American Song Writing Legends

Is A Dream A Lie If It Don't Come True

Today I have spent the last few hours listening to one of the best song writers of the past fifty years. Namely Bob Dylan. Granted he doesn't have the best of voices, but the words he voices can be exceptional. The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carol which he wrote at a very tender age was inciteful and describes the injustices in the American legal system. You who philosifize disgrace and criticise all fears etc...

Then there is the surrealist phase of his the lyrics to Mr. Tambourine Man in the jingle jangle morning as he was spinning madly across the sun. Then the darker songs such as The Gates of Eden have haunting lyrics. Then there's the Woody Gutherie inspired tunes such as Ramblin' Gamblin Willie who gambled in the railroad yards and the whitehouse too. His rendering of the songs from the depression era, from which the protest movement grew, a time when there was really something to protest against.

But his land mark song has to be Like A Rollin' Stone not only are the lyrics incredible but the song is the perfect example of using bass runs of a chosen key to the best effect. You used to be so amused by Napolean in rags and the language that he used.

People such as Springsteen can write greats songs too. The Ghost of Tom Joad is a great ballad. Lyrics such as "you ain't a beauty but hey your alright" from Thunder Road. And the headline to this post from The River is both imaginative and thought provoking. Then with Born to Run he set two lovers out on the road to see where their journey would take them. Beyond the palace hemi-powered drones scream down the boulevard. Other songs that are critiques of American society and their war machine, songs like Youngstown and Born in the USA. Then with songs like Promised Land he looks forward to a brighter future.