American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan won the 2016 Nobel Prize for Literature on Thursday “for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition.”
Following is a sampling of Dylan's classic lyrics:
From “Blowin' In The Wind,” 1963
How many years can a mountain exist
Before it’s washed to the sea?
Yes, ’n’ how many years can some people exist
Before they’re allowed to be free?
Yes, ’n’ how many times can a man turn his head
Pretending he just doesn’t see?
The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind
The answer is blowin’ in the wind
From “A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall,” 1963
Oh, who did you meet, my blue-eyed son? Who did you meet, my darling young one? I met a young child beside a dead pony, I met a white man who walked a black dog, I met a young woman whose body was burning, I met a young girl, she gave me a rainbow, I met one man who was wounded in love, I met another man who was wounded with hatred, And it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.
From “The Times They Are A-Changin,'” 1964
Come mothers and fathersThroughout the landAnd don’t criticiseWhat you can’t understandYour sons and your daughtersAre beyond your commandYour old road is rapidly agin’Please get out of the new one if you can’t lend your handFor the times they are a-changin’
From “It's Alright Ma (I'm Only Bleeding),” 1965
Disillusioned words like bullets barkAs human gods aim for their markMake everything from toy guns that sparkTo flesh-coloured Christs that glow in the darkIt’s easy to see without looking too farThat not much is really sacred
From “Subterranean Homesick Blues,” 1965
You don't need a weather manTo know which way the wind blows.
From “Like a Rolling Stone,” 1965
When you got nothing, you got nothing to lose
From “Lay Lady Lay,” 1969
Lay, lady, lay, lay across my big brass bedStay, lady, stay, stay while the night is still aheadI long to see you in the morning lightI long to reach for you in the nightStay, lady, stay, stay while the night is still ahead
From “Knockin' On Heaven's Door,” 1973
Mama, put my guns in the groundI can't shoot them anymore.That long black cloud is comin' downI feel I'm knockin' on heaven's door.
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