I first listened to
Bob Dylan when I was in 8th standard. We had this English teachers who used to
inspire us to listen to English songs. So, I started listening to 'em. Then one
day, I listened to this crooked voice, with guitar and Harmonica saying,
"Come
writers and critics Who prophesize with your pen
And
keep your eyes wide The chance won't come again
And
don't speak too soon For the wheel's still in spin
And
there's no tellin' who That it's namin'
For
the loser now Will be later to win
For
the times they are a-changin"
I had to listen it
three or four times to understand, of course. But once I did understand the
lyrics, I got hooked with his lyrics. And then my uncle happened to notice I
was listening this song. He explained me the History behind this song, and how
it went on to become the ANTHEM of Hippie movement in the late '60s. I went on
to read the hippie documents and well, was, astounded to find that "THE
WOODSTOCK festival" was organized in New-York so that Dylan could perform
(he didn’t because of the Motorcycle accident)
After that Dylan has
pretty much become part of my life. I grew of listening "How many roads
most a man walk down Before you call him a man?" and wondering about the
plight of the Black people then, and more so, how a white man, just 21 could write
song that strong. Then there was most beautiful and thought-provoking six
minutes you will ever listen to, "Like rolling stone", a word vomit
from Dylan- the poet. It’s a bumpy ride rolling stone is, and Bob takes you
with it, rolling with him, singing with him, thinking like him, and in the end,
you just happen to ask, "How does it feel, To be on your own, With no
direction home, Like a complete unknown, Like a rolling stone?" Young
blood, aint it. The Hurricane of Dylan mania, I would take on anyone who
thinks, Like a Rolling stone is the greatest song ever written, and Sung.
He tells even the
president has to stand naked, he tells the sun is not yellow, its chicken, with
out and out blue. When you are having a bad morning, he asks the Tambourine man
to sing a song for you. He fought the civil war moment with songs, “When the
Ship Comes In,” and “Only a Pawn in Their Game,” also joining Len Chandler for
the song “Hold On” (and "we shall overcome" after the speech) for
Martin Luther king, while he was preparing for "I have a Dream"
speech. He dreams alongside you with, Bob Dylan's Dreams, "We dreamed a
dream, for many years strong, laughing and dreaming till the early
morning." When you are just having a bad break up in school, he shares the
sadness with,
"The friend you used to be, so near and
dear to me
you
slipped so far away, where did we go astray
I
passed the old school yard,
admitting
life is hard, without you near me."
And then he comes
wishing her a good life, with, "May God bless and keep you always, May
your wishes all come true, May you always do for others, And let others do for
you." Love is not a strong garrisons of Dylan, but then he wrote
"visions of Johana", the greatest tragedy/contemplation song you will
ever hear, or say one of the best love songs ever "love is just a four
letter word" (joan Baez).
He fought for the
freedom, he sympathized about the soldiers who fought for the government too,
saying they are only the pawn in the game. "You are only reason I am
travelling, don’t think twice its alright" that’s what he has to say, when
you feel abandoned. When someone betrayed you, he shared the agony with you,
"we looted and plundered the same shores together, why isn't my share
equal to yours". When you gave up your fight, he gave it up with you,
"The
vagabond who's rapping at your door
Is
standing in the clothes that you once wore
Strike
another match, go start a new
And
it's all over now, Baby Blue."
Criticizes the rules,
that masters made up for old man and fools, and says, he is fed up "Gonna
change my way of thinking, make myself a different set of rules. Gonna put my
good foot forward, and stop being influenced by fools." I don’t want to witness
the day like that of Cuban Missile crisis, if I do (and since there arent any
Jack and Bob Kennedy anymore it sure will be doomsday) I will be listening to
"A hard rain is gonna fall".
There is one Dylan
song, I am pretty much listening to these days,
"Go
'way from my window
Leave
at your own chosen speed
I'm
not the one you want, babe
I'm
not the one you need
You
say you're lookin' for someone
Who's
never weak but always strong
To
protect you an' defend you
Whether
you are right or wrong
Someone
to open each and every door
But
it ain't me, babe
No,
no, no, it ain't me babe It ain't me you're lookin' for, babe."
He has written and
sung song for every mood you are in. "Your voice is like a meadowlark, but
your heart is like an ocean, mysterious and
dark."
Go have "One more cup of coffee for the road One more cup of coffee 'fore I go, to the valley below." and say, if you liked the post or not.
I know you will, if
you don’t, "I don’t believe you, You are Liars."
Good day all.
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