Bob Dylan: Poet for the Ages by Alison Henderson

This year, when the Swedish Academy chose Bob Dylan as the winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, I stood up and cheered—or more appropriately, I burst into song. I know some were surprised that a songwriter would be considered for, much less win, the prestigious award, but to me it was well-deserved. His lyrics are pure poetry.

I’ve never been much of a fan of poetry. I disliked the poetry sections of my high school English classes and truly hated being forced to try to write my own. Poetry simply isn’t my medium—probably because it requires such imagination and precision of language to say so much in so few words. Dylan is a true master. Take, for example, his 1967 song, I Shall Be Released. He was only twenty-six when he wrote this haunting ode to those in prison, both physical and spiritual. How could such a young man have this level of understanding of the human condition?

They say ev’rything can be replaced
Yet ev’ry distance is not near
So I remember ev’ry face
Of ev’ry man who put me here
I see my light come shining
From the west unto the east
Any day now, any day now
I shall be released

They say ev’ry man needs protection
They say ev’ry man must fall
Yet I swear I see my reflection
Some place so high above this wall
I see my light come shining
From the west unto the east
Any day now, any day now
I shall be released

Standing next to me in this lonely crowd
Is a man who swears he’s not to blame
All day long I hear him shout so loud
Crying out that he was framed
I see my light come shining
From the west unto the east
Any day now, any day now
I shall be released

And who among us could resist the ultimate seduction of Lay Lady Lay?

Lay, lady, lay, lay across my big brass bed
Lay, lady, lay, lay across my big brass bed
Whatever colors you have in your mind
I'll show them to you and you'll see them shine.

Lay, lady, lay, lay across my big brass bed
Stay, lady, stay, stay with your man awhile
Until the break of day, let me see you make him smile
His clothes are dirty but his hands are clean
And you're the best thing that he's ever seen.

Stay, lady, stay, stay with your man awhile
Why wait any longer for the world to begin
You can have your cake and eat it too
Why wait any longer for the one you love
When he's standing in front of you.

Lay, lady, lay, lay across my big brass bed
Stay, lady, stay, stay while the night is still ahead
I long to see you in the morning light
I long to reach for you in the night
Stay, lady, stay, stay while the night is still ahead.

The range of Bob Dylan’s body of work is astounding and iconic, from protest songs like The Times They Are A’Changin’ and Blowin’ in the Wind to the sweetly poignant Forever Young and the Western classic Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door. It’s a tribute to his genius that his songs have been covered by artists from The Band to Nora Young to Guns N’ Roses. If you haven’t listened to some of these songs lately, treat yourself to a trip to You Tube.

Alison

www.alisonhenderson.com