No one has ever quite tapped into our collective conscience like Bob Dylan. Dubbed the voice of a generation (though he hated this title), Dylan exploded onto the New York folk scene in the 1960s and has remained one of the western world’s most revered storytellers ever since.
With only a guitar and an imagination, Dylan has influenced millions of people, singing carefully constructed narratives that speak to our darkest desires and ravenous regrets. With themes spanning from capitalism to death, to love (of course), Dylan always aims his magnifying glass right at the ugly truth, leaving it bare for audiences to wince at.
However, what’s interesting about Dylan is that he’s always true in his songs, but never in interviews. The artist is infamous for avoiding questions and mocking the press. By never taking the press seriously, to understand and learn about Dylan’s perspective, you have to look straight at lyrics. But alas, they’re not always straightforward either.
His lyrics, especially in his 60s output, were famously vivid and esoteric, but that doesn’t mean they are any less significant. If anything, the mysticism around his words only adds to their inherent magic and universal appeal. On the flip side of the coin, Dylan also can tell things as straight as humanly possible. “It ain’t me you’re looking for babe” is pretty self-explanatory… Cuts like a hot knife through butter. Wish someone would sing that to Belle Delphine sometime soon.
If you don’t know anything about Dylan, you’ve still probably heard his work. Musicians and fans alike continue to cover and quote the fabled artist at every opportunity. Take a look at these examples throughout the years. It just goes to prove the staying power of his words
In 1965, The Byrds covered Mr. Tambourine Man
In 1968, Jimi Hendrix covered All Along The Watchtower
In 1970, George Harrison covered If Not For You
In 1985, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds covered Wanted Man
In 1988, Bruce Springsteen covered Chimes Of Freedom
In 1993, Jeff Buckley covered Mama You Been On My Mind
In 2008, Adele covered To Make You Feel My Love
If that doesn’t give you an idea of Dylan’s continued relevance, I don’t know what will. With 31 studio albums under his belt, you’d better believe there is a wealth of material for us to learn from. Not mention his films, poetry, and artworks. Yup, he’s multi-disciplined too.
Anyway, enough of me talking up the artist. Let’s allow his musings to speak for themselves. There could be 1000 quotes on this list, but we’ve narrowed it down to 20 of the most potent and unforgettable. I hope you find a nugget of truth in this list that inspires you to reflect and grow.
I define nothing. Not beauty, not patriotism. I take each thing as it is, without prior rules about what it should be.
A poem is a naked person… Some people say that I am a poet.
But even the President of the United States sometimes must have to stand naked.
Don’t matter how much money you got, there are only two kinds of people: there are saved people and there are lost, people.
All the truth in the world adds up to one big lie
Take care of my memories. For you cannot relive them
To live outside the law, you must be honest.
He not busy being born is busy dying.
Don’t criticize what you can’t understand.
You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.
Some people feel the rain, others just get wet
Behind every beautiful thing, there’s some kind of pain.
A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and gets to bed at night, and in between, he does what he wants to do.
The future for me is already a thing of the past – You were my first love and you will be my last.
Sometimes it’s not enough to know what things mean, sometimes you have to know what things don’t mean.
People seldom do what they believe in. They do what is convenient, then repent.
When you’ve got nothing, you’ve got nothing to lose.
You can never be wise and be in love at the same time.
You’re gonna have to serve somebody; well, it may be the devil, or it may be the Lord, but you’re gonna have to serve somebody…
No one is free, even the birds are chained to the sky.
Recommending Reading:
- Michael Jackson Quotes To Rock And Roll Your Life
- Jim Morrison Quotes That Will Change Your Attitude
- Bob Marley Quotes That Will Force Your Mind To Sing
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