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
Dreamin
bob dylan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In this place
Is really bad
Like being
In the bottom
Of a stream
Any minute now
I'm expecting
From a dream
Miss so much
The softest touch
Like the grave
Of some child child
Who neither wept
Nor smiled
I'm hiding my faith
In the rain
I've been
Dreamin' of you
That's all I do
And it's
Driving me insane
Somewhere dawn
Is breaking
Light is streaking
Across the floor
Church bells
Are ringing
I wonder who
They're ringing for
Travel under any star
You'll see me
Wherever you are
The shadowy past
Is so vague and so vast
I'm sleeping
In the balance of pain
I've been dreamin' of you
That's all I do
But it's
Driving me insane
Maybe they'll get me
Maybe they won't
But whatever
It won't be tonight
I wish your hand
Was in mine right now
We could go
Where the moon is white
For years
They had me
Locked in a cage
Then they threw me
Onto the stage
Somethings
Just last longer
Then you
Thought they would
And they never
Ever explain
I'm dreamin' of you
That's all I do
And it's
Driving me insane
Well
I eat when I'm hungry
Drink when I'm dry
Live my life
On the square
Even if the flesh
Falls off my face
It won't matter as long
As you're there
Feel like
A ghost in love
Underneath
The heavens above
Feel further away
Then I ever did before
Feel further
Than I can take
Dreamin' of you
That's all I do
But it's
Driving me insane
Everything in the way
Is so shy like the day
In queer and unusual form
Spirals of golden haze here
In there in a blaze
Like beams of light
In a star
Maybe you're here
Or maybe you weren't
Maybe you
Touched somebody
And got burned
The silent sun
Has got me on the run
Burning a hole
In my brain
I'm dreamin' of you
That's all I do
But it's
Driving me insane
The lyrics of "Dreamin' of You" by Bob Dylan describe a state of profound longing that permeates the singer’s life. The song is full of vivid metaphors that paint a picture of the singer's internal struggle to come to terms with his feelings. The singer describes the light in his environment as being really bad, as if he were at the bottom of a stream. These lines suggest a sense of gloom and melancholy that are amplified by the image of a grave of a child who neither wept nor smiled. The singer hides his faith in the rain, a powerful metaphor that suggests he is struggling with doubts about himself and the world around him.
The chorus of the song, "I've been dreamin' of you, that's all I do, and it's driving me insane," amplifies the theme of unrelenting desire and longing that dominates the track. The singer is tormented by his dreams of a person who is not there, and he is powerless to stop his thoughts from drifting towards them. The second verse shifts to a brighter picture, as the dawn breaks and the church bells are ringing. However, the singer remains cocooned in his own dreams, and the world outside seems like a mere distraction from his internal state of being.
Overall, "Dreamin' of You" is a song that captures the depth of human emotions, from the despair of longing to the glimmers of hope that occasionally appear on the horizon. The song's lyrics use vivid metaphors and imagery to explore the complex nature of desire and the ways in which our inner worlds can be just as real and vivid as our external environments.
Line by Line Meaning
The light
The lighting in my surroundings is dull and dreary
In this place
I am currently in an unpleasant location
Is really bad
The lighting in this place is extremely poor
Like being
It feels as though I am located
In the bottom
At the very bottom
Of a stream
Of a running water body
Any minute now
At any given time
I'm expecting
I strongly feel
To wake up
To come back to reality
From a dream
From a state of unconsciousness
Miss so much
I have an intense feeling of longing
The softest touch
The gentlest of touch
Like the grave
Similar to the burial place
Of some child child
A young, innocent person who has passed away
Who neither wept
Who didn't show any tears of sadness
Nor smiled
Who didn't express any joy or happiness
I'm hiding my faith
I am concealing my beliefs or my hope
In the rain
In the midst of rain
I've been
I have been
Dreamin' of you
I have been visualizing thoughts of you subconsciously
That's all I do
That's the central thing that occupies my mind
And it's
It is
Driving me insane
It is causing me to lose my grip on reality
Somewhere dawn
At some other place
Is breaking
The sun is beginning to rise
Light is streaking
The light is starting to spread
Across the floor
Along the surface of the ground
Church bells
Religious bell sounds
Are ringing
Are sounding
I wonder who
I am curious about who
They're ringing for
The purpose for which they are being rung
Travel under any star
Journey or move beneath any star
You'll see me
You will spot me
Wherever you are
In any location where you might be situated
The shadowy past
The obscure history
Is so vague and so vast
Is quite indefinite and extensive
I'm sleeping
I am in a deep state of rest
In the balance of pain
Between the extremes of agony and suffering
Maybe they'll get me
Perhaps they will seek after me
Maybe they won't
Perhaps they won't pursue me
But whatever
Regardless of the case
It won't be tonight
It is not going to occur tonight
I wish your hand
I desire to hold your hand
Was in mine right now
To have a physical connection with you at this moment
We could go
We could travel
Where the moon is white
To a location where the moon appears to be white
For years
For such a long time
They had me
They had me captive
Locked in a cage
Trapped inside a cage
Then they threw me
Afterward they released me
Onto the stage
On to the situation
Somethings
Certain things
Just last longer
Have an enduring quality
Then you
Than you would have thought
Thought they would
Believed they would last
And they never
And they never do
Ever explain
Offer a clear understanding
Well
So
I eat when I'm hungry
I consume food when I feel famished
Drink when I'm dry
I take drinks when I feel thirsty
Live my life
Experience my life
On the square
In a fair manner
Even if the flesh
Even though my body
Falls off my face
Decays away from my face
It won't matter as long
It won't be important or significant
As you're there
As you are present
Feel like
I experience a feeling of
A ghost in love
Being in love like a specter
Underneath
Beneath the expanse of
The heavens above
The sky and the universe
Feel further away
The sensation of being more remote
Then I ever did before
Than I ever have previously
Feel further
Experience an additional distance
Than I can take
Beyond the threshold of tolerance
Everything in the way
All the obstructions in my path
Is so shy like the day
Is as bashful as the day
In queer and unusual form
In peculiar and uncommon ways
Spirals of golden haze here
Curves of a golden mist within this vicinity
In there in a blaze
Somewhere else or in another location, bright and fiery
Like beams of light
Similar to rays of light
In a star
Within a star
Maybe you're here
It could be possible that you are present here
Or maybe you weren't
Or you might as well be absent
Maybe you
It is possible that somebody else
Touched somebody
Made physical contact with somebody else
And got burned
And suffered the negative consequences
The silent sun
The sun in silence
Has got me on the run
Has made me flee or escape
Burning a hole
The sun is creating an opening
In my brain
Inside my mind
Dreamin' of you
I am thinking of you subconsciously
That's all I do
It's the only thing occupying my subconscious mind
But it's
But this thought pattern is
Driving me insane
Causing me to lose my grip on reality
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BOB DYLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Gigio Zimmerman
Dreamin' of you
La luz en este lugar es realmente mala
Como estar en el fondo de una corriente
De un momento a otro espero despertarme de un sueño
Echo tanto de menos el toque más suave
Como la tumba de algún niño
Quien ni ha llorado ni ha reído
Oculto mi fe en la lluvia
He estado soñando contigo
Es todo lo que hago
Y me está volviendo loco
En algún sitio el alba está rompiendo
la luz está golpeando el suelo
suenan campanas de Iglesia
me pregunto por quién tocan
Viaja bajo cualquier estrella
y me verás dondequiera que estés
El pasado sombrío en tan vago y enorme
estoy durmiendo en el Palacio de dolor
He estado soñando contigo
Es todo lo que hago
Pero me está volviendo loco
Tal vez me atrapen, tal vez no,
pero sea como sea, no será esta noche
Querría tener tu mano en la mía justo ahora
Podríamos ir donde la luna es enorme.
Me han encerrado en una jaula durante años
Después me arrojaron a escena.
Hay cosas que simplemente duran más de lo que uno había pensado.
Y nunca, nunca te lo explican.
Estoy soñando contigo
Es todo lo que soy capaz de hacer.
Y me está volviendo loco.
Bien, como cuando tengo hambre
Bebo cuando estoy seco
Vivo mi vida en el cuadrilátero
Incluso si mi rostro se deshace
No importará mientras estés allí.
Me siento como un fantasma enamorado
bajo el cielo
Tan lejos como nunca lo estuve antes
Tan lejos como puedo ir
He estado soñando contigo
Es todo que hago
Y me está volviendo loco
Todo en el camino es tan tímido como el día
En extrañas e insólitas formas
Brillantes espirales de niebla dorada aquí y allí en llamaradas
Como rayos de luz en una estrella.
Tal vez estés aquí o tal vez no
Tal vez tocaste a alguien y se quemó
El silencioso sol me pilló dándome a la fuga
Agujereando con fuego mi cerebro
He estado soñando contigo
Es todo que hago
Pero me está volviendo loco.
Fabiola Aviña
The light in this place is really bad
Like being at the bottom of a stream
Any minute now
I’m expecting to wake up from a dream
Means so much, the softest touch
By the grave of some child, who neither wept or smiled
I pondered my faith in the rain
I’ve been dreamin’ of you, that’s all I do
And it’s driving me insane
Somewhere dawn is breaking
Light is streaking ‘cross the floor
Church bells are ringing
I wonder who they’re ringing for
Travel under any star
You’ll see me wherever you are
The shadowy past is awake and so vast
I’m sleeping in the palace of pain
I’ve been dreamin’ of you, that’s all I do
But it’s driving me insane
Maybe they’ll get me, maybe they won’t
But whatever it won’t be tonight
I wish your hand was in mine right now
We could go where the moon is white
For years they had me locked in a cage
Then they threw me onto the stage
Some things just last longer than you thought they would
And they never, ever explain
I’ve been dreamin’ of you, that’s all I do
And it’s driving me insane
Well, I eat when I’m hungry, drink when I’m dry
Live my life on the square
Even if the flesh falls off my face
It won’t matter, long as you’re there
Feel like a ghost in love
Underneath the heavens above
Feel further away than I ever did before
Feel further than I can take
Dreamin’ of you is all I do
But it’s driving me insane
Everything in the way is so shiny today
A queer and unusual fall
Spirals of golden haze, here and there in a blaze
Like beams of light in the storm
Maybe you were here and maybe you weren’t
Maybe you touched somebody and got burnt
The silent sun has got me on the run
Burning a hole in my brain
I’m dreamin’ of you, that’s all I do
But it’s driving me insane
Juan Camacho
The light
In this place
Is really bad
Like being
In the bottom
Of a stream
Any minute now
I'm expecting
To wake up
From a dream
Miss so much
The softest touch
Like the grave
Of some child child
Who neither wept
Nor smiled
I'm hiding my faith
In the rain
I've been
Dreamin' of you
That's all I do
And it's
Driving me insane
Somewhere dawn
Is breaking
Light is streaking
Across the floor
Church bells
Are ringing
I wonder who
They're ringing for
Travel under any star
You'll see me
Wherever you are
The shadowy past
Is so vague and so vast
I'm sleeping
In the balance of pain
I've been dreamin' of you
That's all I do
But it's
Driving me insane
🎵🎶🎵🎶
Everything in the way
Is so shy like the day
In queer and unusual form
Spirals of golden haze here
In there in a blaze
Like beams of light
In a star
Maybe you're here
Or maybe you weren't
Maybe you
Touched somebody
And got burned
The silent sun
Has got me on the run
Burning a hole
In my brain
I'm dreamin' of you
That's all I do
But it's
Driving me insane
Allen Price
Time out of mind is a masterpiece. This one left off the album is amazing
Dr. Pulp's Theater of Horror
@knotNyourHead Indeed, nothing wasted!
knotNyourHead
@Dr. Pulp's Theater of Horror I forgot about that. I remember noticing though, now, when I was really getting into this 'bootleg' series. Just goes to show a glimpse into the song making process of Dylan 👍🏻
Dr. Pulp's Theater of Horror
Parts of this particular song are all throughout the album!
IanWelland
Wouldn't it be super of all the "official" Bob Dylan videos uploaded via BobDylanVEVO could be released on DVD? I'm sure there are a few gems being held back as well. It might get rid of the bootleggers! I wonder if Bob could put together an "official" video for the unreleased 'To Fall In Love With You (Incomplete, unreleased recording)' and arrange for the track to be released "officially" on an up and coming CD release in the his fantastic "Bootleg Series" ?
Sandra Wadsworth
I absolutely love this song and the video.❤️❤️❤️❤️
prg vidiot
It's a portrayal of a Dylan fanatic portrayed by Harry Dean Stanton. Some of us enjoy the many phases of Dylan's career and know that there's sooo much more to him than the 5 or 6 songs that he is most notable for. Dylan is a recording Artist. If you like his music, there's a lot out there to find and hopefully enjoy. Happy travels...
Gigio Zimmerman
Dreamin' of you
La luz en este lugar es realmente mala
Como estar en el fondo de una corriente
De un momento a otro espero despertarme de un sueño
Echo tanto de menos el toque más suave
Como la tumba de algún niño
Quien ni ha llorado ni ha reído
Oculto mi fe en la lluvia
He estado soñando contigo
Es todo lo que hago
Y me está volviendo loco
En algún sitio el alba está rompiendo
la luz está golpeando el suelo
suenan campanas de Iglesia
me pregunto por quién tocan
Viaja bajo cualquier estrella
y me verás dondequiera que estés
El pasado sombrío en tan vago y enorme
estoy durmiendo en el Palacio de dolor
He estado soñando contigo
Es todo lo que hago
Pero me está volviendo loco
Tal vez me atrapen, tal vez no,
pero sea como sea, no será esta noche
Querría tener tu mano en la mía justo ahora
Podríamos ir donde la luna es enorme.
Me han encerrado en una jaula durante años
Después me arrojaron a escena.
Hay cosas que simplemente duran más de lo que uno había pensado.
Y nunca, nunca te lo explican.
Estoy soñando contigo
Es todo lo que soy capaz de hacer.
Y me está volviendo loco.
Bien, como cuando tengo hambre
Bebo cuando estoy seco
Vivo mi vida en el cuadrilátero
Incluso si mi rostro se deshace
No importará mientras estés allí.
Me siento como un fantasma enamorado
bajo el cielo
Tan lejos como nunca lo estuve antes
Tan lejos como puedo ir
He estado soñando contigo
Es todo que hago
Y me está volviendo loco
Todo en el camino es tan tímido como el día
En extrañas e insólitas formas
Brillantes espirales de niebla dorada aquí y allí en llamaradas
Como rayos de luz en una estrella.
Tal vez estés aquí o tal vez no
Tal vez tocaste a alguien y se quemó
El silencioso sol me pilló dándome a la fuga
Agujereando con fuego mi cerebro
He estado soñando contigo
Es todo que hago
Pero me está volviendo loco.
Mara Karetsos
Merveilleuse !!!!🎵⭐️
Brett Stewart
I really enjoy this track - you can tell it evolved into Not Dark Yet, that's very obvious with the lyrics and style, but somehow I almost enjoy this better, it's a shame he didn't opt to put this on Time Out of Mind as well.