Bob Dylan at Eighty

May God bless and keep you always

May your wishes all come true
May you always do for others
And let others do for you
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young.

May you grow up to be righteous
May you grow up to be true
May you always know the truth
And see the light 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.

May your hands always be busy
May your feet always be swift
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift
May your heart always be joyful
And may your song always be sung
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young.

Bob Dylan

I'm going to be honest here; I never spent much time intellectualizing over the words and music of Bob Dylan. All that I ever knew since I started to seriously collect his music when I was fifteen is that I loved how he sounded and I loved what he said - even though I never always understood exactly what he was saying. His lyrics always sent my imagination into the clouds.

"Just to dance beneath the diamond sky with one hand waving free."

Something that beautiful was bound to appeal to a teenaged pothead. 

I attempt to make no cerebral analysis of the man's work. That would be a lesson in futility. This posting is only meant to acknowledge the eightieth anniversary of the birth of this extraordinary composer, whose art encompasses two centuries now. Cole Porter, George Gershwin Irving Berlin and Rodgers and Hart can't make that claim. Even in what are undoubtedly his waning years, Bob Dylan's music remains astonishing.

Happy birthday, Uncle Bobby. You still rock with ease, Buster!

Tom Degan

Goshen, NY

SUGGESTED LISTENING:

1. Blood on the Tracks (1975)

by Bob Dylan

(11) Bob Dylan 1975 Blood On The Tracks - YouTube

Trying to determine his greatest LP is also a lesson in futility. This is certainly one of them.

2. Forever Young (1974)

by Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan - Forever Young (Slow Version) (Audio) - YouTube 

Stay forever young, Bob!