Music Is Literature: Why Bob Dylan Deserved The Nobel Prize For Literature | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

Music Is Literature: Why Bob Dylan Deserved The Nobel Prize For Literature

“Music is the literature of the heart” - Alphonse de Lamartine

27
Music Is Literature: Why Bob Dylan Deserved The Nobel Prize For Literature
Strangertickets.com

I woke up Thursday morning and scrolled through my long list of news updates. One particular news story struck me as strange. Bob Dylan, a folk singer, won the Nobel Prize for Literature.

At first, the announcement annoyed me. Weren't there actual writers that deserved possibly the highest award in the field of writing? Some of my favorite writers such as William Faulkner, Hermann Hesse, and Eugene O’Neill had received the award in years' past but why did Bob Dylan get it this year?

I went throughout my day slightly mad that a singer won an award that a novelist should have won. But then I started considering the concept of literature as a whole.

Literature is defined as "written works, especially those considered of superior or lasting artistic merit." The field of literature is not exclusive to just novel writers but to all storytellers.

Bob Dylan’s lyrics defined an age of change. The 1960s and 1970s were times where the world had no idea what was to come. The Cold War and the Vietnam War were on everyone’s mind. Racial Discrimination was accepted. Fear was prevalent and no one knew when it was going to end.

I grew up listening to Bob Dylan but never understood the meaning of his lyrics. In school, you read the literature and history text book chapters about the '60s and '70s but you never hear the music. The music of that generation is the vocal embodiment of the feelings of the masses.

I recommend all people listen to his music with the lyrics in front of them. Music is poetry and Dylan’s songs are no exception. One particular lyric I always liked was from the song “Blowin’ in the Wind”:

“How many roads must a man walk down

Before you call him a man?

How many seas must a white dove sail

Before she sleeps in the sand?

Yes, and how many times must the cannonballs fly

Before they’re forever banned?

The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind

The answer is blowin’ in the wind”

That lyric is from almost 60 years ago but it still feels relevant today. We are now living in a time that is in a similar state of anxiety of the past. Our political scene is a stagnated insult contest. The fear of terrorism is always looming.

But what can we do to find solace in a time where peace is absent from the horizon? Nicky Wire, a member of the band Manic Street Preachers, said: “If literature or music can make you think or become aware, then it’s done something.” Art is the answer. Art can soothe tensions, bring people together, and give people a chance to reevaluate life. Great art breaks the barriers of time. Bob Dylan’s music is no exception.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

196627
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

18686
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

460743
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

28237
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments