The Songs We Will Sing.

#45: Forever Young: Bob Dylan: 1966 – Rod Stewart: 1988

Bob Dylan is a poet. He even has the 2016 Nobel Prize in Literature for having created new poetic expressions with in the great American song tradition to prove it. Despite the fact that Dylan declined to attend the ceremony, he did accept the medal later in the following year and he did submit, and share, his Nobel Lecture which was a condition of receiving the Nobel Prize. You can find it on YouTube if interested.

Bob Dylan has written over 500 songs with over 2000 cover versions of his songs recorded. He is a master of lyrics and I think one would have to have a very hard heart if somewhere some of his lyrics just don’t hit that soft spot in your own heart and you think, Yes, I get it!

So today’s song Forever Young was written by Dylan in 1966 for his young son, Jesse. The lyrics are beautiful and actually the song is a benediction of blessing, good will and protection over a young life. It is also a reminder to us all that if we live a life that is kind, righteous, truthful, courageous, purposeful and joyful we stand a good chance of remaining forever young in spirit, despite the coming and going of years. I urge you to have a look at the lyrics; I can’t help thinking they are what any loving parent would wish for their child and in this sense they are both timeless and all encompassing. In my humble opinion this is what makes good poetry/ song lyrics.

But my favourite version of Forever Young is by Rod Stewart in his 1988 cover of the song; he nails it! Stewart changes the lyrics a little but the sentiment is the same.

Getting back to Bob Dylan. He has both a slow and a fast version of this song on YouTube which you can access. Dylan’s version ofcourse is a lot more folksy than the Rod Stewart version but the lyrics are simply wonderful (please google them) and that is why Dylan has the 2016 Nobel Prize in Literature.

Stay tuned for the next blog when we will discuss Alphaville’s 1984 Forever Young and the story which goes with that song.