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
baby blue
Bob Dylan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But whatever you wish to keep, you better grab it fast
Yonder stands your orphan with his gun
Crying like a fire in the sun
Look out, the saints are comin' through
And it's all over now, baby blue
The highway is for gamblers, better use your sense
The empty-handed painter from your streets
Is drawing crazy patterns on your sheets
The sky, too, is folding under you
And it's all over now, baby blue
All your seasick sailors, they are rowing home
Your empty-handed army is all going home
You lover who just walked out your door
Has taken all his blankets from the floor
The carpet, too, is moving under you
And it's all over now, baby blue
Leave your stepping stones behind now, something calls for you
Forget the dead you've left, they will not follow you
The vagabond who's rapping at your door
Is standing in the clothes that you once wore
Strike another match, go start anew
And it's all over now, baby blue
The song “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue” by Bob Dylan, seems to be about the end of a relationship, where the singer is advising the other person to leave and take whatever they think they will need because their time together is over. The lyrics encourage the other person to move on and start anew, forgetting about the past and the people they have left behind. The first stanza tells the other person to leave before it’s too late, but to make sure they grab what they want because time is running out. The second stanza advises the other person to take what they have learned and gained from the relationship and use it to move forward. It also speaks about the chaos that is happening in their lives, represented by the empty-handed painter and the sky folding under them, indicating that the time for departure is now.
The third stanza seems to suggest that everyone is leaving, including the sailors and the lover who has taken his blankets and gone. The carpet is also moving under them, indicating that the life they knew is no more. The final stanza, however, suggests a hopeful outlook, as the singer encourages the other person to leave the past behind and start again. The vagabond at the door is the new opportunity, wearing the singer’s old clothes. Strike another match and start anew, the song advises, because it’s all over now, baby blue.
Line by Line Meaning
You must leave now, take what you need, you think will last
It's time for you to leave, take only what you value and believe will be useful in the future
But whatever you wish to keep, you better grab it fast
If you want to keep it, take it quickly before it's too late
Yonder stands your orphan with his gun
There is someone waiting for you who is lost and looking for guidance
Crying like a fire in the sun
This person is crying desperately, in a way that's impossible to ignore
Look out, the saints are comin' through
Be aware that something important is about to happen
And it's all over now, baby blue
This is a final farewell, things will never be the same from this point on
The highway is for gamblers, better use your sense
The road ahead is uncertain, so it's best to be practical and cautious
Take what you have gathered from coincidence
Use the experiences you've had along the way to inform your decisions
The empty-handed painter from your streets
Someone who used to rely on their creativity is now destitute
Is drawing crazy patterns on your sheets
This person is still trying to create something new, despite their lack of resources
The sky, too, is folding under you
The world feels chaotic and unstable around you
And it's all over now, baby blue
This chaos signifies an end, a time to move on to something else
All your seasick sailors, they are rowing home
Those who were once lost or struggling are now finding their way back to a safe place
Your empty-handed army is all going home
Those who once had nothing now have something, and they're headed back to where they came from
You lover who just walked out your door
Someone you loved has left you
Has taken all his blankets from the floor
This person has taken everything they owned with them, leaving you with nothing
The carpet, too, is moving under you
The world is spinning and shifting around you, leaving you feeling off balance
And it's all over now, baby blue
This loss signifies an end, a chance to move on and start over
Leave your stepping stones behind now, something calls for you
It's time to move on from your past and look to the future, there's something new waiting for you
Forget the dead you've left, they will not follow you
Don't dwell on those who have passed away, they can no longer be part of your life journey
The vagabond who's rapping at your door
There is someone new in your life, someone who is seeking a place to belong
Is standing in the clothes that you once wore
This new person is like the old you, and they are looking for a fresh start
Strike another match, go start anew
Light a new flame and begin a new chapter in your life
And it's all over now, baby blue
This is a definitive end, a final farewell to what has come before
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bob Dylan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@juanpablopigliacampo5317
This song inspires a "goodbye", at the same time that it forces you to just move on. The harmonica is almost literally crying before the last verses... And, oh my God, the last sentences:
"Leave your stepping stones behind, something calls for you
Forget the dead you've left, they will not follow you
The vagabond who's rapping at your door
Is standing in the clothes that you once wore
Strike another match, go start anew
And it's all over now, baby blue".
Incredible song from an incredible artist.
@jasonleon857
You must leave now, take what you need, you think will last
But whatever you wish to keep, you better grab it fast
Yonder stands your orphan with his gun
Crying like a fire in the sun
Look out, the saints are comin' through
And it's all over now, Baby Blue
The highway is for gamblers, better use your sense
Take what you have gathered from coincidence
The empty-handed painter from your streets
Is drawing crazy patterns on your sheets
The sky too is folding under you
And it's all over now, Baby Blue
All your seasick sailors, they're all rowing home
Your empty-handed army is all going home
Your lover who just walked out the door
Has taken all his blankets from the floor
The carpet too is moving under you
And it's all over now, Baby Blue
Leave your stepping stones behind there, something calls for you
Forget the dead you've left, they will not follow you
The vagabond who's rapping at your door
Is standing in the clothes that you once wore
Strike another match, go start anew
And it's all over now, Baby Blue
@skepticat2595
I haven't heard this song since 1970, I'd completely forgotten about it, when I heard it I wept, I'm a 70 yr old man, I've got a lump in my throat as I write this. Thank God for Bob Dylan.
@mikevo3974
Amen.
@xnimaryp
Me too. 73 now
@lenilenape
Same here- Seven Zero.
Always loved this song.
@charliebrockett428
Bob Dylan is sensational and this track breaks me up every time (and also Allen Ginsberg).........Allen Ginsberg on Bob Dylan https://youtu.be/84bNaA-BV4Q via @YouTube
@yamapenny5960
👍🧘♀️🌈🖼
@ruthmorgan7166
I'm 80, and this song meant so much to my late husband and I. He accompanied me on guitar but alas these days i sing Dylan's wonderful songs alone. I still have all Dylan's lps
@ghostmail
God bless you Ruth. Hope you're doing just fine
@snowblind8572
Thank you so much for sharing, this made me tear up.
@CO-oz1fk
❤️ what an incredible era to experience