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Bob Dylan: Robert Burns is my biggest inspiration
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by LotusFlower | October 6, 2008 at 01:22 pm
485 views | 13 Recommendations | 13 comments
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"O, my luve's like a red, red rose," the poem begins, "That's newly sprung in June. / O, my luve's like the melodie, / That's sweetly play'd in tune."
These are the words that delivered us Bob Dylan who says that the Robbie Burns poem A Red, Red Rose ispired him more than any other.
Many will be surprised by this choice as Woody Guthrie has long been the one that most people believe inspired Dylan the most.
Bob Dylan's greatest creative inspiration is not Woody Guthrie, Little Richard or Odetta. It's even not Picasso or Cézanne. Instead, Dylan has revealed his greatest inspiration is Scotland's favourite son, the Bard of Ayrshire, the 18th-century poet known to most as Rabbie Burns.
As part of an advertising campaign this year, Dylan was asked to name the lyric or verse that had the greatest impact on his life. Rather than quoting his idol Woody Guthrie or poet Dylan Thomas, from whom it is thought that Robert Zimmerman took his name, Dylan selected A Red, Red Rose, written by Robert Burns in 1794.
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (13)
at 13:42 on October 6th, 2008
That's interesting LotusFlower; I liked the story. Go figure someone like Dylan would be up there naming poets as his source of inspiration.
at 20:54 on October 6th, 2008
I watched an old documentary the other night where 'eminent' academics argued that Dylan wasn't a poet and could never be compared to Keats who was a 'real' poet!
Burns was great poet and set his poems to music - and often older airs and folk songs - reminds me of someone!
at 13:50 on October 6th, 2008
I don't even think Dylan knows who inspired him; nonetheless, I am sure Robert Burns is one of many.
at 14:53 on October 6th, 2008
This engraving is from a well worn 1805(?) American edition of the works of Burns, published not long after his death.
I'm hoping to rebind the book at some point...
Cheers!
PF
http://slowprint.com
http://fraterdeus.com
pfraterdeus has contributed a photo to this story.
at 20:45 on October 6th, 2008
Love that engraving - old books but when you read them they are often still so fresh
at 20:35 on October 6th, 2008
LotusFlower, I like this story. It's good stuff.
From the very beginning of his career many people in Scotland were angry with Dylan for not crediting the traditional Scottish songs he based his 'originals' on.
He has also said he was inspired by the Clancy Brothers, who were 'big time' folk musicians in New York at the time of his entry into the folk revival scene there.
But, that said, both contemporary and traditional Scottish and Irish songs are based on old melodies used over and over. Poets usually set their words to traditional melodies - and so did Robert Burns.
Jazz music has the same tradition. And, while I'm at it, most of the classical composers openly based their compositions on traditional European music.
The important thing is that the old composers never claimed copyright. Composing songs and music wasn't seen as a business in the old days.
It saddens me to see how music has become an industry controlled by a few big multi-nationals.
at 20:50 on October 6th, 2008
Thanks Maireid for the flag and the interesting commentary. Great artists are never frifgtened of wearing their influences on their sleeves. We'd have no new art if everything was brand spanking new with no references back. The whole copyright issue has got out of hand. No one wants to see people ripped off but even fair use is made difficult by some organisations (rather than individual artists / writers usually)
at 06:52 on October 7th, 2008
Bob Dylan performing at the 2008 Virgin Mobile Festival at Pimlico Racetrack near Baltimore Maryland as the sun set on a spectacular Sunday in August.
Kirk5475 has contributed a photo to this story.
at 20:43 on October 10th, 2008
Bob Dylan got pummeled with vegetables when he played electric to a folk audience in Baltimore in the mid-60 - around the time "Bringing it all Back Home" was released.
at 12:39 on October 7th, 2008
LotusFlower, So Mr D likes the Bard, he's got even better taste than I previously imagined!
at 17:41 on October 7th, 2008
Ah, ye are all so young! Bobby Dylan, sentimental hazard. And everybody in folk played those Old Country (Scottish) songs back then.
at 03:07 on October 8th, 2008
Dylan live in Pittsburgh, 8/9/08
rupe33 has contributed a photo to this story.
at 08:27 on October 9th, 2008
LotusFlower, I like this story. It's good stuff.
Thanks for picking my photo! :) Its always good to see my pictures being used ! :D