Bob Dylan’s 1974 Song Unofficially Became the Soundtrack to New Year’s Celebrations

The Auld Lang Syne had been one of the only key New Year’s tunes since its publication in the 1700s, until 1974. This was the year that Bob Dylan released his fourteenth studio album, Planet Waves, including his hit song “Forever Young” in January. Since the song’s release, it has become the unofficial anthem for the New Year, although the song has personal origins that bear no relation to the New Year at all.

What is Bob Dylan’s “Forever Young” About?

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Dylan wrote and recorded “Forever Young” in 1973, and addressed the song to his oldest son, Jesse, who was born in 1966. He wrote the song, which was meant to be a lullaby, about a father’s hopes that his child will remain happy and strong while undergoing life’s biggest challenges. In a demo version released as part of his compilation album Biograph, Dylan can be heard saying that he was “thinking about” one of his sons while recording “Forever Young” and “not wanting to be too sentimental”.

Dylan released two versions of “Forever Young” on the 1974 album Planet Waves, one being a lullaby and the other being a rock track. Despite its personal and sentimental meaning, Dylan did not perform the song as much as he did his other songs, but he still performed “Forever Young” quite a lot. His most memorable performances include a duet with Bruce Springsteen in 1995 and his and The Band’s farewell concert, The Last Waltz, in 1976.

The “Blowin’ In The Wind” singer’s biographer, Clint Heylin, wrote that “Forever Young” was also written as a response to another classic rock artist. Dylan did not see eye-to-eye initially with Neil Young, as he felt that Young borrowed his style. Heylin stated that Dylan wrote “Forever Young” as a response to Young’s “Heart of Gold” as Dylan had said in 1985, “[I’d] turn on the radio, and there I am, but it’s not me.”

Why Is Bob Dylan’s “Forever Young” An Unofficial New Year’s Anthem?

Although it is a lullaby addressed to his son, Dylan’s “Forever Young” has lyrics that encompass the theme of evolving and dreams that relate to the new year. Lyrics such as “May God bless and keep you always, may your wishes all come true” and “May you build a ladder for the stars and climb on every rung” echo the optimism that is always felt and highlighted when people ring in the New Year. These lyrics also capture the spirit of hopes, dreams, and wishes coming true, which is relatable to the New Year, as many hope to achieve their goals.

Dylan is constantly hoping in the song that his son, Jesse, will stay “Forever Young”, which is also embraced in the New Year, while people age. While “Forever Young” is a lullaby about staying happy and strong in the face of unspeakable challenges, the song also speaks of staying young and holding on to innocence, happiness, and strength. “Forever Young” being an unofficial New Year’s anthem makes sense, as the song encourages people to stay happy, strong, and young in the face of fresh new challenges and to hold onto their youth and innocence as people will age in the New Year.

While it is widely believed that “Forever Young” is an unofficial New Year’s anthem, others argue that it does not relate to the New Year, and it is a song about kindness instead. Lyrics such as “May you always do for others and let others do for you” magnify that Dylan is encouraging his son to stay kind and righteous. Though the song does speak of being kind, it is hard to ignore the ongoing themes and ideas that directly relate to the New Year celebrations. “May you have a strong foundation when the winds of changes shift” exhibits that listeners should always stay strong as the new year brings new difficulties, with some harder to overcome.

Bob Dylan’s “Forever Young” is a Classic Despite Low Chart Success

Dylan’s “Forever Young” is a classic, but it was not a huge success on the charts, as it was not a huge hit until its live versions were released years later. It was also not as well known at the time of its release for the same reasons, and Joan Baez’s version, which was released as a single in the same year, was the most recognised. She scored the highest on the charts in the US, as it peaked at 13 on the US Adult Contemporary Chart on Billboard.

“Forever Young” has been covered by many artists, including Michael Jackson’s sister, Rebbie Jackson, and The Pretenders, which hints at the song being a classic. However, what makes “Forever Young” truly a classic is the timeless message that resonates among listeners from all walks of life, and the song being fitting for any occasion other than just the New Year’s celebration. Many songs by Dylan are classics, like “Tangled Up In Blue”, “Like a Rolling Stone”, and “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door”, but “Forever Young” is a gem in his discography, with a heartwarming message that can be heard for many years to come.