Ode to Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan and Joan Baez
Ode to Bob Dylan
Born as Robert Zimmerman
Bob Dylan better known,
His talent as a songwriter
Has around the world renown.
An American folk-singer,
Woody Guthrie inspired.
Protestor, artist, activist,
‘Beat’ Generation admired.
Inscrutable and unpredictable
Allusive poetic words.
Literary masterpieces,
Hit songs for The Byrds.
Songs like Chimes of Freedom,
All I Really Want to Do,
Mr Tambourine Man,
It’s All Over Now Baby Blue.
Music that has meaning,
Songs for the common man,
That fight against injustice,
And for freedom take a stand.
Allen Ginsberg’s howling,
And Kerouac’s on the road.
Woody Guthrie why, oh why,
On Desolation Row.
Contemporaries respect him,
The lesser come and go,
But Dylan’s music never dies,
I forgot more than you’ll ever know.
An Example of Bob Dylan as a Poet
Although famous as a singer/songwriter, Bob Dyan is undoubtedly a gifted poet. Here is the first verse of “Desolation Row” as an example:
“They’re selling postcards of the hanging
They’re painting the passports brown
The beauty parlor is filled with sailors
The circus is in town
Here comes the blind commissioner
They’ve got him in a trance
One hand is tied to the tight-rope walker
The other is in his pants
And the riot squad they’re restless
They need somewhere to go
As Lady and I look out tonight
From Desolation Row.”
by John Hansen © 2015
Now I find myself branching out and experimenting with short fiction, and thoroughly enjoying this, especially flash fiction.
I have been fortunate to have two poems made into songs and recorded. The first "On the Road to Kingdom Come" by Al Wordlaw, and the second, "If I Could Write a Love Poem" by award-winning Israeli/British singer Tally Koren.
My services increasingly in demand as a freelance writer and I have ghost-written the text for a number of children's books and educational tutorials.
It has taken me many years of searching and restlessness to realise that my life's passion is to write. It saddens me that I wasted so many years not devoting to that, but thinking positively, the experiences gained over those years are now wonderful material for my stories and poems.
I want to try to bring a new focus on poetry and try to make it appealing to a new generation of young people and those who thought they never liked or understood it before.
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I always loved Bob Dylan – he was a master poet and fold singer and has inspired many of the younger generations – nicely Penned John.
A great poet and songwriter that changed a generation. Well done John, a worthy Ode indeed. Cheers!
Thanks Tony. Yes, he had a big influence on the world of folk music and created songs that had a meaningful effect.
Thank you, Kurt. Yes, he has inspired many generations and although I never thought hi voice the greatest…he is a wonderful poet and songwriter.
Enjoyed this tribute to Dylan and love his music. Great poet and songwriter.
Hi Rasma. Thank you. he did influence a lot of other singers, poets and songwriters.
Very nicely written, John. I always enjoyed Bob Dylan’s music and I enjoyed reading this poem. Well done.
Thanks, Phyllis. Much appreciated, as always.
I think someone already mentioned this but he is a fantastic poet, his voice in my honest opinion was not very good but with words like that having a subpar voice was ok. Excellent ode indeed my friend. Nice work
Yes, Paul, I said his voice wasn’t very good but his songwriting and poetry are excellent. Thanks for reading and commenting.