由於首張專輯多半翻唱經典民歌並無新意,因此沒引起注意。但到了63年出的第二張專輯The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan,讓Dylan一舉成名,整張專輯皆是由他親自創作,其中經典名曲"Blowin’ in the Wind“ 更是成為日後每個民歌手必翻唱的歌曲。他那種半吟半唱、喃喃自語又帶點藍調的演唱方式,為自己樹立了獨特的風格。他的音樂都圍繞在反戰、社會省思…等話題,就像這首有名的Blowin’ in the wind 就描述著,” The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind
The answer is blowing in the wind”,要勇敢的揭露一切不公義的事,那解決問題的方法就可以從在被吹起的風中找到。
1965年的新港民歌祭 (Newport Folk Festival),幾乎所有的民歌手都到齊了,在演唱會的最後當Dylan 與Pater, Paul & Mary帶著所有觀眾一起唱出blowing in the wind時,達到最高潮,這張唱片也在一周內賣掉了30萬張。當晚Dylan與Paul Butterfield Blues樂團的配搭演出,也成就了民歌和搖滾的結合,接下來Dylan持續該團合作,並1965年推出第五張專輯 “Bringing It All Back Home ”專輯,將電吉他加入了專輯裡,更加確立了民歌搖滾的風格,雖然引發了一場民謠搖滾的革命,讓許多民歌粉絲大為失望認為Dylan與商業妥協,背叛了民歌,但事實證明Dylan成功的將民歌帶進了一個新的紀元。甚至讓歌曲中的信息有個更強而有力的呈現。
之後,又陸續發表了至少50張專輯,樂風從民謠、搖滾、藍調、鄉村到福音樣樣都有。Dylan 在填詞的功力有著極精緻手筆,一些樂評家曾說Dylan並非十分擅長音樂,但這些出色的歌曲立久不衰的原因來自於信息內容的表達。他就像一個詩人一樣,選擇樂音樂來表達他的思想情感,並且從不停止巡迴,1988年開始了 Never Ending Tour 以每年100場的演出,巡迴於世界各地。到2010年為止,他與他的樂團已經巡迴超過了 2300場的演出。Dylan也終於在今年的 4月份踏上了台灣的地土在小巨蛋開唱。
How many roads must a man walk down
Before you call him a man?
Yes, 'n' how many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand?
Yes, 'n' how many times must the cannon balls fly
Before they're forever banned?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind.
How many times must a man look up
Before he can see the sky?
Yes, 'n' how many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry?
Yes, 'n' how many deaths will it take till he knows
That too many people have died?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind.
How many years can a mountain exist
Before it's washed to the sea?
Yes, 'n' how many years can some people exist
Before they're allowed to be free?
Yes, 'n' how many times can a man turn his head,
Pretending he just doesn't see?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind.