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Bob Dylan’s Most Covered Song of All Time is the Perfect Rock Track for Thanksgiving
American-born folk rock singer-songwriter Bob Dylan is widely hailed as one of the most popular and influential music artists of the 20th century. And the accolades have not been given without merit, as Dylan’s poetic lyrics, distinctive baritone voice and plethora of hit songs such as “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright” and “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door,” helped mold modern music and culture. However, while the music icon has many catchy and beloved singles and albums, arguably his single “Forever Young”, which is largely hailed as one of his finest works by fans, is the perfect song to listen to as the Thanksgiving holiday approaches.
Why Bob Dylan’s “Forever Young” Is The Perfect Thanksgiving Song
“May God bless and keep you always. May your wishes all come true. May you always do for others. And let others do for you. May you build a ladder to the stars. And climb on every rung. May you stay forever young. May you stay forever young.” And so goes the first few lines in Bob Dylan’s classic hit song “Forever Young.” The nearly five-minute-long track was released on January 17th, 1974, on what was Dylan’s 14th studio album titled, Planet Waves. The rock song was originally released with two different studio versions and one in which he recorded alongside The Band. And while the album it was featured on would later be certified gold and reach the top ten on the Billboard charts, “Forever Young” remained unreleased as a stand-alone single and was further popularized by Rod Stewart’s rendition of the song in 1988. Nonetheless, like most of his work, Dylan wrote this song from his heart, having once stated that he was inspired to pen it as a lullaby for his son Jesse, who was born 8 years prior. Dylan also added that the song relates a father’s hopes that his child will remain strong and happy. The single, which was picked as the number 10 most beloved song by Dylan fans in a poll conducted by Rolling Stone Magazine in 2011, is undoubtedly sentimental, and as the publication also noted, it is a folksy prayer song. This track makes it a perfect single to listen to if you’re one of the millions of Americans who are preparing to celebrate Thanksgiving this year, as the holiday is, of course, all about good tidings, being with friends and family and giving thanks.
As for what Dylan is thankful for, the singer made it known during a rare speech he gave in 2015, when he was awarded by the Grammy organization with the MusiCares Person of the Year (which is an award that recognizes musicians for their achievements in the music industry and dedication to philanthropy). As he accepted the award, Dylan gave a 35-minute speech in which he expressed his gratitude to the Grammys and many other incredible artists whom he stated had inspired him and his music throughout the years, as well as those who had covered his songs and helped further his career. “I’m glad for my songs to be honored like this. But you know, they didn’t get here by themselves. It’s been a long road and it’s taken a lot of doing. These songs of mine, they’re like mystery stories, the kind that Shakespeare saw when he was growing up. I think you could trace what I do back that far. They were on the fringes then, and I think they’re on the fringes now. And they sound like they’ve been on the hard ground,” stated Dylan. He then went on to thank artists such as Peter, Paul, Mary, Sonny and Cher, Pervis Staples and the Staple Singers, and Nina Simone, as well as Jimi Hendrix, Johnny Cash, and Joan Baez.
This precious hit could have belonged to The King.
‘Blonde on Blonde’ Features Some Of Bob Dylan’s Best Songs
While Bob Dylan’s album Planet Waves features many great and memorable tunes, arguably Blonde on Blonde is one of his best albums. Rolling Stone Magazine has praised it numerous times, calling it the most “mysterious, majestic, and seductive of Dylan’s albums.” And Vanity Fair magazine hailed it as the “ultimate artistic journey” and a “literary masterpiece.” Additionally, it was a massive critical success for Dylan with fans. It reached the Top 10 in both the US and UK album charts. Dylan was also thoroughly happy with the album, stating in an interview that it was “The closest I ever got to the sound I hear in my mind was on individual bands in the Blonde on Blonde album. It’s that thin, that wild mercury sound. It’s metallic and bright gold, with whatever that conjures up.”
The album, which was released the same year his son and “Forever Young” muse was born, was part of a trilogy that coincided with Highway 61 and Bringing It All Back Home. Blonde on Blonde, a blend of rock, folk, blues, and country, featured 14 songs, including the hits “One of Us Must Know (Sooner or Later)”, Rainy Day Women #12 & 35″, “I Want You,” and “Most Likely You Go Your Way (and I’ll Go Mine)”.
