Bars!! | Bob Dylan - Subterranean Homesick Blues | REACTION/REVIEW 

A lot of people do credit this as the first rap song because it not only is a rap it contains all the elements of a good rap song, some anti government activity, some over bearing governmental elements, some what could be considered criminal activity as well as social justice protests. But Chuck Berry's "too much monkey business" could fall in that category as well

'It's alright ma, (I'm only bleeding)' has got to be your next Dylan reaction!

Not only is it a cool video, it was one of the first artist-made videos in the early 1960's. Waaay before the MTV era. In college, late '70's, I had an English Literature professor who spent a full hour and a half period, you know Tuesdays and Thursdays, dissecting "Subterranean Homesick Blues" as a poem. Thank You Dr. Garlitz. The man with the beard crossing the screen at the end of the video was Allen Ginsberg, the Beat Poet who wrote the Epic poem "Howl".

Yep, it's rap. You're doin' it up great. And it's not about his voice (which I love); it's about the poetry and the music.

Fun fact: The guys in the background are Alan Ginsberg and Donovan, who spent the previous night making the posters Bob was holding.

He was recently awarded a Nobel Prize in Literature for his lyrics

TANGLED UP IN BLUE!

Bro, you gotta do " sorry ma, I'm only bleeding" by Dylan. 🔥🔥🔥🔥 He is the original rapper !

"You don't need a Weatherman to know which way the wind blows" referring to the radical militant Weatherman/Weather Underground groups that were active in the late 60's.

tony bennet the great jazz singer was asked if bob dylan can sing he said 'i dont know but his phrasing is perfect'

"You don't need a weather man to know which way the wind blows" -- The militant 1960's anti-war group known as The Weather Underground took their name from that line. They bombed military recruitment centers to protest the Vietnam War. They killed several people too, including members of their group, when a bomb they were making blew up on them. The survivors went underground to evade authorities and a few did so for more than a decade, iirc. The bald bearded man wearing glasses off to the left behind Dylan is the poet Allen Ginsberg. When you're ready for more Dylan, check out Marianne Faithfull's cover of "It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue".

I think you nailed it on the fire hose. Dylan was part of the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s, sang at civil rights events, including MLK’s March on Washington, etc. He would not lightly throw around a reference about staying away from those that carry round a fire hose. The more you listen to Dylan, the more you appreciate his voice as another instrument he employs.

Exactly. His voice was perfect for his music. No one can really imitate it.

I think you nailed it about the fire hose. Tangled up in Blue is one of my favorites

That's Allan Ginsburg walking across the screen at the end.

I love how Allen Ginsberg was in the background

The more I listen to Bob Dylan, and it's been 40 years, the more I like his voice. No, he doesn't have a great technical voice, but he has great delivery, he has great phrasing, and he has the greatest lyrics ever written. Plus he has a very, very distinctive voice. #1 artist of them all, IMHO. Dive in to the great man's catalogue Biz, just for yourself. It's well worth it. Next? "It’s All Over Baby Blue" or maybe "Visions Of Johanna" or "Ballad Of A Thin Man" or even "Not Dark Yet" or "Mississippi". I could name 100 songs and still leave out too many.

The voice must serve the song.

I love "Positively 4th Street" - a great song about disliking fake people.

I've always thought that songs sung by the writer have that extra authentic sound, whether or not they can 'sing'.

Sorry Biz I hit send by mistake. The bussing line was about the desegregation of I believe school busses. "Better jump down a manhole light yourself a candle" was nuclear war. Jump in a hole and light a candle because electricity is gone. I love Dylan's voice, if he sang like a McCartney it wouldn't work now would it. I know I've requested this one so thank you but two more from this incredible album. "It's Alright Ma(I'm Only Bleeding" about the hypocrisy in America in 1965 and nothing has changed. That song could have been written yesterday. Also "Mr Tambourine Man" a beautiful song and the lyical wordplay is wonderful. Like painting with words. Hope too see these one day and please not live videos but the studio versions please. "Bringing It All Back Home" is a great album. Peace ❤

20 years of schooling and they but you on the day shift. Look out kid, they keep it all hid. Is a dope line.

You would like Don't Think Twice It's Alright. It's a breakup song in Dylan speak, also early folk with guitar and harmonica. It's been covered/sampled by many people from Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Eric Clapton, Allman Bros to Indigo Girls. The song ends with these lines: Goodbye's too good a word, babe So I'll just say, "Fare thee well" I ain't a-saying you treated me unkind You could've done better but I don't mind You just kinda wasted my precious time But don't think twice, it's all right

He's got a really organic, authentic voice.

A pioneering video, and regarded by many as a prototype for rap, but not rap itself - though Dylan himself said the style came from a Chuck Berry song (Too Much Monkey Business). NoDoz is an over-the-counter drug that will keep you awake, often used by students swotting for exams, but which leads to a person eventually crashing and sleeping very heavily.

Dad was always having country on the radio or watching it all weekend but any time he was in a really good mood he would be singing parts of this song. It gave me an instant kick and happiness )

Dylan has one of the most imitated vocals in Rock. Dylan is a stylist who sings with emotion. Dylan changes his vocals across his catalog many times, and on each album. Each Dylan album sounds different as he changes musicians on each album up until about 20 years ago, Dylan is also a genius composer and conductor. You're going to find Dylan is many things. His album's Bring It All Back Home, Highway 61 Revisited and Blonde on Blonde in the mid 60s changed Rock N Roll from that point forward. I've heard every album countless times, even his albums of cover songs.

“You don’t need a weather man to know which way the wind blows”……..truth.

Yes, Dylan is a genius.

"Not Dark Yet" is one of my favorites from Bob Dylan.

Once again Biz... you nailed it 👍👍Bob is a writing Genius! Spread the love 🐶😎🇺🇸Rap or Rock? It grooves that's all that matters 🤙

Great reaction, another great song of his to react to would be “It’s Alright Ma (I’m only bleeding)”

That’s funny, I’ve listened to it for 40 years and never thought rapping it, but Biz made it work. 🥃

Dylan was the POET of our generation. His twangy voice is part of the unique attraction. He isn't supposed to be a crooner. He had a message - lots of them.

Still killer to this day.

Bob's an absolute genius. Some of his material does actually show off his vocals. He changed his style so much. It's not smooth as such, but it's the voice of the streets and of the people. As Don McLean puts it in American Pie ''with a voice that came from you and me'' (which was about Dylan).

I love how you break that down from a rap perspective yeah and No-Doze was a thing in the 60s and 70s and it was actually a diet drug of some sort involving caffeine as an appetite suppressor, but it was also marketed as an anti-drowsy pick me up, like a really cheap over the counter version of speed or something.

You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows That’s a reference to a radical group in the sixties that was called The Weatherman. They were against the Vietnam war.

One singer that many would say does not have a good voice but he's a genius is America's first rock star, Louis Armstrong. And when you put his gravelly growl in a duet with the soft flowing feminine voice of Ella Fitzgerald, there is magic that can't be put into words.

Love Bob Dylan. Some serious smart lyrics. He has so many great songs. HIS VOICE IS PERFECT.

Bob is the man!

You are exactly right Dylan's voice perfectly matches what he's doing. Who else is going to sing this stuff? This would be a workout for any conventional vocalist. As you move through his catalog you are going to find that he translates very well with other decades. Serve Somebody, Sweetheart Like You are excellent examples of this.

No Doz is a OTC medication that keeps you awake.

It's Alright Ma, is one of his best from the same album as this song. Bringing it All Back Home, might just be a good album review.

Love Bob. I love singers with unique voices as well as great singers. Bob isn't for everyone.

I've always thought that it was like early rap. No-Doze was a supplement that was sold over the counter to help folks stay awake. I believe that it was mostly caffeine

Bob grew up a fan of old style Talking Blues. Yes, the cadence can be sped up a little, and you got rap.

Hurricane is my favorite Dylan song, and it’s a true story. Ruben Hurricane Carter.

You're bang on with saying 'His voice matches what he is trying to do'. Over the years there's been a lot of crap said about his voice, these people complete miss the point.

One thing Bob don’t need is DEFENDED!

The Einstein of songwriting.

Oh! NO DOZ used to be an over the counter product to stay awake, lol!!!

Bizmatic defends Bob Dylan! Increible!

🎶Hurricane, or “It’s Alright Ma I’m Only Bleeding”

“It’s alright, Ma (I’m only bleeding)”

I've always assumed he was talking about the fire hoses at demonstrations and marches.

Reading "The Collected Poems of Allen Ginsberg" just now.

"it sounds like he was wapping almost." After sixty years, you figured it out.

I always thought this was the first Rap hit song. Love Dylan & enjoy your reactions.✌️❤️🎶

Poet Joyce Carol Oates said his voice was "as if sandpaper could sing" and I can't think of a better description

Love to hear you check out Luke Kelly and The Dubliners doing The Rocky Road to Dublin. There's a fantastic live version here on RU-vid. Dylan was heavily influenced by Irish folk music at that time, a lot of it flows like rap.

One of my favorites of his! He has an awesome catalog. I have so many to request but here are some ...'She Belongs To Me', 'It's All Over Now Baby Blue', 'Just Like a Woman, the whole Nashville Skyline album which includes 'Lay Lady Lay" and the awesome classic "Girl From the North Country' sung with Johnny Cash, and 100's more 😀 I love his voice. His delivery with his voice is where it's at with his songs. He was out first when I was around 7 years old. I always connected with his music even though I didn't really understand a lot of the lyrics. then.

Personally, I think the first commercially successful rap song was Lennon's "Give peace a Chance" "Everybody's talking about / Bagism, Shagism, Dragism, Madism, Ragism, Tagism / This-ism, that-ism, ism ism ism / All we are saying is give peace."

No Doze was an over the counter drug which had caffeine (main ingredient) in it. Students would pop them before studying for tests, etc.

Go ahead young fellas, break down these bars, do the history ! He would have rappers today going crazy

It’s his lyrics (poems) and his delivery that make Bob Dylan the man!!!

Bob is a great singer, just check out anything he did from the Rolling Thunder Review from 1976.

Have you reacted to his Hurricane about falsely imprisoned boxer Ruben Hurricane Carter? Biz, it’s an absolute must!!!❤

Whether or not you think of this song as precursor to rap, it's a groundbreaking song (and video) and a brilliant marriage of lyrics and rhythm. And it does bring home a related point. Rap music is a kind of folk music --- it's the voice of the people, it's what's going on in the street. It challenges the establishment and the status quo. And there are some brilliant lyrics -- most famously: "You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows" and "20 years of schoolin' and they put you on the day shift."

Thank you for this reaction. Now you NEED to see the Weird Al parody of this video, Bob. It is hysterical.

Major historical song 🎵

You get Dylan, you're going deep believe me

If you want to see a Dylan song where we can sing, check out "One More Cup of Coffee"

Definitely gotta do the Hurricane.........true story of Rubrn Carter......

Bob Dylan won the Nobel Prize for Literature... I think he was the first musician it was ever given to...

Now you have to do Weird Al's 'Bob'. It is a parody of this song and video. I won't spoil the incredible brainiac feat he pulled off with his version. You gotta see it yourself. Big brain stuff.

The lyrics about not needing a Weather Man to know which way the wind blows is referring to the radical group…the Weather Underground.

I love this video. And poet Allen Ginsberg, hanging out in the alley.

Bob going electric. Groundbreaking song. Two of the greatest records ever recorded were right around the corner and it all started here.

Okay I'm gonna sub you. Notice that the queue cards misspel words intentionally, kind of like platforms do now for branding. Bob's always ahead of the game

Love you, man, you're right on. I was only 11 when this one came out, and i really really dug it. changed my brain.

Always loved this song and video!

Always thought Dylan was the first rapper.❤❤❤

You check out Dylan in later years. I recommend Thunder on the Mountain (2006.) Great job.

Bobs voice was often mimicked for comedic purpose’s because he really had a distinct sound.

I feel as though when you go back to listen on your own you are gonna wanna start with the bootleg series great collection of work by him

Bob Dylan mentioned in an interview he would sit and listen to young black girls chant in rhyme while they skipped rope. It’s not surprising it showed up in his music.

Good analysis of what Bob Dylan brings to the table. A true beat poet. Some would even say the greatest. But if you want a great singer with lyrical genius, Dylan may not be your guy. That's where I think Van Morrison came in.

Now that you've seen this one, you MUST watch Weird Al Yankovic's parody of this called "Bob". It is amazing!!♥

He is the original spoken i suppose - some inspiration for the sticks and stones age of beat music in american pop radio // would be interested to hear others thoughts ! It would be cool if you do a react of my microsongs if you like one ❤

Yesss….yes that’s exactly what he's talking ‘bout

You should check out Weird Al Yankovic's Bob. His parody of this video is genius.

Definately check out Its Allright Ma (I’m only Bleeding)

In his earlier LPs, Dylan did several 'Talkin' Blues' songs (ie: Talkin' Bear Mountain Picnic Massacre Blues, Talkin' John Birch Paranoid Blues, Talkin' New York, Talkin' World War III Blues.' Most of these songs feature more of his comedic side). Perhaps these tunes may have been a precursor to rap. A few other Dylan songs that showcase his barz are, Bob Dylan's 115th Dream, It's Alright Ma (I'm Only Bleeding), and of course, Like a Rolling Stone.

The fire hoses were used against most protesters of that era, civil rights and Vietnam protest for sure 👍🏼

Well first rap song or not, this is from 1965, and probably draws from a tradition of "talking blues" that predates Dylan... a style sometimes employed by Woody Guthrie, one of Dylan's primary influences.

Great work. The pump don’t work, cause the vandals took the Handle. You are my pop Guru.

First ever music video? The poet Allen Ginsberg in the background

The first legit rap, 1965. Quite a few Dylan compositions are rap. "It's all right Ma I'm only Bleeding" and "Maggie's Farm" are prime examples.

If you don't count Gilbert & Sullivan or Cole Porter, yeah, this may be the first rap song. Of course, they were called patter songs.