100 Days
of Bob Dylan
My Journey to Ascertain the Genius that is Bob Dylan
How Does it Feel?
The first morning I woke up at college, someone in my dorm had these two huge speakers turned facing out of his window and blaring, “Like a Rolling Stone.” It was the first real day out on your own and you hear, “How does it feel to be on your own, away from home, like a rolling stone?”
Since that first day at State University of New York in 1973, my father has grown a deep appreciation for Bob Dylan. As a Milennial, this same adoration did not come naturally. I just didn’t get it. Why Bob Dylan? He’s not even a good singer. His lyrics don’t really make sense. Why do people think he’s the best songwriter?
In an effort to get to know my father on a deeper level, and to understand the impacts of Bob Dylan’s legacy, I set out on a journey to explore the music for myself. Part of the expedition included this book, “Dylan: 100 Songs and Pictures” by Peter Doggett.
Each song posted here includes content from this book along with other sources I cited where applicable.
BOOK: “Dylan: 100 Songs & Pictures”
Blog Posts
Bob Dylan – Song #28: “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue”
Link to Song: It's All Over Now, Baby Blue What you should know about this song: After he was famously booed offstage for using his electric guitar at the Newport Folk Festival, Dylan came back on stage with an acoustic and played this song as his response to...
Bob Dylan – Song #27: “She Belongs to Me”
Link to Song: She Belongs to Me What you should know about this song: This is Dylan's first recorded anti-love song and also the first song in which he mentions the "witchy woman." There is much speculation over who this woman could be, though many believe it refers...
Bob Dylan – Song #26: “Love Minus Zero/No Limit”
Link to Song: Love Minus Zero/No Limit What you should know about this song: This is one of Dylan's most lastingly popular hits from the Bringing It All Back Home album he recorded in 1965. Joan Baez and The Turtles are among the other artists who have covered this...
Bob Dylan – Song #25: “Gates of Eden”
Link to Song: Gates of Eden What you should know about this song: Rolling Stones Magazine listed "Gates of Eden" under the five most inscrutable lyrics by Dylan that "keep Dylanologists guessing" (Issue 1131), and if you listen to the song there's no wondering why....
Bob Dylan – Song #24: “It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)”
Link to Song: It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding) What you should know about this song: Dylan debuted "It's Alright Ma" at the New York's Philharmonic Hall in October 1964 just before recording it for Bringing It All Back Home. It is an excellent example of his...
Bob Dylan – Song #23: “Mr. Tambourine Man”
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....
Bob Dylan – Song #22: “Maggie’s Farm”
Links to Song: Maggie's Farm What you should know about this song: This comedic satire on greed and hypocrisy, based on "Down on Penny's Farm," became an anthem for people in the decades to follow.* British radicals, for example, adopted the song as their on while...
Bob Dylan – Song #21: “Subterranean Homesick Blues”
Links to Song: Subterranean Homesick Blues The Lumineers Cover: Subterranean Homesick Blues What you should know about this song: The title isn't the only thing that's intriguing about this song, which made its appearance as the first track on the 1965's Bringing it...
Bob Dylan – Song #20: “To Ramona”
Links to Song: To Romona What you should know about this song: There is not a hint of politics in this love song, which seems odd given that it was recorded for the Another side of Bob Dylan album in 1964 alongside a number of his most famously outspoken political...
Bob Dylan – Song #19: “It Ain’t Me, Babe”
Here is the version he performed in Renaldo and Clara: It Ain't Me, Babe What you should know about this song: One of Dylan's "most elegant women-don't-get-me-songs," as dubbed by Rolling Stone Magazine, is a catchy tune that is most famously remembered from Dylan's...
Bob Dylan – Song #18: “My Back Pages”
Links to Song: My Back Pages What you should know about this song: Wait, a protest song to his protest songs?? Well, essentially that's what "My Back Pages" is - it is an alternative to Dylan's regular political agenda-filled songs during which he pokes fun at himself...
Bob Dylan – Song #17: “Spanish Harlem Incident”
Links to Song: Spanish Harlem Incident What you should know about this song: Dylan wrote this song about his brief crush on a fortune teller. Since recording it for the Another Side of Bob Dylan album in 1964, has only played it live once: at New York's Philharmonic...