Fun Music Information -> Bob Dylan

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This is the most recent information about Bob Dylan that has been submitted to amIright. If we have more information about Bob Dylan, then we provide a link to the section where it appears (the actual page whenever possible).

Our newest site, amIwrong has an albums order quiz where you need to put this performer's albums in order of release.

Misspellings and other Alternate Names:

These are the alternate spellings of the performer's name we've had to correct in submissions to amIright.

Bobn Dylan, Bob Dylan/Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Guns & Roses And Warren Zevon, Bob Dylan / Eric Clapton / Guns And Roses, Bob Dylan/Cold Chisel/Guns n Roses

Music Quotes:

thirty poets! what about American housewives, mailmen, street cleaners, miners? Jesus Christ, what's so spacial about thirty people that are called poets? I've known some very good people that have committed suicide, one didn't do nothing but work in a gas station all his life. nobody referred to him as a poet, but if you're gonna call people like Robert Frost a poet, then I got to say this gas station boy was a poet too.

Submitted by: haley

Everybody must get stoned

Submitted by: Rizzo

There are additional music quotes available.

Band Name Origins:

According to Bob, in his book Chronicles, he actually did select the name Dylan from the poet Dylan Thomas. Hence, Robert Zimmerman became Bob Dylan. He didn't want to keep his real name because another Bobby Zimmerman, at the time, was a motorcycle racer that had crashed and died. Submitted by: Eldon
It was neither Dylan Thomas or some fictional uncle. He chose his name because of his childhood affection for Marshall Matt Dillon in the TV show Gunsmoke. Submitted by: Prada-Meinhof

Performer Pseudonyms:

Also known as: Robert Allen Zimmerman. Submitted by: Andrew

Also known as: Robert Zimmermann. Submitted by: Rock Princess

Performer Nick Names:

Known informally as: Zimmy. Submitted by: DeeDee

Strange Offspring Names:

Jakob Dylan - Uh, yeah, Jakob/Jacob is Hebrew. Look it up, moron. Jakob predates the spelling Jacob. Submitted by: i
Jakob Dylan - Sorry, Honey. "Jakob" is not Hebrew. German, maybe. But the original form of Jacob (the only proper English spelling) is Yaakov. Enough with the pretentious phony starchild monikers. Submitted by: Marc
Jakob Dylan - Jakob is the Hebrew version of "Jacob". It predates Jacob with a C, I believe. It has nothing to do with being "cool" Submitted by: Honey
Jakob Dylan - A "k" is so much cooler than with a "c." Jakob's always said that no one ever gets his name correct---not on his childhood trophy's, and not even on one of his platinum records! Submitted by: memyselfandi
Jakob Dylan - Jakob is a VERY popular way to spell what we know as 'jacob'. It's not odd at all. Submitted by: Yo.
Jakob Dylan - Jakob Dylan's the lead singer for The Wallflowers. What's with the spelling, Bob? Submitted by: Mike Hack

Singers Who Act:

Notable Acting Credits	Comments & Submitter Name
"Renaldo & Clara, Pat Garrett & Billy The Kid, Masked & Anonymous, Hearts On Fire"	- Agrimorfee

Song Titles Not Used as Lyrics:

Song Name	Comments & Submitter Name
"Subterranean Homesick Blues"	He should've called it "Look out kid" 'cause that part opens each refrain. - Alan of Seville
"Highway 61 Revisited"	A lot of events in the song happen "out on Highway 61," but they aren't "revisited." - Martha Hankins
"Queen Jane Approximately"	The song contains the phrase "Won't you come see me, Queen Jane?" but the word "approximately" is not in the lyrics. - Martha Hankins
"Girl from the North Country"	'If you're traveling in the North Country' One of the first songs by the Bard where the title was not used a lyrics. Yet the melody of this song was taken from English folk song Scarborough Fair, the title of which is used as lyrics. - Feurzeug
"From a Buick 6"	The only noticible relation between the lyrics and the title is 'I'm cracked up on the highway and on the water's edge/She comes down the thruway ready to sew me up with thread' - Feurzeug

Better Names for Current Songs:

Original Song Name	New Song Name	Submitter Name
"Blowin' Up Japan"	"Blowin' In The Wind"	Jack Hogienschyburgewright
"Brainy Gay Women #12 and #69"	"Rainy Day Women #12 and #35"	old
"Obscure Song Titles, # 16 & 93"	"Rainy Day Women # 12 & 35"	Julia Cox

Literally Impossible Song Titles:

Song/Performer	Comment	Submitter Name
"Hard Rain's Gonna Fall,"	Rain can be wet and cold but not hard	Julia Cox

Use a Song Title to Answer a Different Song:

Song & Band Name	Song & Band Name	Comments & Submittor Name
"Here Comes The Sun"	"New Morning," Bob Dylan	Josh
"How Can I Fall?"	"Like A Rolling Stone," Bob Dylan	Peter
"What Do You Want?"	"I Want You," Bob Dylan	Can't believe I missed this one - Raphael
"My Name is Bocephus"	"I Don't Believe You," Bob Dylan	Special K
There are additional songs titles that answer other songs available.

Remove a Letter From a Song Title:

"Time Asses Slowly" originally "Time Passes Slowly"

Chris

"Every Rain Of Sand" originally "Every Grain Of Sand"

Mike Kim

"Idiot Win" originally "Idiot Wind"

a song about GWB, perhaps?

Mr. Critic

"Ballad Of A Tin Man" originally "Ballad Of A Thin Man"

Written during Dylan's "Wizard Of Oz" phase?

"Hanging Of The Guard" originally "Changing Of The Guard"

Adrienne Ramseur

There are additional song titles with a letter removed available.

Add a Letter To a Song Title:

"Honey, Just Allow Men One More Chance" originally "Honey, Just Allow Me One More Chance"

Josh

"Heart Of Maine" originally "Heart Of Mine"

Naomi Swanson

"Brainy Day Women #12 And 35" originally "Rainy Day Women #12 And 35"

oldiesfan

"A Hard Brain's Gonna Fall" originally "A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall"

Dan

"Just Like Ax Woman" originally "Just Like A Woman"

Natalie Snortman

There are additional song titles with a letter added available.

Change a Letter In a Song Title:

"I Shall Be Tree" originally "I Shall Be Free"

George Straitjacket

"I Shall Be Fred" originally "I Shall Be Free"

No, you're still Bob!

Josh

"Every Brain Of Sand" originally "Every Grain Of Sand"

Would weigh heavy on the mind!

Terror Reid

"Every Train Of Sand" originally "Every Grain Of Sand"

Mike Kim

"Idiot Mind" originally "Idiot Wind"

Dylan's 1976 warning about George W. Bush?

Mystery Person

There are additional song titles with a letter changed available.

Song Parodies:

Original Song Name	Parody Song Name	Parody Author
"Blowin' In the Wind"	"Chosen One Did Win"	Michael Pacholek
"The Times They Are A-Changin'"	"Your Minds Won't Be Assuaged Then"	L. D. Obblo
"John Wesley Harding"	"John's Gets Me Farting"	Leo Keough
"The Times, They Are A-Changin'"	"These Times, They're For A-Beachin'"	Michael Pacholek
"Like a Rolling Stone"	"Guy-Controlling Crone"	John A. Barry
"Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands"	"Fat Guy’s Lazy and a Slow Man"	John A. Barry
"Rainy Day Women Numbers 12 & 35"	"Nay-Nay Stays Women, Nothing Fetching; Avert Eyes"	John A. Barry
"The Times They Are A Chaging"	"America Here Is Changing"	gipper40
"I Want You"	"I Taunt You"	John A. Barry
"Pledging My Time"	"Plagiarize Time"	John A. Barry
There are additional song parodies available.

Untapped Commercial Ideas:

Song Name	Product	Submittor
Please Don't Fall Apart On Me	IKEA flatpack products	Pickle
Like A Rolling Stone	Rolling Stone magazine	Mark Silverman
Rainy Day Women #12 and #35	Colonial Tramcar Restaurant	Mayfield62
Knocking On Heaven's Door	Life Insurance	???
Baby Stop Crying	NSPCC	pickle*
There are additional commercials that haven't been done yet available.

Bad Choices for On Hold Music:

Song Name	Company/Organization	Submittor
Oxford Town	Ole Miss University	The Mullet Man
Bob Dylan's 115th Dream	Insomniac Hotline	Billy C.
Watching The River Flow	Incontinence Pads	Jellybean
Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The MemphisBlues Again	Mobile Chamber Of Commerce	Donna Gelpigi
Hurricane	Florida Chamber of Commerce	Bill Stewart
There are additional on hold music ideas available.

Duets Not Yet Performed:

First Band/Song Name	Second Band/Song Name	New Song Name	Submittor
Lady Sings the Blues Billie Holiday	Subterranean Homesick Blues Bob Dylan	Lady Sings the Subterranean Homesick Blues Imagine Billie singing Dylan!	Josh
Queen for a Day Foo Fighters	Queen Jane Approximately Bob Dylan	Queen Jane for Approximately a Day	Martha Hankins
Life Is a Highway Tom Cochrane	Highway 61 Revisited Bob Dylan	Life is Highway 61 Revisited	Martha Hankins
I Don't Want To Be Gavin DeGraw	Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The MemphisBlues Again Bob Dylan	I Don't Want To Be Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again	Natasha Bly
There are additional duets that haven't been done yet available.

If Groups Combined, Their Names Might Be :

Spongebob Dylan

Sponge combined with Bob Dylan

A different musician named Bob joins the group Sponge.

Submitted By: Roger

Bob Dyldo

Bob Dylan combined with Dido

Withholding immature gags in the hope of getting this one through...

Submitted By: neptunevsmars

Misheard Lyrics:

"Lay Lady, Lay" Misheard Lyrics: Lay lady, lay - lay upon my big plaid spread Original Lyrics: Lay lady, lay, lay across my big brass bed.	"Tangled Up In Blue" Misheard Lyrics: One evening she's changed it all And my head was still red. Original Lyrics: Wondering if she'd changed at all, If her hair was still red.
"Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window?" Misheard Lyrics: While his genocide fools and his friends rearrange their religion of Potemkin women Original Lyrics: While his genocide fools and his friends rearrange their religion of the little ten women	"Foot Of Pride" Misheard Lyrics: how to enter into the gates of heaven...i should know, how to carry a burden too heavy to be yours. Original Lyrics: how to enter into the gates of paradise, no, how to carry a burden too heavy to be yours.
There are additional misheard lyrics available.

Misheard Lyrics Story:

"Like A Rolling Stone"

Misheard Lyrics:

Through the bumps of time

Original Lyrics:

Threw the bums a dime.

Story about this misheard lyric by: Michael Perlin

My son, then about 10 (he is now 23) , thought this was the lyric when he first listened to the song. We thought it actually would have done just as well as the original.

There are additional misheard stories available.

Song Parody Fragments:

"Bob Dylan's Blues"

Better Lyrics:

Lord, I ain't goin' down to record store to buy no Hi Fi disc
I don't have no Hi Fi and I don't even care to have one
I can make music anytime

Original Lyrics:

Lord, I ain't goin' down to no racetrack to see no sports car run
I don't have no sports car and I don't even care to have one
I can walk anytime around the block

Submitted by: Jesus

"Desolation Row"

Better Lyrics:

The're selling postcards of Ned Kelly and the last hanging
And painting passboards green and gold

Original Lyrics:

The're selling postcards of the hanging
And painting passboards brown

Submitted by: Aj Weberman

"Stuck Inside A Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again"

Better Lyrics:

The swagman he draws hexigons
Up and down the Billabong

Original Lyrics:

The Ragman he draws circles
Up and down the block

Submitted by: Aj Web

Funny Lyrics:

"Blowing In The Wind" The Funny Lyrics: How many roads must a man walk down before you can call him a man? Why They're Funny: Duh! you just called him a man so none. Submitted by: little Jen	"Blowing In The Wind" The Funny Lyrics: How many roads must a man walk down, before you can call him a man? Why They're Funny: Since you already called him a man I guess none Submitted by: little Jen
There are additional Funny lyrics available.

Nonsensical Lyrics:

"Wiggle Wiggle" The Nonsensical Lyrics: Wiggle wiggle wiggle like a bowl of soup Wiggle wiggle wiggle like a rubber hoop Why They're Nonsensical: Dylan made some truly dire songs during the 80s, and this is quite possibly the worst (compounded by the fact that neither of those two things wiggle; at least not naturally). Submitted by: Mr. Critic	"Lay Lady Lay" The Nonsensical Lyrics: Lay, lady, lay, Lay across my big brass bed Why They're Nonsensical: What is the lady meant to be laying across Bob's big brass bed ... eggs ... bricks? Oh, did you mean 'lie', Bob? (as in, lie down?) Submitted by: Jim
There are additional nonsensical lyrics available.

Misrhymed Lyrics:

"Hurricane"

The Misrhymed Lyrics:

We want to put his ass in stir
We want to pin this triple mur- Der on him

Why They're Misrhymed:

Hey, you know what, Bob? The second syllable of 'murder' rhymes with 'stir' as well. Couldn't you have changed the line so that it scanned? Yes, I know it *does* rhyme, but there isn't a specific section for lyrics where the rhyme comes halfway through a word.

Submitted by: Red Tim

Insulting Lyrics:

"Idiot Wind" The Insulting Lyrics: "You're an idiot, babe It's a wonder you still know how to breathe Why They're Insulting: All the lyrics to this song are scathing... It's one of the best break-up songs EVER. Submitted by: Blair	"Idiot Wind" The Insulting Lyrics: Idiot wind, blowing every time you move your mouth, Blowing down the backroads headin' south. Idiot wind, blowing every time you move your teeth, You're an idiot, babe. It's a wonder that you still know how to breathe. Why They're Insulting: 'Nuff said, but every chorus of the song is a different lyric of the 'idiot wind' Submitted by: Mrinfo
There are additional Insulting lyrics available.

Inappropriate Lyrics:

"Just Like A Woman"

The Inappropriate Lyrics:

She makes love just like a woman, yes, she does

Why They're Inappropriate:

Does Bob have someone to compare love-making to that isn't a woman?

Submitted by: Mark M

Song Lyrics That Name Check Celebrities:

"I Shall Be Free"

The Lyrics:

Well, ya ask me why I'm drunk all the time,
It levels my head and eases my mind.
I walk along and stroll and sing,
See better days and do better things.
I chase dinosaurs,
Make love to Elizabeth Taylor,
Catch hell from Richard Burton.

Who They Mention:

Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. They were a well-known movie star couple back when this song was written.

Submitted by: DeeDee

"I Shall Be Free"

The Lyrics:

My phone was ringing, it would not stop,
It's President Kennedy callin' me up.
He said, "My friend Bob, what do we need to make the country grow?"
I said, "My friend John, Brigitte Bardot,
Anita Eckberg,
Sofia Loren.
Country'll grow."

Who They Mention:

John F. Kennedy, Brigitte Bardot, Anita Eckberg, and Sofia Loren. Bardot, Eckberg, and Loren were all European sex symbols who were popular around the time "I Shall Be Free" came out (early 1960s)

Submitted by: DeeDee

There are additional celebrity lyrics available.

Song Lyrics That Mention Other Songs:

"Sara"

The Song Lyrics:

Staying up for days in the Chelsea hotel Writing Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands for you

Song They Mention:

"Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands"

Submitted by: Mr. X

Songs That Open With Their Titles:

"Lay Lady Lay"

Opening Lines:

Lay, lady, lay/Lay across my big brass bed

Comments:

Submitted by: Jake

Bad Grammar in Song Lyrics:

"Lay Lady Lay"

The Lyrics:

Lay lady lay

Why:

Should be Lie Lady Lie

Submitted by: Paul

Band Name Anagrams:

Bland Boy Submitted by: Josh

No, he's not!

Bland Boy Submitted by: Raphael

Bald, Bony Submitted by: Sir David Grady III

He's not that bad looking

Nobly Bad Submitted by: Heck Noover Nuck

Song Title Anagrams:

"Howdy! A New Thigh" originally "Down the Highway"

Bob must be a leg-man!

Submitted by: Josh

Real Places Mentioned in Songs:

"Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The MemphisBlues Again"

The Lyrics:

Oh, Mama, can this really be the end,
To be stuck inside of Mobile
With the Memphis blues again?

Why:

Refers to the cities of Mobile, Alabama and Memphis, Tennessee.

Submitted by: Penelope Beckinsale

Songs That Are Banned:

"George Jackson"

Radio stations across the U.S. ban this Dylan song over concerns about the songs political theme and the word "shit" in the lyrics.

Submitted by: Peter

"Talking John Birch Paranoid Blues"

In February 1963 Bob Dylan refuses to perform on "The Ed Sullivan Show" when the show's producers don't allow Dylan to perform the tune. Bob Dylan would not be invited back to the show.

Submitted by: Peter

Super Long Pop Songs:

"Joey" Length: 11:05

From Dylan's "Desire" album, this is the only of Dylan's 11-minute-plus songs that is in the middle of the album rather than the end. It's also one of the few Dylan songs that I absolutely can't stand. I love Dylan, but something about "Joey" just irks me.

Submitted by: DeeDee

"Desolation Row" Length: 11:18

I'm surprised this one hasn't been submitted yet, this song is noted for it's length. The original take of this song (the version on Highway 61 RV is a later take) is a tone lower and played slow enough that although it didn't have any harmonica verses (the Highway 61 version has one separating the final verse from the rest of the song, and another after it), it is 40 seconds longer, and had that version been used, would have been Dylan's longest release until Highlands, on his 1997 album Time out of Mind.

Submitted by: Feurzeug

"Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands" Length: 11:19

I'm suprised this one hasn't already been submitted. On the LP versions of Blonde on Blonde, this takes up all of side four. Furthermore, it is the most depressing song I've ever heard (at least that I can recall). 'She's your lover now' would have been a better closing track for that album.

Submitted by: Feurzeug

Song Title Acrostics:

SELL: "Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands"

Matches well the strong farewell feel of the song.

Submitted by: Feurzeug

FAB6: "From a Buick 6"

Submitted by: Feurzeug

Song Title Spoonerisms:

"Don't Paula Fart On Me Tonight" originally "Don't Fall Apart On Me Tonight"

Submitted by: Amanda Svenson

"Knockin' on Devon's Whore" originally "Knockin' on Heaven's Door"

Submitted by: B1982

Foreign Language in English Songs:

"Romance in Durango"

The Lyrics:

"No Llores mi querida,
Dios nos vigila,
Soon the horse will take us to Durango,
Agarrame, mi vida..."

Why:

In English: "Don't cry, my love,/ God is watching us,/ Soon the horse will take us to Durango,/ Hold onto me, my life..." The narrator of the song is an outlaw on the run with a woman who is presumably the mistress or wife of the man the narrator shot. The couple seek shelter in Durango, but the song, and the narrator's life, end before they get there.

Submitted by: DeeDee

Upbeat Songs With Depressing Lyrics:

"I want you"

The Lyrics:

The guilty undertaker sighs,
The lonesome organ grinder cries,
The silver saxophones say I should refuse you.
The cracked bells and washed-out horns
Blow into my face with scorn,
But it's not that way,
I wasn't born to lose you.
I want you, I want you,
I want you so bad,
Honey, I want you.

Why:

The song is very uptempo and cheery, but the lyrics tells the tail of Dylan wanting a woman. "I want you, I need you, I want you so bad".

Submitted by: Sorella

Names as a Word Bank:

Y'all Do Lay By Nylon Balony All Day. Submitted by: Meredith Corpening

Lyrics Spoonerisms:

"Don't Think Twice, It's Alright"

The Lyrics:

You're the reason I'm travellin' on. Don't think twice, it's alright.

Why:

You're the treason I'm ravellin' on. Don't think rice, it's all trite.

Submitted by: Barry Amassa Tate

Lyrics Alliteration:

"Lay Lady Lay" The Lyrics: Lay, lady, lay Lay across my big brass bed. Why: Four words beginning with 'l', followed by three 'b''s. Submitted by: Rocky
There are additional Lyrics Alliteration available.