Hey Mr Tambourine Man!

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

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