Why Bob Dylan is the greatest lyricist ever

I'd say my two favorite musicians to listen to are the Who and Bob Dylan.

The Who has the ability to sound like a full orchrestra. There is so much going on and it's all brilliant. Keith Moon somehow is the driving force behind it all, despite his subtelty. You don't even realize how brilliant he is until you tune every other sound out and focus only on the drums. He could have recorded albums with just his drumming. Obviously, the guitar playing of Pete Townsend is amazing, but I think it's Moon's drums that put them over the top. There's just so much energy and so much emotion in all of their songs.

Dylan on the other hand is not a great singer. He carries emotion to be sure, in his voice, but it's the lyrics that make him brilliant. He is more a poet than anything else, and put to simple guitar and harmonica the lyrics convey whatever emootion he wants them to. Examples:

Romantic

Your cracked country lips,
I still wish to kiss,
As to be under the strength of your skin.
Your magnetic movements
Still capture the minutes I'm in.
(To Ramona)

or

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 you shelter from the storm."
(Shelter from the Storm)

Spiteful
It ain't no use in turnin' on your light, babe
That light I never knowed
An' it ain't no use in turnin' on your light, babe
I'm on the dark side of the road
Still I wish there was somethin' you would do or say
To try and make me change my mind and stay
We never did too much talkin' anyway
So don't think twice, it's all right

It ain't no use in callin' out my name, gal
Like you never did before
It ain't no use in callin' out my name, gal
I can't hear you any more
I'm a-thinkin' and a-wond'rin' all the way down the road
I once loved a woman, a child I'm told
I give her my heart but she wanted my soul
But don't think twice, it's all right
(Don't think twice, it's all right)

Loving
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,
Forever young, forever young,
May you stay forever young.
(Forever Young, written for his son)

or just plain goofy (or deep??)
Well, John the Baptist after torturing a thief
Looks up at his hero the Commander-in-Chief
Saying, "Tell me great hero, but please make it brief
Is there a hole for me to get sick in?"

The Commander-in-Chief answers him while chasing a fly
Saying, "Death to all those who would whimper and cry"
And dropping a bar bell he points to the sky
Saving, "The sun's not yellow it's chicken"
(Tombstone Blues)

Angry
Let me ask you one question
Is your money that good
Will it buy you forgiveness
Do you think that it could
I think you will find
When your death takes its toll
All the money you made
Will never buy back your soul
(Masters of War)

and of course political
A South politician preaches to the poor white man,
"You got more than the blacks, don't complain.
You're better than them, you been born with white skin," they explain.
And the Negro's name
Is used it is plain
For the politician's gain
As he rises to fame
And the poor white remains
On the caboose of the train
But it ain't him to blame
He's only a pawn in their game.
(Only a Pawn in Their Game)

I actually just found out he wrote my favorite Zepplin song "In my Time of Dying."

It's all still powerful with no music.

I also have maybe a new favorite Dylan Song, which I just read the lyrics to. I think it fits pretty well into my situation right now, though it'd have to be titled "3 Months"

Seven Days
Seven days, seven more days she'll be comin'
I'll be waiting at the station for her to arrive
Seven more days, all I gotta do is survive.

She been gone ever since I been a child
Ever since I seen her smile, I ain't forgotten her eyes.
She had a face that could outshine the sun in the skies.

I been good, I been good while I been waitin'
Maybe guilty of hesitatin', I just been holdin' on
Seven more days, all that'll be gone.

There's kissing in the valley,
Thieving in the alley,
Fighting every inch of the way.
Trying to be tender
With somebody I remember
In a night that's always brighter'n the day.

Seven days, seven more days that are connected
Just like I expected, she'll be comin' on forth,
My beautiful comrade from the north.

There's kissing in the valley,
Thieving in the alley,
Fighting every inch of the way.
Trying to be tender
With somebody I remember
In a night that's always brighter'n the day.


OK, NO MORE DYLAN!!!!

Got it.

Thanks for reading my Ode to Dylan.

Adam