looking in my baby's eyes
When she's near me she's so hard to recognize.
I finally realize there's no room for regret,
True love, true love, true love tends to forget.
Hold me, baby be near,
You told me that you'd be sincere.
Every day of the year's like playin' Russian roulette,
True love, true love, true love tends to forget.
I was lyin' down in the reeds without any oxygen
I saw you in the wilderness among the men.
Saw you drift into infinity and come back again
All you got to do is wait and I'll tell you when.
You're a tearjerker, baby, but I'm under your spell,
You're a hard worker, baby, but I know you well.
But this weekend in hell is making me sweat,
True love, true love, true love tends to forget.
I was lyin' down in the reeds without any oxygen
I saw you in the wilderness among the men.
Saw you drift into infinity and come back again
All you got to do is wait and I'll tell you when.
You belong to me, baby, without any doubt,
Don't forsake me, baby, don't sell me out.
Don't keep me knockin' about from Mexico to Tibet,
True love, true love, true love tends to forget. (repeat)
@arthurshepherd8757
Lyrics
I'm getting weary looking in my baby's eyes
When she's near me she's so hard to recognize.
I finally realize there's no room for regret,
True love, true love, true love tends to forget.
Hold me, baby be near,
You told me that you'd be sincere.
Every day of the year's like playin' Russian roulette,
True love, true love, true love tends to forget.
I was lyin' down in the reeds without any oxygen
I saw you in the wilderness among the men.
Saw you drift into infinity and come back again
All you got to do is wait and I'll tell you when.
You're a tearjerker, baby, but I'm under your spell,
You're a hard worker, baby, and I know you well.
But this weekend in hell is making me sweat,
True love, true love, true love tends to forget,
True love, true love, true love tends to forget.
I was lyin' down in the reeds without any oxygen
I saw you in the wilderness among the men.
Saw you drift into infinity and come back again
All you got to do is wait and I'll tell you when.
You belong to me, baby, without any doubt,
Don't forsake me, baby, don't sell me out.
Don't keep me knockin' about from Mexico to Tibet,
True love, true love, true love tends to forget.
@danko904
The whole Street-Legal album is a complete masterpiece, thanks Bob.
I will love your music for the rest of my days.
@Yukon6255
This is a perfect album, every song from start to finish is a must listen. I absolutely love this album and this time period of Dylan's music. This is him in his prime imo in the mid 70's to mid 80's. Always changing and never changing at the same time.
@andrewhindley7548
Street legal must b his most underrated album,
@pamothegreat4354
🎯💯
@codydavidyates72
Idunno, tho, yknow, he's lookin both ways 'cross the street. Who's to say what is what
@freebootercinema9157
"Hard to argue, matey, but Dylan 1965 to to 1966 was the real high water mark. I should know; as a pirate I live on a boat and know about high water, see? Arrrrr!"
@seanohare5488
So true
@seanohare5488
The most underrated Dylan album
@BilisNegra
Who lets toddlers comment here? 🤦♂
@kevanbrown7620
Another great track from Street Legal with the likes of Changing Of The Gaurds, New Pony, Baby Stop Crying, Senor, We Better Talk This Over, Where Are You Tonight along with the rest of the songs. I sometimes forget about Street Legal then when i play it again i realize what a great album it is and play it constantly for weeks. Dylan is a true legend. So many great albums.