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Fantastic! Anyone know if it's the first Literature Nobel given to a pure singer-songwriter? Here are three Dylan songs with big literary value: * "Lily, Ros

by xamuel 10y ago

Fantastic! Anyone know if it's the first Literature Nobel given to a pure singer-songwriter? Here are three Dylan songs with big literary value: * "Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts": an amazing example of musical story-telling * "The Ballad of a Thin Man": Some of the most post-modern lyrics ever put to music... * "Like a Rolling Stone": One of the most influential songs of all time

smnscu 10y ago
'Hurricane' always gives me chills. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_(Bob_Dylan_song) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_(Bob_Dylan_song) Here's a great video on 'All Along The Watchtower'. I'm rewatching this today to celebrate! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=In6gCrGeZfA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=In6gCrGeZfA
- henrik_w 10y ago
  + 1 for 'Hurricane' - great song!
- garyrob 10y ago
  Agreed, another +1 for Hurricane. A largely-overlooked absolute classic. And of course All Along the Watchtower!
retox 10y ago
Rhyming "imagination" with "tax-deductible charity organizations" is worthy of a Nobel any day.
DocTomoe 10y ago
Technically, Dylan has written a number of novels, short stories and Poems and as such would not really qualify as a "pure singer-songwriter", even though the Nobel Prize comittee's reasoning references his work as a singer-songwriter...
stplsd 10y ago
To me it's "It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)" "He not busy being born is busy dying" must be one of greatest lines ever.
- tnecniv 10y ago
  "While money doesn't talk, it swears"
euroclydon 10y ago
"Only a Pawn in Their Game" has always been super impressive to me.
benrjackson 10y ago
I would suggest 'Visions of Johanna'. At the other end of spectrum is 'Changing of the Guards' in which Bob Dylan seems to be intentionally parodying his own songwriting (still an enjoyable song though).
OskarS 10y ago
I read the lyrics to Dylan's Forever Young at my nephews baptism as a poem, and half the audience was crying. Excerpt: May you grow up to be righteous May you grow up to be true May you always know the truth And see the lights surrounding you May you always be courageous Stand upright and be strong May you stay forever young May you stay forever young.
- samch 10y ago
  I play this song for my kids, and I have a hard time not internalizing it myself. It's one of my favorites.
- cpach 10y ago
  That’s beautiful. I’m thinking I should steal this idea and translate it to Swedish for the next baptism in my family.
drzaiusapelord 10y ago
>"Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts": an amazing example of musical story-telling This song and 'Tangled Up In Blue' and 'Hurricane' are practically novellas in song form. I think the 'long form storyteller' Dylan is often the least acknowledged, but probably my favorite Dylan song format.
elcapitan 10y ago
Winston Churchill also won the Literature Nobel Prize (for his book on the second world war). Writing history is probably even better than songwriting as an alternative to fiction.
tnecniv 10y ago
I started typing out a list, but there's really too many to name. Pretty much anything through Desire is definitely worth a listen, and he has some gems from past that period, too.

by xamuel 10y ago

smnscu 10y ago

'Hurricane' always gives me chills. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_(Bob_Dylan_song) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_(Bob_Dylan_song) Here's a great video on 'All Along The Watchtower'. I'm rewatching this today to celebrate! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=In6gCrGeZfA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=In6gCrGeZfA

henrik_w 10y ago
+ 1 for 'Hurricane' - great song!
garyrob 10y ago
Agreed, another +1 for Hurricane. A largely-overlooked absolute classic. And of course All Along the Watchtower!

retox 10y ago

Rhyming "imagination" with "tax-deductible charity organizations" is worthy of a Nobel any day.

DocTomoe 10y ago

Technically, Dylan has written a number of novels, short stories and Poems and as such would not really qualify as a "pure singer-songwriter", even though the Nobel Prize comittee's reasoning references his work as a singer-songwriter...

stplsd 10y ago

To me it's "It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)" "He not busy being born is busy dying" must be one of greatest lines ever.

tnecniv 10y ago
"While money doesn't talk, it swears"

euroclydon 10y ago

"Only a Pawn in Their Game" has always been super impressive to me.

benrjackson 10y ago

I would suggest 'Visions of Johanna'. At the other end of spectrum is 'Changing of the Guards' in which Bob Dylan seems to be intentionally parodying his own songwriting (still an enjoyable song though).

OskarS 10y ago

I read the lyrics to Dylan's Forever Young at my nephews baptism as a poem, and half the audience was crying. Excerpt: May you grow up to be righteous May you grow up to be true May you always know the truth And see the lights surrounding you May you always be courageous Stand upright and be strong May you stay forever young May you stay forever young.

samch 10y ago
I play this song for my kids, and I have a hard time not internalizing it myself. It's one of my favorites.
cpach 10y ago
That’s beautiful. I’m thinking I should steal this idea and translate it to Swedish for the next baptism in my family.

drzaiusapelord 10y ago

>"Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts": an amazing example of musical story-telling This song and 'Tangled Up In Blue' and 'Hurricane' are practically novellas in song form. I think the 'long form storyteller' Dylan is often the least acknowledged, but probably my favorite Dylan song format.

elcapitan 10y ago

Winston Churchill also won the Literature Nobel Prize (for his book on the second world war). Writing history is probably even better than songwriting as an alternative to fiction.

tnecniv 10y ago

I started typing out a list, but there's really too many to name. Pretty much anything through Desire is definitely worth a listen, and he has some gems from past that period, too.