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Top 10 Bob Dylan Songs


he’s tangled up in blue welcome to

he’s tangled up in blue welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting

watchmojo.com and today we’re counting

watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10 Bob Dylan

down our picks for the top 10 Bob Dylan

down our picks for the top 10 Bob Dylan songs for this list we’ve chosen our

songs for this list we’ve chosen our

songs for this list we’ve chosen our entries based on a combination of the

entries based on a combination of the

entries based on a combination of the artists fan favorites and their most

artists fan favorites and their most

artists fan favorites and their most commercially successful songs

part of the soundtrack for the Western

part of the soundtrack for the Western Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid which

Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid which

Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid which Dylan even had a bit acting pardon this

Dylan even had a bit acting pardon this

Dylan even had a bit acting pardon this folk rock and gospel tune tells the

folk rock and gospel tune tells the

folk rock and gospel tune tells the story of a dying sheriff

story of a dying sheriff

story of a dying sheriff [Music]

[Music]

[Music] let’s ask ABC do it peaking within the

let’s ask ABC do it peaking within the

let’s ask ABC do it peaking within the Billboard Hot 100 top 20 this simple but

Billboard Hot 100 top 20 this simple but

Billboard Hot 100 top 20 this simple but bitterly poetic melody has also inspired

bitterly poetic melody has also inspired

bitterly poetic melody has also inspired cover versions by Eric Clapton

cover versions by Eric Clapton

cover versions by Eric Clapton [Music]

[Music]

[Music] Guns’n’Roses

you too and countless others

you too and countless others [Music]

[Music]

[Music] number nine a hard rain’s are gonna fall

– fine

– fine one of his most episodic songs this 7

one of his most episodic songs this 7

one of his most episodic songs this 7 minute long entry from Dylan’s

minute long entry from Dylan’s

minute long entry from Dylan’s breakthrough album seems at first to

breakthrough album seems at first to

breakthrough album seems at first to consist of a series of tales from a

consist of a series of tales from a

consist of a series of tales from a distant past so how I saw a black branch

distant past so how I saw a black branch

distant past so how I saw a black branch with blood that kept dripping but as the

with blood that kept dripping but as the

with blood that kept dripping but as the verses unfold the imagery becomes

verses unfold the imagery becomes

verses unfold the imagery becomes increasingly apocalyptic and begins to

increasingly apocalyptic and begins to

increasingly apocalyptic and begins to read more as a warning from the future

indeed a month after the song’s debut

indeed a month after the song’s debut the u.s. became engulfed in the Cuban

the u.s. became engulfed in the Cuban

the u.s. became engulfed in the Cuban Missile Crisis making it perhaps a bit

Missile Crisis making it perhaps a bit

Missile Crisis making it perhaps a bit too on the mark

too on the mark

too on the mark [Music]

number eight all along the watchtower

number eight all along the watchtower there must be some way out of here did

there must be some way out of here did

there must be some way out of here did joe gergiolla see perhaps the most

joe gergiolla see perhaps the most

joe gergiolla see perhaps the most famous of his songs to become

famous of his songs to become

famous of his songs to become popularized by other artists kangin oh

popularized by other artists kangin oh

popularized by other artists kangin oh really

really

really Dylan’s original version of all along

Dylan’s original version of all along

Dylan’s original version of all along the watchtower appeared on the John

the watchtower appeared on the John

the watchtower appeared on the John Wesley Harding album several months

Wesley Harding album several months

Wesley Harding album several months before Jimi Hendrix’s electric cover

before Jimi Hendrix’s electric cover

before Jimi Hendrix’s electric cover [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]

[Music]

[Music] [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]

[Music]

[Music] however Dylan’s version is still a

however Dylan’s version is still a

however Dylan’s version is still a classic

classic

classic there are many among us who feel alive

there are many among us who feel alive

there are many among us who feel alive is brother Joe with his shrieking

is brother Joe with his shrieking

is brother Joe with his shrieking harmonica and some of the most impactful

harmonica and some of the most impactful

harmonica and some of the most impactful imagery of any of his songs so does not

imagery of any of his songs so does not

imagery of any of his songs so does not talk falsely now is getting laid

talk falsely now is getting laid

talk falsely now is getting laid [Music]

[Music]

[Music] like many Dylan tracks it has been

like many Dylan tracks it has been

like many Dylan tracks it has been called an anti-war statement but also

called an anti-war statement but also

called an anti-war statement but also like many of his songs you could never

like many of his songs you could never

like many of his songs you could never really prove you number seven mr.

really prove you number seven mr.

really prove you number seven mr. Tambourine Man

with allusions to being numb and put

with allusions to being numb and put under a spell

under a spell

under a spell this song is often considered a metaphor

this song is often considered a metaphor

this song is often considered a metaphor if a poetic one for a drug deal forest

if a poetic one for a drug deal forest

if a poetic one for a drug deal forest parts Dylan has gone on record saying

parts Dylan has gone on record saying

parts Dylan has gone on record saying that the folk number is actually about

that the folk number is actually about

that the folk number is actually about well a man who plays a tambourine take

well a man who plays a tambourine take

well a man who plays a tambourine take me disappearing it’s abstract imagery

me disappearing it’s abstract imagery

me disappearing it’s abstract imagery allows for multiple and individual

allows for multiple and individual

allows for multiple and individual interpretations frozen leaves Hobbit

interpretations frozen leaves Hobbit

interpretations frozen leaves Hobbit fried food trees which is what makes it

fried food trees which is what makes it

fried food trees which is what makes it just as interesting nearly fifty years

just as interesting nearly fifty years

just as interesting nearly fifty years after its release

after its release

after its release Rita praises sorrow

Rita praises sorrow

Rita praises sorrow [Music]

[Music]

[Music] number six positively 4th Street

number six positively 4th Street

number six positively 4th Street [Music]

[Music]

[Music] released as a single the same year as

released as a single the same year as

released as a single the same year as landmark albums highway 61 revisited and

landmark albums highway 61 revisited and

landmark albums highway 61 revisited and bringing it all back home this is one

bringing it all back home this is one

bringing it all back home this is one everyone can relate to

everyone can relate to

everyone can relate to [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]

[Music]

[Music] at his best and bitterest Dylan laces

at his best and bitterest Dylan laces

at his best and bitterest Dylan laces into a superficial friend you know the

into a superficial friend you know the

into a superficial friend you know the kind that loves you when you’re on top

kind that loves you when you’re on top

kind that loves you when you’re on top but is the first to disappear when

but is the first to disappear when

but is the first to disappear when things go south

things go south

things go south [Music]

rather

rather [Music]

[Music]

[Music] that’s pretty cold Bob

[Music]

[Music] number five subterranean homesick blues

[Music]

[Music] equally famous for its experimental

equally famous for its experimental

equally famous for its experimental music video which first appeared in da

music video which first appeared in da

music video which first appeared in da Pennebaker documentary don’t look back

his tracks he’s Dylan cutting between

his tracks he’s Dylan cutting between issues of the times in his fevered

issues of the times in his fevered

issues of the times in his fevered savant-like style

savant-like style

savant-like style [Music]

often but never easily imitated the song

often but never easily imitated the song draws on scat and R&B influences to

draws on scat and R&B influences to

draws on scat and R&B influences to create something truly

create something truly

create something truly iconoclastic

and has taught young people for

and has taught young people for generations just exactly what and whom

generations just exactly what and whom

generations just exactly what and whom to look out for

number four tangled up in blue the 70s

number four tangled up in blue the 70s marked a departure from earlier protest

marked a departure from earlier protest

marked a departure from earlier protest hymns to a focus on the personal lives

hymns to a focus on the personal lives

hymns to a focus on the personal lives of his subjects he had a job in Santa Fe

of his subjects he had a job in Santa Fe

of his subjects he had a job in Santa Fe in an old hotel but he never did like it

in an old hotel but he never did like it

in an old hotel but he never did like it but you want to it just went to hell

but you want to it just went to hell

but you want to it just went to hell this blood on the track single captured

this blood on the track single captured

this blood on the track single captured the many twists and turns of two lives

the many twists and turns of two lives

the many twists and turns of two lives which become repeatedly entwine but all

which become repeatedly entwine but all

which become repeatedly entwine but all the way he was alone the past was close

the way he was alone the past was close

the way he was alone the past was close behind he see the lot of women but you

behind he see the lot of women but you

behind he see the lot of women but you know the stapler and were reticent to be

know the stapler and were reticent to be

know the stapler and were reticent to be labeled the voice of a generation

labeled the voice of a generation

labeled the voice of a generation tangled up in blue still hits on

tangled up in blue still hits on

tangled up in blue still hits on something undeniably universal we only

something undeniably universal we only

something undeniably universal we only think I knew how to do keep on keeping

think I knew how to do keep on keeping

think I knew how to do keep on keeping on as the baby boomers struggled to get

on as the baby boomers struggled to get

on as the baby boomers struggled to get a foothold in a new decade

a foothold in a new decade

a foothold in a new decade [Music]

one of Dylan’s most earnest and

one of Dylan’s most earnest and straightforward songs this one was

straightforward songs this one was

straightforward songs this one was released during the build-up to the

released during the build-up to the

released during the build-up to the Vietnam War and became a rallying cry of

Vietnam War and became a rallying cry of

Vietnam War and became a rallying cry of the anti-war movement throughout

[Music]

[Music] boy

boy

always the contrarian Dylan insisted it

always the contrarian Dylan insisted it was not a protest song

was not a protest song

was not a protest song [Music]

[Music]

[Music] [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] which was not a little ironic

which was not a little ironic

which was not a little ironic considering it’s widely recognized as

considering it’s widely recognized as

considering it’s widely recognized as the most important protest song of all

the most important protest song of all

the most important protest song of all time

time

time [Music]

[Music]

[Music] as well as a valuable civil rights

as well as a valuable civil rights

as well as a valuable civil rights anthem

Oh

Oh [Applause]

number two the times they are a-changin

number two the times they are a-changin gather round people

gather round people

gather round people Oh

Oh

Oh [Music]

[Music]

[Music] with escalation in Vietnam seemingly

with escalation in Vietnam seemingly

with escalation in Vietnam seemingly inevitable

inevitable

inevitable and the assassination of President

and the assassination of President

and the assassination of President Kennedy just months earlier

Kennedy just months earlier

Kennedy just months earlier Dylan’s folk masterpiece is both a

Dylan’s folk masterpiece is both a

Dylan’s folk masterpiece is both a message of hope and a warning while

message of hope and a warning while

message of hope and a warning while imagery like wheels in motion indicate

imagery like wheels in motion indicate

imagery like wheels in motion indicate the change is indeed inevitable

the change is indeed inevitable

the change is indeed inevitable Dylan cautions that there will be

Dylan cautions that there will be

Dylan cautions that there will be consequences for those who stand in the

consequences for those who stand in the

consequences for those who stand in the way and dogs despair

way and dogs despair

way and dogs despair there’s no 10

there’s no 10

there’s no 10 [Music]

[Music]

[Music] for the time T

for the time T

for the time T the struggle between old and new ways

the struggle between old and new ways

the struggle between old and new ways that defined so much of the decade was

that defined so much of the decade was

that defined so much of the decade was never more perfectly described the first

never more perfectly described the first

never more perfectly described the first one now will later be last

one now will later be last

one now will later be last [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]

[Music]

[Music] before we reveal our top pick here are a

before we reveal our top pick here are a

before we reveal our top pick here are a few honorable mentions

here comes a story of the hurricane the

here comes a story of the hurricane the many authorities changes playing

she walked up to me so gracefully and

she walked up to me so gracefully and took my crown of thorns come in she said

took my crown of thorns come in she said

took my crown of thorns come in she said I’ll give you shelter from the storm my

I’ll give you shelter from the storm my

I’ll give you shelter from the storm my name it ain’t nothing I eat you means

name it ain’t nothing I eat you means

name it ain’t nothing I eat you means this big country I come from is called

this big country I come from is called

this big country I come from is called the Midwest

the Midwest

the Midwest [Music]

from the moment the first organ riff

from the moment the first organ riff sounded everything changed

lyrically derisive and as his early fans

lyrically derisive and as his early fans would claim an outright betrayal

this song bridged the gap between folk

this song bridged the gap between folk and electric between idol and villain

and electric between idol and villain

and electric between idol and villain and between idealism and cynicism

I think it was booed upon its first live

I think it was booed upon its first live performance seems like pure insanity now

but the song represented Dylan’s desire

but the song represented Dylan’s desire to keep growing as an artist even if it

to keep growing as an artist even if it

to keep growing as an artist even if it meant leaving behind those who held him

meant leaving behind those who held him

meant leaving behind those who held him dearest

dearest

dearest [Music]

[Music]

[Music] do you agree with our list which Dylan

do you agree with our list which Dylan

do you agree with our list which Dylan songs are closest to your heart

[Music]

[Music] for more iconic top 10s published every

for more iconic top 10s published every

for more iconic top 10s published every day be sure to subscribe to

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[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]

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