In the opinion of one ‘self-proclaimed’ Bob Dylan expert
Bob Dylan turns seventy-five this May. No other artist has a catalogue of songs as deep and diverse. No other artist has been as influential to music. Dylan is a musical icon of biblical proportions. In admiration of his five plus decades in writing and recording music, I thought it appropriate to provide an answer, once and for all, to the question: what are Bob Dylan’s top ten songs? Sure, this is just one ‘self-proclaimed’ Dylan expert’s opinion; but you have got to give me some credit. Dylan has released an outrageous thirty-six studio albums, making this no easy task. What follows are my Top Ten Bob Dylan songs and a brief description of why I believe the songs are so great. Do you agree with my list?
1. Mr. Tambourine Man (Bringing it All Back Home,1965)
Not only is this my favourite Dylan song, it is my favourite song – period. Contrary to popular belief, the song is not about drugs and Mr. Tambourine Man is not Dylan’s drug dealer. The song is about the search for inspiration. In the chorus, Dylan sings: “I’m not sleepy and there is no place I am going to.” The lyrics are abstract, cryptic and hauntingly beautiful. Dylan is finding himself as a poet. Lyrics like “take me on a trip upon your magic swirling ship” and “to dance beneath the diamond sky with one hand waving free”get me every time.
2. Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right (The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan, 1963)
Dylan claims this is a song you can sing to yourself to make yourself feel better. It was written after his long-time girlfriend left him for Italy. The lyrics are sharp, direct and bitter (“I gave her my heart but she wanted my soul”). It’s also strikes me as a bit passive aggressive; the song closes with the sneering line “You just kind of wasted my precious time / But don’t think twice, it’s all right.” It’s a great breakup song if you are ever in need.
3. Tangled Up in Blue (Blood on the Tracks, 1975)
Dylan’s marriage was crumbling in 1974; from this turmoil spawned the album Blood the Tracks, his most reflective examination of pain and heartbreak. The album’s opening track, “Tangled Up in Blue”is a nostalgic telling of a couple’s history from their first encounter and separation, to their chance encounter years down the road and the contemplation of doing it all over again. The lyrics are heartfelt and all seven verses have this momentous flow that only Dylan could capture. Dylan claims this song took ten years to live and two years to write.
4. Jokerman (Infidels, 1983)
When I first heard this song I couldn’t believe it was Dylan. It was unlike anything I had heard from him before. “Jokerman” has this great reggae vibe provided by Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare, two Jamaican musicians. I don’t even care who this mysterious Jokerman is supposed to be. Some believe it is Jesus, others believe it is Dylan himself. It doesn’t matter. I particularly love the out of tune “oh-oh-oh” chant Dylan provides in the chorus.
5. Visions of Johanna (Blonde on Blonde, 1966)
It is hard to believe that “Visions of Johanna” was recorded on the first take. It is my favourite Dylan song to sing along to. Every line is crystal clear, packs a punch and is full of wonderful imagery. The lyrics provide a meticulous account of one frenzied New York City night. From my interpretation, Dylan is obsessed with a girl named Johanna, who is either unattainable or even imaginary. However, he describes another girl, Louise, who seems to be available (“Louise, she’s alright, she’s just near. She’s delicate and seems like the mirror”). Robbie Robertson’s crying-tremble guitar suits the song perfectly.
6. A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall (The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan, 1963)
Heralded as the greatest protest song ever, “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall” is an epic that warns of a coming apocalypse. It is filled with horrific visions of the future (“I met a young child beside a dead pony”; “I met a young woman whose body was burning”). Dylan, who wrote the song at age twenty-one, said it is a collection of opening lines. He didn’t think he would have enough time alive to write all the songs so he put them into one song. The prospects of a nuclear war were on everyone’s mind at the writing of this song. However, Dylan is not singing about nuclear fallout; it a more abstract rain. It is a lyrical masterwork.
7. Isis (Desire, 1976)
The art of storytelling through song seems to be lost nowadays. “Isis” represents Dylan at his storytelling best. The narrator in this tale must ride through an icy dessert and rob a grave before he can be reunited with his runaway bride, the “mystical child” named Isis. My favourite part of the song is at the end where Dylan includes a back and forth communication between Isis and the narrator about whether or not they should get back together. It is one of Dylan’s best and most unique songs.
8. Mississippi (Love and Theft, 2001)
“Mississippi” is Dylan dealing with aging and regret but in a positive, playful manner. I view it as one of Dylan’s happiest songs. He just seems so content with it all. In the chorus he sings, “Only one thing I did wrong / stayed in Mississippi a day too long.” But you get the impression that this is not really a big deal. His ragged voice gives what he is singing credibility. It’s the voice of someone who has been through it all and has come out on the other side. It’s such a great, uplifting, easy-listening tune.
9. Every Grain of Sand (Shot of Love, 1981)
Bono sums up “Every Grain of Sand” perfectly: “Dylan stops wailing against the world, turns on himself and is brought to his knees.” This is a serious song part of his religious period; Dylan is singing for his salvation. Dylan’s songs, especially in his earlier work, heavily feature the harmonica. With an abundance of great harmonica melodies to choose from, I believe Dylan’s harmonica work on “Every Grain of Sand” is his absolute finest. It is spine-tingling.
10. I Shall Be Released (Bob Dylan’s Greatest Hits, Vol. 2, 1971)
I would describe the chorus of “I Shall Be Released” like warm sunshine hitting your face in bed on a cold Monday morning. At the time, the song was a big lyrical shift for Dylan. It was a move towards simple song writing. The Band’s Richard Manual provides a spot-on harmony over the song’s chorus. “I Shall Be Released” tells the story of prisoner longing for his freedom from prison. It is a staple of my iTunes playlist during exam time.