A Timeless Songwriter- Bob Dylan

"Behind every beautiful thing, there's some kind of pain."

Bob Dylan, born on may 24, 1941 in Minnesota, USA is an American songwriter, singer, artist, and writer who enthralled generations with his work. Bob Dylan is one of the most influential singer-songwriters of the 20th century whose career began in the early 1960s with songs that chronicled social issues like war and civil rights.
While he attended college in the college of Minnesota, he began performing folk and country songs, taking the name Bob Dylan.

In 1961, Dylan signed his first recording contract and thus began his significant career in music as one of the most original and influential voices in the history of American popular music.

When it was time of American civil rights and anti-war movements there were a few songs on everyone’s lips which literally became anthems of that decade. These were songs "Blowin' in the Wind" and "The Times They Are a-Changin'’ by Bob Dylan.

Dylan's lyrics are absolutely beautiful and incorporate a wide range of social, philosophical and literary influences.
He says
How many roads must a man walk down

Before you call him a man ?

Yes, how many times must a man look up
Before he can see the sky ?
Yes, how many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry ?
Yes, how many deaths will it take till he knows
That too many people have died ?
The answer my friend is blowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind.

Aren’t these lines applicable even today? May be his timeless thoughts have fetched him the world’s greatest prize : The Nobel!

His songs are lovely and extremely poetic. The Nobel prize in literature was given to him as they have remained a huge cultural influence till date.

Not only a poet, but his paintings have gained huge publicity and have been exhibited in major art galleries.

As a musician, Dylan has sold more than 100 million records, making him one of the best selling artists of all time.

Showing no signs of slowing down, Dylan has continued to tour in recent years and released studio albums including together through life, tempest, shadows in the night and fallen angels. This legendary songwriter has been a spokesperson for musicians everywhere.

He has also received numerous awards including 11 Grammy awards, a golden globe award and an academy award. He was recently felicitated with the Nobel prize in literature, which was a surprise for a songwriter as he was the first one but it was well deserved as his alluring lyrics in his song " times they are a-changing" inspired all.

Its an inspirational moment for all art-lovers like us that an artist and a song writer gets the biggest award!

-- Aabha Sewak,

Class 9, NCFE