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
Try Me
Bob Dylan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So I walk in the rain
I've got some habits
Even that I can't explain
Could start for the corner
Turn up in Spain
Why try to change me now
I've got daydreams galore
Cigarette ashes
There they go on the floor
I go away weekends
And leave my keys in the door
But why try to change me now
Why can't I be more conventional
People talk
People stare
So I try
But that's not for me
Cuz I can't see
My kind of crazy world
Go passing me by
So let people wonder
Let 'em laugh
Let 'em frown
You know I'll love you
Till the moon's upside down
Don't you remember
I was always your clown
Why try to change me now
Don't you remember
I was always your clown
Why try to change me
Why try to change me now
The lyrics of Bob Dylan's "Why Try to Change Me Now" conveys a pleading tone from a person who feels misunderstood and constantly changing, yet confident in their own skin. The opening line "I'm sentimental, so I walk in the rain" showcases the singer's tendency to let their emotions dictate their actions, followed by the admission of having unexplainable habits. The line "Could start from the corner, turn up in Spain" can be interpreted as the singer's indecisiveness or unpredictability, as they may not know where they are heading or what decisions they will make.
The chorus "why try to change me now" encapsulates the theme of the song: the singer's resistance towards conforming to society's norms and expectations. Even though they acknowledge their unconventional behavior, they feel restless when trying to fit in, as seen in the verse "Why can't I be more conventional/People talk, people stare/So I try, but that's not for me."
The song's closing lines "Don't you remember, I was always your clown/Why try to change me now" brings the intimate relationship the singer has with the listener to the forefront of the song. Despite the singer's eccentricities, they plead for unconditional love and acceptance from someone who has always appreciated them for who they are.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm sentimental
I have deep emotions and feelings
So I walk in the rain
Sometimes I prefer to be alone and let myself feel the rain on my skin.
I've got some habits
I have certain routines or behaviors that I follow.
Even that I can't explain
These habits may seem irrational or pointless to others, but they make sense to me.
Could start for the corner
I have a spontaneous nature and might suddenly take off on an adventure.
Turn up in Spain
This adventure could take me to faraway places, possibly even Spain.
Why try to change me now
I don't see the need for anyone to try and change me, as I am content with who I am.
I sit and daydream
I often get lost in my own thoughts and imagination.
I've got daydreams galore
My mind is full of creative and fanciful ideas.
Cigarette ashes
I have a casual approach to the little things in life.
There they go on the floor
I may be messy or disorganized at times, but that's just who I am.
I go away weekends
I enjoy taking trips or getting away from my routine.
And leave my keys in the door
I'm not concerned with possessions or security- I live life in the moment.
Why can't I be more conventional
Sometimes I wonder if society's expectations of me are too rigid or limiting.
People talk
Others may gossip or make judgments about me.
People stare
Sometimes I feel like I'm being watched or scrutinized.
So I try
I may make efforts to fit in or please others.
But that's not for me
Ultimately, conforming to others' standards is not fulfilling for me.
Cuz I can't see
My unique perspective and experiences make it hard for me to conform.
My kind of crazy world
I have a unconventional or idiosyncratic way of life.
Go passing me by
If I tried to fit in, I would miss out on my authentic experience of life.
So let people wonder
I don't feel the need to explain myself to others.
Let 'em laugh
Others can have their own opinions and reactions to me.
Let 'em frown
Their disapproval or disapproval doesn't affect my self-worth.
You know I'll love you
Despite our differences or disagreements, I care for you deeply.
Till the moon's upside down
My love and commitment to you are unwavering, even in the midst of life's upheavals and changes.
Don't you remember
I hope you still see me as the person you once knew.
I was always your clown
Even if others don't understand me, I hope I can still make you smile and laugh.
Why try to change me now
Our relationship doesn't need to change, as I am still the same person you've always known.
Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Cy Coleman, Joseph Mccarthy
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind