Dylan Resists Voice of Generation Title Throughout Career

The folk-rock sound of Bob Dylan in the early ‘60s inspired society with its emotional and poetic lyrics. These songs initially reflected the tension of the civil rights and anti-war movements. This mixture of folk music, rock ‘n roll and poetry illustrated Dylan as a voice of a generation, a role he admitted to actively resisting over time. Throughout his career, he refused to confine to what was expected from him whether it involved politics, religion, or music. However, when evaluating some of Dylan’s key works, his societal unpleasing claim doesn’t add up. 

Dylan’s musical prowess has overpowered many scholars. “He is one of the few artists who will go on forever, like Mozart, like Picasso,” said Tino Markworth, Stanford University professor who was interviewed for a Vancouver Sun article on Dylan in July 2005. But why will his words stay with us forever? Why was Dylan such a social iconic influence? 

Dylan’s music, as explained partly from Michael Lydon’s Rock for Sale piece has been described as turmoil-fueled social anthems and reluctant odes that explain the pains of growing up in America. This type of musical delivery had fans idolizing Dylan and his music for generations. With his love of words, he shaped a new approach toward song-writing. One that was personal at its core - and was not affected by its surroundings or so he says. However in a 2005 CBS interview, Dylan seemed uneasy about how he was portrayed. “It was more like [I was] some kind of threat to society in some kind of way.”

One of Dylan’s first song-writing attempts began with The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan in 1963. The album was his second after releasing Bob Dylan in 1962. However, this disc’s tracks reacted to the current events around him. Dylan illustrated his civil rights/anti-war stance in his 1963 hit, “Blowin’ in the Wind.” This song essentially helped his career to take off: