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
Wallflower
Bob Dylan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Won't you dance with me?
I'm sad and lonely too.
Wallflower, wallflower
Won't you dance with me?
I'm fallin' in love with you.
Just like you I'm wondrin' what I'm doin' here.
Wallflower, wallflower
Won't you dance with me?
The night will soon be gone.
I have seen you standing in the smoky haze
And I know that you're gonna be mine one of these days,
Mine alone.
Wallflower, wallflower
Take a chance on me.
Please let me ride you home.
The lyrics to Bob Dylan's "Wallflower" bring to light the internal struggle of loneliness and the desire for companionship. The singer pleads with the wallflower to dance with him as he feels saddened and lonely too. This demonstrates the need for human connection and the search for others who share similar emotions. The singer then mentions that he shares the same confusion as to why he is there and what is happening, indicating a general lack of understanding and direction.
The repeated plea for the wallflower to dance with him represents the desire for a deeper connection and a chance to break the cycle of loneliness. The singer's declaration of falling in love sends a strong message about the power of dance and the ability to bring people together. The mention of the night soon being gone creates a sense of urgency and the need to seize the moment before it's too late.
The reference to the wallflower standing in a smoky haze and the singer's belief that they will be together one day adds a layer of mystery and intrigue to the lyrics. It could be interpreted as the singer feeling a sense of destiny or fate that one day he and the wallflower will be together.
Overall, "Wallflower" is a beautifully crafted piece with deep messages of human emotion and the need for connection.
Line by Line Meaning
Wallflower, wallflower
The singer is calling out to someone who is shy or withdrawn.
Won't you dance with me?
The singer is asking the wallflower to join them for a dance, perhaps as a way to break the ice and connect with them.
I'm sad and lonely too.
The singer is expressing empathy and shared feelings with the wallflower, as they too are feeling sad and lonely.
I'm fallin' in love with you.
The artist is developing feelings of love for the wallflower, and is expressing this desire for a deeper connection with them.
Just like you I'm wondrin' what I'm doin' here.
The artist is acknowledging the sense of uncertainty and ambiguity that they share with the wallflower, as both are questioning their place at the event or in life.
Just like you I'm wondrin' what's goin' on.
The singer is further emphasizing this shared sense of confusion and uncertainty, and is suggesting that they can support each other through these feelings.
The night will soon be gone.
The singer is suggesting that time is fleeting and that they should make the most of the opportunity to connect and dance with the wallflower.
I have seen you standing in the smoky haze
The artist is recalling a specific image of the wallflower, and is suggesting that this memory has stayed with them and is part of what has drawn them towards them.
And I know that you're gonna be mine one of these days,
The artist is expressing conviction and confidence in their future relationship with the wallflower, suggesting that they believe they are destined to be together.
Mine alone.
The artist is emphasizing their desire for exclusivity with the wallflower, and suggests that they want to be the only one for them.
Wallflower, wallflower
The singer is repeating their call to the wallflower, as if trying to win their attention and affection.
Take a chance on me.
The artist is asking the wallflower to take a risk and open up to them, suggesting that they believe there is potential for a deep and meaningful connection.
Please let me ride you home.
The singer is offering to accompany the wallflower home, suggesting a desire for continued connection and intimacy beyond just the dance or the event.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bob Dylan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@juancamacho5746
Wallflower, wallflower
Would you dance with me?
I'm sad and lonely too
Wallflower, wallflower
Would you dance with me?
I'm fallin' in love with you
Just like you I'm wondrin' what I'm doin' here
Just like you I'm wondrin' what's goin' on
Wallflower, wallflower
Would you dance with me?
The night will soon be gone
🎵🎶🎵🎶
I have seen you standing in the smoky haze
And I know that you're gonna be mine one of these days
Mine alone
Wallflower, wallflower
Take a chance on me
Please let me ride you home
@fromthethrone
Bob Dylan you're the best.
@Alexandra-gu9kf
I agree
@Alexandra-gu9kf
Nobody can get close to him not that I know of at least lol He is in a category by himself
@yamapenny5960
@@Alexandra-gu9kf
....nobody?
So you do not know Jackson Browne, I guess...
He comes very close to Master Dylan ❣
@Alexandra-gu9kf
@@yamapenny5960 what we think is very subjective
@Alexandra-gu9kf
Yes but Shakespeare is dead lol
@floepiejane
One of his prettiest little songs. It's genius.
@prxnts
Bob Dylan's songs are played in heaven too!!!
@MrBlackintox
simple and beautiful :)
@maggiebryan2355
Love this one as well