Bob Dylan proclaimed “Like a Rolling Stone” as a six-minute game-changer. This groundbreaking single, released on July 20, 1965, redefined music forever. Countless books have dissected its complex lyrics, but the song’s enduring thrill lies in a pop song that packs a punch, its verbal assault shattering songwriting conventions for a generation and leaving the listener stunned.
“Like a Rolling Stone” marks the birth of an iconoclast who would become rock’s most powerful voice and disruptor. Here, Bob Dylan emerges as the prophet of heartbreak. Having condemned the hypocrisies of politics, he now turns his attention to more personal targets: the scene, high society, and the “pretty people” who believe they have it all figured out. He hasn’t yet confronted his own hypocrisies – that would come later.
“Like a Rolling Stone” Lyrics
Once upon a time you dressed so fine
Threw the bums a dime in your prime, didn’t you?
People call say ‘beware doll, you’re bound to fall’
You thought they were all kidding you
You used to laugh about
Everybody that was hanging out
Now you don’t talk so loud
Now you don’t seem so proud
About having to be scrounging your next mealHow does it feel, how does it feel?
To be without a home
Like a complete unknown, like a rolling stoneAhh you’ve gone to the finest schools, alright Miss Lonely
But you know you only used to get juiced in it
Nobody’s ever taught you how to live out on the street
And now you’re gonna have to get used to it
You say you never compromise
With the mystery tramp, but now you realize
He’s not selling any alibis
As you stare into the vacuum of his eyes
And say do you want to make a deal?How does it feel, how does it feel?
To be on your own, with no direction home
A complete unknown, like a rolling stoneAh you never turned around to see the frowns
On the jugglers and the clowns when they all did tricks for you
You never understood that it ain’t no good
You shouldn’t let other people get your kicks for you
You used to ride on a chrome horse with your diplomat
Who carried on his shoulder a Siamese cat
Ain’t it hard when you discovered that
He really wasn’t where it’s at
After he took from you everything he could stealHow does it feel, how does it feel?
To be on your own, with no direction home
Like a complete unknown, like a rolling stoneAhh princess on a steeple and all the pretty people
They’re all drinking, thinking that they’ve got it made
Exchanging all precious gifts
But you better take your diamond ring, you better pawn it babe
You used to be so amused
At Napoleon in rags and the language that he used
Go to him he calls you, you can’t refuse
When you ain’t got nothing, you got nothing to lose
You’re invisible now, you’ve got no secrets to concealHow does it feel, ah how does it feel?
Bob Dylan – “Like a Rolling Stone“
To be on your own, with no direction home
Like a complete unknown, like a rolling stone
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Bob Dylan
Like a Rolling Stone lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Bob Dylan’s “Like a Rolling Stone” Meaning
Bob Dylan’s “Like a Rolling Stone” is a multifaceted exploration of the loss of innocence and the harsh realities of life. Bob Dylan described it as a song where “myths, props, and old beliefs fall away to reveal a very taxing reality.“
On a surface level, the song narrates the downfall of a privileged woman who loses her social standing and becomes a wanderer. It mocks her descent and the disintegration of her comfortable life. However, a deeper interpretation reveals a celebration of her newfound freedom from societal expectations. By losing everything, she can live authentically and experience life without pretense.
“Like a Rolling Stone” Legacy and Accolades
“Like a Rolling Stone” revolutionized music with its unique sound and Bob Dylan’s distinctive vocals. It propelled Dylan to superstardom and became a symbol of cultural and political change. The song’s impact resonated deeply with other musicians, notably Bruce Springsteen, who praised Dylan for freeing the mind and expanding the possibilities of pop music.
The song’s length and unconventional structure challenged industry norms and influenced the way music was produced and consumed.
Over the years, “Like a Rolling Stone” has consistently ranked high in polls of the greatest songs ever written. It holds the top spot in several rankings, including Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2010.
In 2014, Bob Dylan’s handwritten lyrics for the song were sold at auction for $2 million, setting a record for a popular music manuscript. The song’s enduring legacy is a testament to its artistic merit and cultural significance.
