About the song
This iconic song, released in 1965 on the album Highway 61 Revisited, is a landmark not just in Dylan’s career, but in the history of popular music. It marked a pivotal shift for the singer-songwriter, who had risen to prominence as a figurehead of the American folk revival.
Like a Rolling Stone broke the mold of what a folk song could be. Previously, Dylan was known for his poetic lyrics that chronicled social and political issues, delivered in a gentle, acoustic style. Like a Rolling Stone, however, explodes onto the scene with a raw, electric energy. Dylan’s signature harmonica is joined by a pulsating rhythm section and distorted guitars, courtesy of Chicago blues legend Mike Bloomfield.
The song’s structure itself was revolutionary. Gone were the neat verses and choruses of traditional folk music. Like a Rolling Stone is a sprawling, six-verse epic that unfolds like a cinematic narrative. The lyrics, delivered with Dylan’s signature sneer, paint a scathing portrait of a young woman who has fallen from grace. We meet her first with a sense of youthful entitlement, “once upon a time you dressed so fine, threw the bums a dime in time for a ride,” but by the song’s end, she’s adrift and alone, “how does it feel?” Dylan asks, “to be without a home/like a complete unknown/like a rolling stone?”
The ambiguity of the lyrics is another key aspect of the song’s enduring appeal. While some interpretations focus on the literal fall from grace of the unnamed woman, others see her as a metaphor for the disillusionment of a generation. The song was released just a few years after the assassination of John F. Kennedy, a pivotal moment that shattered the idealism of the early 1960s. Like a Rolling Stone captures the cynicism and alienation that followed, a sentiment that continues to resonate with listeners today.
The impact of Like a Rolling Stone is undeniable. It topped the charts in several countries, becoming Dylan’s first major commercial success. It was also a critical darling, with Rolling Stone magazine later placing it at number one on their list of the “500 Greatest Songs of All Time” [Rolling Stone Magazine, “500 Greatest Songs of All Time”]. The song’s influence can be heard across genres, from rock and roll to punk to hip hop.
Like a Rolling Stone is more than just a song; it’s a cultural touchstone. It’s a testament to Dylan’s genius as a songwriter and his willingness to push boundaries. It’s a scathing indictment of the American Dream and a timeless reflection on the human condition. So, when you hit play on Like a Rolling Stone, prepare yourself for a sonic and lyrical journey that will stay with you long after the last note fades.
Video
Lyrics
“Like A Rolling Stone”
You threw the bums a dime in your prime, didn’t you?
People’d call, say, “Beware doll, you’re bound to fall”
You thought they were all kiddin’ you
You used to laugh about
Everybody that was hangin’ out
Now you don’t talk so loud
Now you don’t seem so proud
About having to be scrounging for your next meal
How does it feel?
How does it feel
To be without a home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone?
You’ve gone to the finest school all right, Miss Lonely
But you know you only used to get juiced in it
And nobody’s ever taught you how to live out on the street
And now you’re gonna have to get used to it
You said you’d 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 stone?
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 the chrome horse with your diplomat
Who carried on his shoulder a Siamese cat
Ain’t it hard when you discover that
He really wasn’t where it’s at
After he took from you everything he could steal
How does it feel?
How does it feel
To be on your own
With no direction home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone?
Princess on the steeple and all the pretty people
They’re all drinkin’, thinkin’ that they got it made
Exchanging all precious gifts
But you’d better take your diamond ring, you’d better pawn it babe
You used to be so amused
At Napoleon in rags and the language that he used
Go to him now, he calls you, you can’t refuse
When you ain’t got nothing, you got nothing to lose
You’re invisible now, you got no secrets to conceal
How does it feel
How does it feel
To be on your own
With no direction home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone?