One of the Brit papers played off this week’s broadcast debut of No Direction Home: Bob Dylan (the DVD has been out for about a week) by asking various celebrities to name their favorite Dylan songs. Some of the replies were unsurprising (Patti Smith loves "Like A Rolling Stone"); one was a cheat, albeit a fun one (Tom Waits names all of The Basement Tapes); one was unexpected (Respect MP George Galloway is keen on "Tangled Up In Blue"). I guess that’s one of the defining misfortunes of being famous: people think nothing of calling you out of the blue and asking you questions like, "What’s your favorite Bob Dylan song?".…
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— go to most recent comments26 - Michelle
What ever Dylan does is great, he has a way of moving me to a dream. There is no one like him, his music and style are magical!
27 - Tony
It's Alright Ma, I'm only Bleeding
Ballad of a Thin Man
Highwater
Where are you Tonight?
Tangled Up in Blue
28 - The Duke
It's all right Ma, I'm only bleeding.
and Forever Young -- This is a confession... done by Rod Stewart.
I know, I know.... I have committed the heresy of the unhip. But the Stewart outfit really kicked butt on that release. Later on Big Country had this overall sound and texture, which reminded a lot of the Stewart sound on that release.
Best live performance was the Dylan segment on Concert for Bangaladesh... amazingly good.
29 - sheldon
"Brownsville Girl" - (1986)
Co-written with Sam Shepard - the playwright, not the doctor that "The Fugitive" was based on!
"You always said that people don't do what they believe in, they just do what's most convenient, then they repent..."
I seem to recollect reading somewhere that the name of the Gregory Peck movie referred to in the song is called "The Gunfighter"
30 - George
My pick for favorite Dylan song and one that most often does not receive the credit it deserves is "Quinn the Eskimo"
31 - Vern Halen
Lily, Rosemary & the Jack of Hearts. Or maybe The Ballad of Hollis Brown, depending on my mood.
32 - mondo retro
right on for "visions" and "every grain of sand." those happen to be my two favorites also. i would also add "abandoned love" (from biograph), "to ramona," "desolation row," and "if not for you" (bootleg series version w/ george harrison- "are you ready, george?).
this is too hard!!
33 - Douglas Anthony Cooper
Ah, "The Ballad of Hollis Brown." Dylan's own performance is brilliant, of course, but the cover by the Neville Brothers has to be heard -- equally haunting.
34 - Baronius
Tangled Up in Blue - #1 in my book
Hard Rain - maybe his best protest-era song
Series of Dreams - nobody's mentioned it yet?
All Along the Watchtower, Hendrix version - obvious, I know, but it's really good
Positively 4th Street - unparalleled lyrics
35 - Liam Gallagher
1. Tangled Up In Blue
2. Don't Think Twice, It's All Right
36 - adam
1. One More Cup of Coffee.
2. You're a Big Girl Now.
3. Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands.
4. Knockin on Heaven's Door.
(Nicer comment here than on my Dylan comment thread, Booey. Maybe there's hope for you yet.)
37 - Pauline
I Shall Be Released is my favorite Dylan song.
Greatest song ever written IMHO!
38 - mondo retro
i also would like to add "mama you been on my mind" and "isis."
39 - Harry Chambers
For me, it has got to be; that paean of praise..."Gotta serve somebody"`
I can just picture all those "Angel cats in shades an` hats, diggin` the rhythm an` rhyme an` slippin` in some scat...oooblee dooblee bop bop bop...The Lord is where its at!"
40 - Toby
positively 4th street is my fave dylan song, it has such great lyrics and is really uplifting
41 - audrey
so hard to decide!
but i think JOKERMAN on the INFIDELS album is the best Bob Dylan song ever.
Following close, and tied for second, would be:
Visions of Johanna
Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts
Blind Willie McTell
Boots of Spanish Leather
Don't Fall Apart on Me Tonight
A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall
and, obviously
Not Dark Yet
but in the end, i think its safe to say that Dylan is a genius.
42 - YANIS
MASTER OF WAR
43 - Jewels
"Hurricane", one of my favs, I love the "Desire" LP. All of it.
44 - steve
anything off nashville skyline is tops
45 - Michael
"It Ain't Me Babe" off of the 'Greatest Hits'. LPs can be lame but not when it comes Bob Dylan. As we know most of the time "greatest hits" albums come together because of the draw to folks who are not all that familiar with their work or do not have enough experience to pick a defining LP.
46 - graham elders
it ain't me babe
47 - tom rose
hurricane, best song ever
48 - kyle
1. A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall
2. Desolation Row
3. Hurricane
4. House of the Rising Sun
5. Masters of War
6. Chimes of Freedom
7. North Country Blues
8. Don't Think Twice, It's Alright
9. Visions of Johanna
10. Subterranean Homesick Blues
49 - Natalie Davis
Oh god, so many! Let me offer two: "Visions of Johanna" and "Tangled Up in Blue." (Gotta give "Masters of War" an honorable mention.) And apologies to all the Dylan songs I wanted to mention... :(
50 - Jenna
shelter from the storm, all along the watchtower, masters of war, knocking of heavens door, tangled up in blue, visions of johanna, hurricane, girl from the north country... umm wow there are so many more i could just go on forever
51 - Matt
I would definately have to say one of the best songs I've heard which truly defines bob dylans philosophy would be It's Alright Ma (I'm only Bleeding) if you get the song look up the lyrcis and read it as he wrote it, true poetry. His philosophy is as true to mine. Most Ingenius I wish i could write like he does, beautiful peice there man if you read this
52 - Dan
Dont Think Twice, Idiot Wind, Desolation Row, and Joey, probably the only 11 minute song that I could ever enjoy throught and know every word
53 - Antonio Mendez
Blowing in the Wind
Girl from the North Country
A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall
Don't Think Twice, It's All Right
Oxford Town
Ramblin' Gamblin' Willie
Farewell
The Times They Are A-changing
Only a Pawn in Their Game
Love is Just a Four Letter Word
Lay Down Your Weary Tune
Spanish Harlem Incident
Chimes of Freedom
I Don't Believe You
It Ain't Me Babe
Mister Tambourine Man
She Belongs to Me
It's All Over Now, Baby Blue
Like a Rolling Stone
Desolation Row
Visions of Johanna
4th Time Around
All Along the Watchtower
I Shall be Released
Kocking on Heaven's Door
Tangled Up in Blue
If You See Her Say Hello
Isis
Mozambique
...and so many others
54 - Glen Boyd
Idiot Wind.
Especially the little dig at McGuinn with that "Visions of your Chestnut Mare" line...priceless.
-Glen
55 - Antonio Mendez
Let me add:
- North Country Blues
- The Hour When the Ship Comes In
- Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues
The tandem mentioned by Natalie as her two tops of the tops or very best ones, that is, "Visions of Johanna" & "Tangled Up in Blue", is also mine's
56 - Ben
Theres a couple of songs that people havent mentioned yet, and i feel need to be included. From the album Street Legal (often overlooked and critisiced for poor production):
Senor and Changing of the Guard and Where are you tonight?
but the top five in my view are:
Like a Rolling Stone (How does it feel???)
Hurricane (great return to topical songwriting)
Tangled up in Blue - You have to love it
Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands (Most beautiful love song ever written, best song from his best album)
Blind Willie Mctell - (How can this lay hidden for almost 20 years, masterpeice!)
57 - Jokerman
Can't quite remember the name of the song...sumthin' about a comedian dancing to the nightingale's tune :)
Also, You Ain't Going Nowhere always gets me singing along.
58 - Aubade
Oh wow no one has even mentioned mine... Queen Jane Approximately. I'm not sure why, but listening to it just makes me feel so good, everytime. It makes me believe I'm actually in the 60's right then.
59 - Zimbo
Standing on the waters casting your bread
While the eyes of the idol with the iron head are glowing.
Distant ships sailing into the mist,
You were born with a snake in both of your fists while a hurricane was blowing.
Freedom just around the corner for you
But with the truth so far off, what good will it do?
Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune,
Bird fly high by the light of the moon,
Oh, oh, oh, Jokerman.
So swiftly the sun sets in the sky,
You rise up and say goodbye to no one.
Fools rush in where angels fear to tread,
Both of their futures, so full of dread, you don't show one.
Shedding off one more layer of skin,
Keeping one step ahead of the persecutor within.
Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune,
Bird fly high by the light of the moon,
Oh, oh, oh, Jokerman.
60 - Our Lady of Bob
Yipes!
What all of you said.
Unbelievable. It just goes on and on.
Dylan is the only one I know of that could have a list like this that goes on and on with so many truly great songs to choose from.
Mot to mention the decades and the disparate types, or kinds... genre's I guess.
I can't choose.
Johanna is always there by default.
Most of the Time from Oh Mercy sometimes is also right up there.
I always said I wanted Dylan played or sung at my funeral.
Thanks for your choice. I think it will be mine as well.
61 - Rodney Welch
Isn't "Jokerman" about Yassir Arafat?
62 - Mitch
What if there was a songwriter who just wrote...
Like a Rolling Stone. Mr. Tambourine Man and Blowing in the Wind. Those 3 songs would be more than enough to make him a legend of popular music. Yet those 3 tunes barely scratch the surface of Dylan's canon. Amazing.
Actually I find it impossible to pick favorites from such an embarrassment of riches.
63 - jawboy
my friend and i were talking about this the other day. its so hard to just pick one. right when you think you have it you remember how great another one is and you are completly torn between so many favorties
Some Top ones
1. Ballad of a Thin Man
2. Sara
3. Tombstone Blues
4. It aint me babe
5. Only a pawn in there game
64 - rodney welch are you joking
Jokerman is about Jesus, so unless Yassir Arafat is Jesus...
65 - tom sheepandgoats
Nope. Nobody mentioned my favorite, though they sure did a lot of runner-ups.
All time favorite: What Good am I? (my own subtitle: how to be a decent person)
Did he really go born-again those few years or did he just want to experiment with that kind of music?
66 - adam
I like the songs on the classic albums that aren't the show-stopping masterpieces. Like on BoB, there's Visions and Sad Eyed Lady and Stuck, but my favorites are songs like Fourth Time. It's like.. he wasn't expecting you too listen to this one too closely, and that makes it really interesting.
In that same vein, I'm a big fan of Gates of Eden, It's all Over Now, Queen Jane Approximately.
67 - Tom Grasty
Narrowing it down to one is damn near impossible. So I used them all in my new novel, BLOOD ON THE TRACKS. I thought I'd tell your readers about it.
It's a murder-mystery. But not just any rock superstar is knocking on heaven's door. The murdered rock legend is none other than Bob Dorian, an enigmatic, obtuse, inscrutable, well, you get the picture...
Suspects? Tons of them. The only problem is they're all characters in Bob's songs.
You can get a copy on Amazon or go "behind the tracks" at my site to learn more about the book.
68 - Liam
Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You
69 - Dani
that's a really hard question coz Bob Dylan has so many amazing songs!!!
my favourite songs change all the time but currently it would have to be
- It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry
- I Shall Be Released
- It's all over now baby blue
- Mr Tambourine Man
- The Lonesome Death Of Hattie Carroll
- Things have changed
- Positively 4th Street
- When the ship comes in
Im such a huge fan of Bob Dylan there way too many great songs :)
70 - Tom Grasty
Fortunately, all of Dylan's songs offer great inspiration... and characters. In fact, it's those characters from Bob's songs who are the suspects in my new murder mystery, BLOOD ON THE TRACKS.
71 - paul
IDIOT WIND
72 - Caitlin
I have heaps. But, for today I am madly inlove with The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carrol!
Last week's fave. was A Hard Rains A-Gonna Fall!
Weel before that was... probably, You're A Big Girl Now!
I just love them all. x
73 - Paul E.
Ballad of a Thin Man.
Period.
End of list.
Oh also (47 other songs.....)
74 - Christy
First of all, it is my belief that Dylan is the greatest songwriter in the history of the universe! My all time favorite song by Dylan would have to be I Shall Be Released. Why? The song itself may be about an individual who was wrongfully convicted and imprisoned, however, I believe it also refers to one who is in search of God and the possibility of being set free from his circumstances. This song is about hope.
75 - stephen
JUST LIKE A WOMAN LIVE summer 2007 and summer 2008 live mohegan sun and MGM grand and foxwoods, best version of any dylan song ever.
also Huck's Tune off of Tell Tale Signs is an excellent song