Links to Song: Mr. Tambourine Man
The Byrds’ version: Mr. Tambourine Man
What you should know about this song: This is another one of Dylan’s most famous songs. It’s a beautiful song, really, composed with poetic grace that was unique and monumental for the time. Dylan debuted the song during a concert in London in 1964, but some would attribute its popularity to the success of The Byrds’ folk-rock version in 1965.
“On one session, [producer] Tom Wilson had asked Bruce to play tambourine. And he had this gigantic tambourine, it was as big as a wagon-wheel. He was playing, and this vision of him playing this tambourine just stuck in my mind.” – Bob Dylan, 1985*
“When I heard him sing that song, I started crying. I knew I was seeing the emergence of a major artist.” – Liam Clancy*
“Bob’s lyrics were exquisite. ‘To dance beneath he diamond sky with one hand waving free’ – that was the line that got me. At the time of ‘Mr. Tambourine Man,’ I think he was finding himself as a poet. He was learning to be beautiful.” – David Crosby (taken from Rolling Stone Magazine, Issue 1131)
Photo Source: Daniel Kramer
