With the arrival of his 75th birthday in May, Bob Dylan treated the celebration like any other day by doing what he does best and released an LP. “Fallen Angels” is his 37th LP in his long, iconic career that will continue to gather accolades as he prepares himself for a summer tour with his old friend Mavis staples. Considered one of the most influential artists of the century, Dylan has inspired hundreds of artists in the music industry and will continue to do so in years to come. From his folk revival days in the 60s to the poetic masterpieces he created in later years, his vast collection of music will be nearly impossible for any artist to compete with. A poet of lyrics, Dylan has a keen sense of the world around him that makes him so remarkable, so here are his five greatest songs — just a sliver of the American icon’s astounding career.
1. “Like A Rolling Stone” (1965)
“It seemed to go on and on forever,” Paul McCartney told the author, Clinton Heylin for her 2003 biography on Dylan. “It was just beautiful ... He showed all of us that it was possible to go a little further.”
Revolutionary in nature, this song made an enormous impact and influence on popular culture and rock music. With the impressive guitar licks, organ chords and Dylan’s famous raspy voice, the song challenged various parts of the 60s’ music industry, while making fans go wild. In the early 2000s, Dylan told various magazines that he considered it the best song he ever wrote. Over 50 years since its release, “Like A Rolling Stone” still remains one of the most highly regarded and influential rock songs to date.
2. “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall” (1962)
Despite him releasing this track mere month before the Cuban Missile Crisis, this song still gains its reputation as one of the greatest protest songs of all time, from the protest song king himself. “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall” remained relevant throughout 1962 America for the theme the song suggests of injustice, suffering and warfare. Each verse in the 10-minute track eludes to a different problem America had in Dylan’s eyes at the time, sealing in an image for centuries to come.
3. “Just Like A Woman” (1966)
<span id="selection-marker-1" class="redactor-selection-marker" data-verified="redactor"></span>At the title, one might think this ballad is a song of love and romance, but any Dylan fan knows he wouldn’t want to look cliche or conventional for that matter. A year after he upped the ante with “Like A Rolling Stone” this complex song features a woman he both loved and felt disappointment wash over her personality. This was Dylan’s first country-rock song to gain critical fame, making it an easy choice for his third greatest son
4. “I Shall Be Released” (1971)
Easily interpreted as a prisoner with a deep desire for freedom, this song perfectly emulates Dylan’s transition from the 60s to 70s era. With the 60s painted with protest songs and rock revolutionaries, “I Shall Be Released” has shorter lines with a deeper meaning behind each word in the sentence. He wasn’t looking to fill up space in his songs, and in the end, this track became one of Dylan’s most loved and famous songs to date.
5. “Mr. Tambourine Man” (1965)
This song was originally recorded and released by Dylan on his 1965 album “Bringing It All Back Home,” but the Byrds famously recorded their version of the song the same year, bringing it more into the public eye. The Byrds' version sealed Dylan’s ability to be a rocker to the music industry and fans, something that made him so dynamic as an artist. On Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs Of All Time, The Byrds’ version was listed as no. 79, while Dylan’s came in at no. 106, making it one of three songs to be listed twice.