Revolution in the Air: The Songs of Bob Dylan, 1957-1973

Bob Dylan has always regarded himself as a songwriter: "I am my words", he wrote in 1964. Distilling a lifetime's passion and study, leading Dylan author Clinton Heylin charts the development and first moments of genius of this unique artist whose songs changed the world.

From his first attempts at writing, Song to Brigit, in 1957 (apparently for Brigitte Bardot) Bob Dylan always aspired to poetry, yet his role as a writer rather than a performer of his own song is often overlooked. In over fifty years of creativity he penned some of the most iconic, and perfect, songs in popular history. He arrived in New York in 1961 the city had a enormous impact on the young artist and, as he established himself amongst the folk clubs and artist, he began to produce songs that spoke for a whole generation: Blowin' in the wind, A hard rain's a-gonna fall and The times they are a-changin'.

In "Revolution in the air" Clinton Heylin recounts the story of each song as it is written, giving a full apreciation of the songs themselves as well as Dylan the emerging artist. Unlike any other book on Dylan, it charts his rise as a writer, where he gained his inspiration, the moments that produced some of his most famous songs as well as the lesser know stories behind the more iconic verses. This is an essential book for anyone interested in Dylan and his place in literature. Informative, opinionated, packed with new insights and revelations, this is an instant classic.

CONTENIDO:

Seems like an intro
"Do not accept Chaos': Some notes on method"
Song Information

Juvenilia (1957-60)

Hibbing:
1. Song to Brigit
2. Big Black Train
3. Hey Little Richard
4. When I got troubles
5. I got a new girl a.k.a. Teen love serenade

Minneapolis:
6. One-Eyed Jacks
7. Bob Dylan's Blues
8. Every time I hear the spirit
9. Greyhound Blues
10. Talkin' Hugh Brown
11. Bonnie, Why'd you cut my hair?
12. Song to Bonny
13. Song to Woody
14. Colorado Blues
15. Don't let my deal go down
16. Just as long as I'm in this world
17. Mean Ol' Mississippi Blues
18. VD Seaman's last letter
19. Rocky mountain Belle #2
20. Down at Washington Square
21. NYC Blues / Talkin' New York
22. California Brown-eyed baby
23. Dead for a dollar
24. Big city blues
25. The Preacher's Folly
26. Red Travelin' Shoes
27. Talkin' Bear Mountain Picnic Massacre Blues
28. Talkin' Hava Nagila Blues
29. Dope Friend Robber
30. The Great Chicagoan
31. I'll get where I'm going someday
32. Rockin' chair
33. I hear a train a-rolling
34. Ramblin' Gamblin' blues
35. Man on the Street
36. Over the Road = Sally Gal
37. Hard Times in New York Town
38. I was young when I left home
39. Ballad of the Ox-Bow incident
40. Won't you buy my postcard?
41. Strange train

1962:
42. Ballad for a friend
43. Poor Boy Blues
44. Death of Robert Johnson
45. Standing on the Highway
46. Ramblin' Gamblin' Willie
47. Talkin' John Birch Society Blues
48. The Death of Emmett Till
49. Ballad of Donald White
50. Let me die in my footsteps
51. Talkin' Folklore Center
52. Blowin' in the wind
53. Corrina, Corrina
54. Honey, Just allow me one more chance
55. Rocks and Gravel
56. Quit your Lowdown Ways
57. Babe, I'm in the mood for you
58. Down the highway
59. Bob Dylan's Blues
60. Tomorrow is a long time
61. Ain't gonna grieve
62. Long Ago, Far Away
63. Long time gone
64. Talkin' Hypocrite
65. Gates of hate
66. That California Side
67. A hard rain's a-gonna fall
68. Ballad of Hollis Brown
69. John Brown
70. Don't think twice, it's all right
71. Mixed-Up Confusion
72. I'd hate to be you on that dreadful day
73. Paths of Victory
74. Train a-traveliin'
75. Walkin' Down the line
76. Cuban missile crisis
77. Ye playboys and playgirls
78. Oxford Town
79. I Shall be Free
80. Kingsport Town
81. Hero Blues
82. Whatcha gonna do?

1963:
83. Masters of war
84. Girl from the North Country
85. Boots of spanish leather
86. Bob Dylan's Dream
87. Farewell
88. Talkin' Devil
89. All over you
90. Going back to Rome
91. Bound to Lose
92. Only a Hobo
93. Ramblin' Down thru the world
94. Walls of Red Wing
95. Bob Dylan's New Orleans Rag
96. You've been hiding too long
97. Dusty old fairgrounds
98. Who killed Davey Moore?
99. Seven Curses
100. With God on our side
101. Talkin' world War III Blues
102. Liverpool Gal
103. Only a Pawn in their game
104. Eternal Circle
105. North Country Blues
106. Gypsy Lou
107. Troubled and I don't know why
108. When the ship comes in
109. The times they are a-changin'
110. Percy's Song
111. Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll
112. Lay down your weary tune
113. One too many mornings
114. Restless Farewell

1964:
115. Guess I'm doing fine
116. Chimes of freedom
117. Mr. Tambourine Man
118. I don't believe you (She acts like we never have met)
119. Spanish Harlem Incident
120. Motorpsycho Nitemare
121. It ain't me babe
122. Denise Denise
123. Mama, you been on my Mind
124. Ballad in Plain D
125. Black Crow Blues
126. I shall be free #10
127. To Ramona
128. All I really want to do
129. I'll keep it with mine
130. My back pages
131. Gates of Eden
132. It's alright, Ma (I'm only bleeding)
133. If you gotta go, go now
134. Farewell Angelina
135. Love is just a Four-letter world

1965:
136. Subterranean Homesick Blues
137. California
138. Outlaw Blues
139. Love Minus Zero / No limit
140. She belongs to me
141. It's all over now, baby blue
142. Bob Dylan's 115th Dream
143. On the road again
144. You don't have to do that
145. Maggie's Farm
146. Phantom Engineer = It takes a lot to laugh, it takes a train to cry
147. Sitting on a Barbed-Wire Fence
148. Like a Rolling Stone
149. Why do you have to be so frantic?
150. Tombstone Blues
151. Desolation Row
152. From a Buick 6
153. Can you please crawl out your window?
154. Positively Fourth Street
155. Highway 61 Revisited
156. Just like Tom Thumb's Blues
157. Queen Jane approximately
158. Ballad of a Thin Man
159. Medicine Sunday
160. Jet Pilot
161. I wanna be your lover
162. Baby let me follow you down (1965)
163. Long distance operator
164. Visions of Johanna

1966:
165. She's your lover now
166. One of us must know (Sooner or later)
167. Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat
168. Tell me, Momma
169. Fourth time around
170. Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands
171. Stuck Inside of mobile with the Memphis Blues again
172. When you walked away
173. You can't get your way alla time
174. Like a rich man's son
175. Absolutely sweet Marie
176. Just like a woman
177. Pledging my time
178. Most Likely you got your way (And I'll go mine)
179. Temporary like Achilles
180. Rainy Day Women #12 & 35
181. Obviosly five believers
182. I want you
183. Definitively Van Gogh
184. Don't tell him
185. If you want my love
186. What kind of friend is this?
187. I can't leave her behind
188. On a rainy afternoon

1967: I
189. You can change your name
190. Wild wolf
191. Better have it all
192. You own a Racehorse
193. Minstrel boy
194. Lock your door
195. Baby, won't you be my baby
196. Try me little girl
197. I can't make it alone
198. Don't you try me now
199. One for the road
200. One man's loss
201. King of France
202. On a rainy afternoon
203. I can't come in with a broken heart
204. Under control
205. The Spanish song
206. I'm a fool for you
207. Next time on the highway
208. I'm your teenage prayer
209. All-American boy
210. Tiny Montgomery
211. Sing on the Cross
212. Santa Fe
213. Silent weekend
214. Bourbon Street
215. Don't ya tell Henry
216. Million Dollar Bash
217. Yea! Heavy and Bottle of Bread
218. I'm not free
219. Please Mrs. Henry
220. Crash on the Levee (Down in the Flood)
221. Lo and Behold!
222. You ain't goin' nowhere
223. This wheel's on fire
224. I shall be released
225. Too much of nothing
226. Tears of rage
227. Quinn the Eskimo (The mighty Quinn)
228. Open the door, Homer
229. Nothing was delivered

1967: II
230. The ballad of Frankie Lee and Judas Priest
231. Drifter's Escape
232. I dreamed I saw St. Augustine
233. All along the watchtower
234. John Wesley Harding
235. As I went out one morning
236. I am a lonesome Hobo
237. I pity the poor immigrant
238. The wicked messenger
239. Dear Landlord
240. I'll be your baby tonight
241. Down along the cove
242. Odds and ends
243. Get your rocks off
244. Clothesline Saga
245. Apple suckling tree
246. Gonna get you now
247. Goin' to Acapulco
248. All you have to do is dream

1968-9
249. Lady, Lady, lay
250. I threw it all away
251. I don't want to do it
252. I'd have you anytime
253. To be alone with you
254. One more night
255. Country pie
256. Peggy Day
257. Tell me that it isn't true
258. Tonight I'll be staying here with you
259. Wanted man
260. Champaign, Illinois
261. Ballad of Easy Rider
262. Living the blues

1970-1:
263. Time passes slowly
264. Father of night
265. Went to see the Gypsy
266. All the Tired horses
267. My previous life
268. If not for you
269. Sing on the Window
270. Working on a Guru
271. One more weekend
272. New morning
273. Three angels
274. If dogs run free
275. The man in me
276. Winterlude
277. Day of the Locusts
278. Shirley's Room
279. When I paint my masterpiece
280. Watching the river flow
281. Wallflower
282. George Jackson

1972-3:
283. Bowling Alley Blues
284. Field mouse from Nebraska
285. Round and round we go
286. Forever young
287. Billy (The ballad of Billy The Kid)
288. Goodbye Holly
289. Rock me Mama (like a wagon wheel)
290. KnockinŽon Heaven's Door
291. Never say goodbye
292. Nobody 'cept you
293. Going, going, gone
294. Hazel
295. Something there is about you
296. You Angel You
297. On a night like this
298. Tough Mama
299. Dirge
300. Wedding Song

A select bibliography
Acknowledgements