Bob Dylan Essay

Not many people would mind having the title of a poet, except maybe one of the most influential artists of all time. (Kennedy and Gioia, 599) Bob Dylan was a remarkable protest singer and songwriter during the Vietnam Era with many well-remembered songs about war and many other significant topics concerning the era. He has influenced many modern day songwriters and many other famous bands such as the Beatles. (Marinucci, Steve)

Bob Dylan was born as Robert Zimmerman on May 24, 1941, in Duluth Minnesota, where he spent the first six years of his life, and then his family relocated to Hibbing, Minnesota. By the time this musically inclined boy turned ten he could already play the harmonica, piano, and taught himself how to play the guitar. In his first year of high school, he formed a group, the Golden Chords. Dylan then went to the University of Minnesota for arts only to stay there for three semesters. After playing at various coffeehouses he realized school was not for him so he moved to New York, when he turned twenty years old and had hopes of meeting his idol, Woody Guthrie, who he visited many times at the hospital. (Bob Dylan Biography | Rolling Stone) During his time there, he signed with Columbia Records after being spotted by John Hammond, who he is still with today. In 1965, Dylan married Sara Lowndes and they stayed together for twelve years and had four children together, one of their kids, Jakob, is in a band called the Wallflowers. (Bob Dylan Biography) The first album he composed was folk songs with him singing while also playing the harmonica and guitar. This album self-titled, Bob Dylan, had only two of his original songs, “Song for Woody” and “Talking New York”. His second album, The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan, inc...

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... lines of each stanza and the “Yes” before most lines. This makes the words really stick to you. I think the song is very affective because all of the comparisons he makes are all so true. I also think because he made the song from different perspectives including the blacks, whites, and the government makes a big difference too. It makes it so that you can rather see what it feels like to be in the different people’s shoes.

Bob Dylan is one of the most influential artists, especially in the Vietnam era where everything seemed to be falling apart. He wrote so many different rebel ballads that I most definitely think impacted the turnout of the 60s and 70s. Many of his songs are still popular today and so many different generations know of him and his work. Bob Dylan influenced many artists and is still is inspiring people and will continue to for many years to come.