Like a Rolling Stone

The Rolling Stones

About Like a Rolling Stone

"Like a Rolling Stone" is a 1965 song by the American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan. Its confrontational lyrics originated in an extended piece of verse Dylan wrote in June 1965, when he returned exhausted from a grueling tour of England. Dylan distilled this draft into four verses and a chorus. "Like a Rolling Stone" was recorded a few weeks later as part of the sessions for the forthcoming album Highway 61 Revisited. During a difficult two-day preproduction, Dylan struggled to find the essence of the song, which was demoed without success in 34 time. A breakthrough was made when it was tried in a rock music format, and rookie session musician Al Kooper improvised the organ riff for which the track is known. However, Columbia Records was unhappy with both the song's length at over six minutes and its heavy electric sound, and was hesitant to release it. It was only when a month later a copy was leaked to a new popular music club and heard by influential DJs that the song was put out as a single. Although radio stations were reluctant to play such a long track, "Like a Rolling Stone" reached No. 2 in the US Billboard charts (No. 1 in Cashbox) and became a worldwide hit. 


Year:
1995
5:38
79 
#2

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Once upon a time you dressed so fine
You threw the bums a dime in your prime,
Didn't you?

People'd call, say "Beware doll, you're bound to fall"
They thought they were all kiddin' you

You used to laugh about
Everybody that was hangin' out
Now you don't walk so proud
Now you don't talk so loud
About having to be scrounging 
For your next meal 

How does it feel
How does it feel
To be on your own
With no direction home
A complete unknown
Just like a rolling stone? 

You've went to the finest school all right, Miss Lonely
But you know you only used to get juiced in it
Nobody has ever taught you how to live on the street
But now you're gonna have to get 
Used to it
They said you'd never compromise
With the mystery tramp, but now you
Realize
That he's not selling any alibis
As you stare into the vacuum of his eyes
And say do you want to make a deal? 

How does it feel
How does it feel
To be on your own
With no direction home
Like a complete unknown
Just like a rolling stone? 

How does it feel
How does it feel
To be on your own
With no direction home
A complete unknown
Just like a rolling stone? 

Princess on the steeple and all the pretty people
They're drinkin', thinkin' that they
Got it made
Exchanging all kinds of precious gifts
You'd better take your diamond ring,
You'd better pawn it babe
You used to be so amused
At Napoleon in rags with the language that he used
Go to him now, he calls you, you can't refuse
When you got nothing, you got nothing to lose
You're invisible now, you got no secrets to conceal 

How does it feel
How does it feel
To be on your own
With no direction home
Like a complete unknown
Just like a rolling stone?

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The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones are an English rock band formed in Dartford in 1962. The earliest settled line-up consisted of Brian Jones (guitar, harmonica), Ian Stewart (keyboards, piano), Mick Jagger (lead vocals, harmonica), Keith Richards (guitar, vocals), Bill Wyman (bass) and Charlie Watts (drums). Since Wyman's retirement in 1993, the band's full members have been Jagger, Richards, Watts and guitarist Ronnie Wood who joined in 1975. Darryl Jones (bassist) and Chuck Leavell (keyboardist) are regular contributors but not full band members. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted the Rolling Stones in 1989, noting that "critical acclaim and popular consensus has accorded them the title of the “World’s Greatest Rock and Roll Band.”Rolling Stone magazine ranked them 4… more »

26 fans

Written by: Bob Dylan

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


4 facts about this song

Like a Rolling Stone" by Bob Dylan
1. Iconic Song: "Like a Rolling Stone" is considered one of the most influential songs in the history of rock music, known for its revolutionary sound and powerful lyrics. 2. Popular Recognition: It was named the greatest song of all time by Rolling Stone magazine in 2004 and 2011. 3. Innovative Lyrics: It stands out for being a top-rated single that contains numerous verses without repeating the chorus. 4. Release Date: The song was released by Bob Dylan in July 1965 on his album "Highway 61 Revisited". 5. Song Length: With a length of six minutes, this song was unusually long in an era where most hits were three minutes or less.
Like a Rolling Stone" by Jimi Hendrix
1. High-Profile Representation: Hendrix frequently included "Like a Rolling Stone" in his live performances. 2. Notable Show: His most significant performance of the song was at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967. 3. Special Interpretation: Hendrix's version was celebrated for its improvisational guitar solos which offered a different interpretation of the song. 4. Dylan's Approval: Bob Dylan was so impressed by Hendrix's version of "Like a Rolling Stone" that he occasionally performed the song using Hendrix's arrangement.
Like a Rolling Stone" by The Jimi Hendrix Experience
1. Collaboration: The Jimi Hendrix Experience's version of "Like a Rolling Stone" was a collaborative effort between Jimi Hendrix, Noel Redding, and Mitch Mitchell. 2. Live Recordings: Various live recordings of the song have been released after Hendrix's death, all demonstrating the band's dynamic performance and Hendrix's exceptional guitar work.
The Rolling Stones
1. Name Inspiration: Though they have no direct connection to the song "Like A Rolling Stone", The Rolling Stones took their name from a Muddy Waters song called "Rolling Stone". 2. Brief Crossover: Coincidentally, the Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan both performed at the British TV show named Top of the Pops, in 1965, and the Rolling stones performed the song "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" a week after Dylan introduced "Like a Rolling Stone" to the world. 3. Different Genre: Though both influential in the rock music landscape, the Rolling Stones are known for their long-standing influence in blues-oriented rock, contrasting Dylan's folk-rock sound. 4. Musical Respect: They expressed their admiration for Dylan's work repeatedly. Their lead vocalist Mick Jagger named "Like a Rolling Stone" as one of his favorite Dylan songs.

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