Yes, on August 23rd, I m gonna see Bob Dylan live.
The first Dylan song I heard was, Like a Rolling Stone, back in standard 3 (9yrs old). I loved it, not mainly cos of the tune but the lyrics (see below). At that age, it had a profound effect on me, some of the lyrics still did not make sense, but i got the most of it. I bought Best of Bob Dylan on cassette in Standard 6 (12 yrs) and had just got my walkman as a gift from dad, as I did well in my exams. We were inseparable, me, that Sony and Bob Dylan, I loved it so much. I found out later my Uncle Venu loves Bob Dylan and he opened a door to Dylan and more great music.
As I waded and swam through puberty and high school, Dylan became more than just an artist, he was an image of cool, the ultimate anti-establishment icon (together with his short term lover, Joan Baez). I guess as a teen learning to rebel, Dylan made sense. Sure some people make fun of his voice and the way he sings, but hey its good music, his lyrics and music overshadows his voice most of the time. You just tend to focus on what he's saying, more than how he sounds. If anybody else were to speak in such a voice and utter gibberish, it would sound weird, but not with Dylan, cos he made perfect sense.
Not many people know this, but his songs have been remade many times. My fav Hendrix song, 'All Along the Watchtower' was originally done by Dylan. Guns n Roses's Knocking on Heaven's Door is originally a Dylan number and much more soothing and mellow one.
I truly believe, Dylan together with Paul Simon are the greatest song writers of our time (well Lennon too I guess). I ll write up a more comprehensive Dylan article after the concert, I am too busy bracing myself for it.
Once upon a time you dressed so fine
You threw the bums a dime in your prime, didn't you ?
People'd call, say,
"Beware doll, you're bound to fall"
You thought they were all kiddin' you
You used to laugh about
Everybody that was hangin' out
Now you don't talk so loud
Now you don't seem so proud
About having to be scrounging for your next meal.
How does it feel
How does it feel
To be without a home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone ?
You've gone to the finest school all right, Miss Lonely
But you know you only used to get juiced in it
And nobody has ever taught you how to live on the street
And now you find out you're gonna have to get used to it
You said you'd never compromise
With the mystery tramp, but know you realize
He's not selling any alibis
As you stare into the vacuum of his eyes
And say do you want to make a deal?
How does it feel
How does it feel
To be on your own
With no direction home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone ?
You never turned around to see the frowns on the jugglers and the clowns
When they all come down and did tricks for you
You never understood that it ain't no good
You shouldn't let other people get your kicks for you
You used to ride on the chrome horse with your diplomat
Who carried on his shoulder a Siamese cat
Ain't it hard when you discover that
Ain't it hard when you discover that
He really wasn't where it's at
After he took from you everything he could steal.
How does it feel
How does it feel
To be on your own
With no direction home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone ?
Princess on the steeple and all the pretty people
They're drinkin', thinkin' that they got it made
Exchanging all precious gifts
But you'd better take your diamond ring, you'd better pawn it babe
You used to be so amused
At Napoleon in rags and the language that he used
Go to him now, he calls you, you can't refuse
When you got nothing, you got nothing to lose
You're invisible now, you got no secrets to conceal.
How does it feelHow does it feel
To be on your own
With no direction home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone
