Being a massive fan of Bob Dylan, many of his songs that make me feel a variety of emotions that run the gamut from loneliness, anger, defiance, joy, and sadness. In this post, I have chosen 5 of his songs that make me feel the most emotion when I listen to them. These songs are not necessarily my favourites, just the songs that make me feel the most.
Girl from the North Country
Rumour has it that this song was written about a high school girlfriend of Dylan's from Hibbing, Minnesota named Echo Helstrom. As with most of Dylan's work, the man isn't exactly easy to pin down on what certain songs are about.
This song hits me with the strong emotion of missing people in my life that are no longer present. If you listen to the lyrics, Dylan talks about someone travelling to the North Country and how, if this person sees the girl from the north country that he speaks of then "remember me to one who lives there".
Please see if her hair hangs long
If it rolls and flows all down her breast
Please see for me if her hair's hangin' long
For that’s the way I remember her best
I’m a-wondering if she remembers me at all
Many times I’ve often prayed
In the darkness of my night
In the brightness of my day
Visions of Johanna
One of my favourites from Dylan, this song was supposedly written during a blackout in New York City while Dylan was dating Joan Baez, but was falling in love with his future wife Sara. One of Dylan's most epic, haunting, and lonely songs.
Every time I listen to this song I feel the loneliness that Dylan is feeling, although it's not about anyone in particular. The song itself just exudes heartache and makes gives that feeling in your pit of your stomach even though you might not be certain why you're feeling the way that you are.
Oh, how can I explain?
It's so hard to get on
And these visions of Johanna they kept me up past the dawn
Not Dark Yet
Another of Dylan's most haunting songs. This one just gives me the feeling of those times when everything seems heavy and I can't get out from under what is weighing me down. I'm not a person that struggles with depression, but if I was, I get the feeling that this song would be the soundtrack.
I was born here, and I’ll die here
Against my will
I know it looks like I’m moving
But I’m standing still
Every nerve in my body
Is so vacant and numb
I can’t even remember what it was
I came here to get away from
Don’t even hear a murmur of a prayer
It’s not dark yet
But it’s getting there
Positively 4th Street
There's no other way to put it. This song makes me feel defiant. Any time I feel like giving a massive "fuck you" to the people in my past that haven't believed in me, have given up on me, and have talked behind my back, this is the song that I think about.
One of Dylan's most vitriolic songs about the people in the New York scene that did exactly the same thing to him, there might not be a better "go fuck yourself" song ever written.
You've got a lotta nerve to say you are my friend
When I was down you just stood there grinnin'
You've got a lotta nerve to say you got a helping hand to lend
You just want to be on the side that's winnin'
You say I let you down, ya know its not like that
If you're so hurt, why then don't you show it?
You say you've lost your faith, but that's not where it's at
You have no faith to lose, and ya know it
Series of Dreams
Pure joy. This is the song that started my love afair with Dylan, and whenever I hear it, I have those same feelings all over again. Hearing this one song has started a love affair with Dylan that gets stronger with every passing day.
In one, the surface was frozen
In another, I witnessed a crime
In one, I was running, and in another
All I seemed to be doing was climb
Wasn't looking for any special assistance
Not going to any great extremes
I'd already gone the distance
Just thinking of a series of dreams
All Images from Wikicommons.
Great to read someone's thoughts on why they dig Bob Dylan. I began checking out his work a few months ago but let it slip - this post has given me new impetus to keep listening - thank you :)
You're very welcome. I've been listening to Dylan since I was 19. I'm in my 40s now and I still discover new songs, new lyrics that I absolutely love. I hope you find the same. :)
Great choices. You're right, the list could be a mile long.
If I was to make a choice I would go for "Shelter from the storm" off Blood on the tracks. The whole album's really moving.
Paticularly like this part :
"I've heard newborn babies wailin' like a mournin' dove
And old men with broken teeth stranded without love
Do I understand your question, man, is it hopeless and forlorn
Come in, she said
I'll give ya shelter from the storm"
Cheers!
Another terrific song. In fact, Blood on the Tracks as a whole is an incredible album.
Also a big time fan... still buy the CDs just to try to complete the collection.
A couple of mine are "Sooner or Later" (from Blond on Blond 1966), "Sara" (Desire 1976), "Never Say Goodbye"(Planet Waves 1974....one of my favorite albums of his too!). Nice post. Following now.
Thanks a lot! The songs you mentioned are terrific. That's the thing with Dylan. This list could be 100 songs long!
Bob Dylan was an amazing artist! Still listen to his music sometimes. Thanks for the share :) Upvoted and followed!
Thank you for the comment. I appreciated it. I'll follow back. :)