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Bob Dylan's Most Emo Lyrics

Emo Bob DylanFrazer Harrison, Getty Images

Bob Dylan is one of America's musical fountainheads. He distilled folk, blues, rock, jazz and more into a singular style, one that would be reduced, reused and recycled throughout the years by hundreds of artists including himself. One thing that Dylan is revered for above all else is his contribution to the lyrical canon -- many call him a poet (and many refuse to acknowledge him as anything else other than a good lyricist). So, we at Spinner decided to delve into another lyrically driven genre not often associated with Dylan -- emo.

Today, in honor of his 71st birthday, and in honor of this ridiculous picture of him that we found yesterday, we pay tribute to Bob Dylan's most emo lyrics. Some have been taken out of context for comedic purpose and brevity.

"Standing in the Doorway," Time Out of Mind
"Don't know if I saw you, if I would kiss you or kill you
It probably wouldn't matter to you anyhow"

"Idiot Wind," Blood on the Tracks
"You're an idiot, babe
It's a wonder that you still know how to breathe"

"She's Your Lover Now," Bootleg Series 1-3
"Both were so glad
To watch me destroy what I had
Pain sure brings out the best in people, doesn't it?"

"If You See Her Say Hello," Blood on the Tracks
"Oh, whatever makes her happy, I won't stand in the way
Though the bitter taste still lingers on from the night I tried to make her stay"

"Ballad In Plain D," Another Side of Bob Dylan
"All is gone, all is gone, admit it, take flight
I gagged in contradiction, tears blinding my sight
My mind it was mangled, I ran into the night
Leaving all of love's ashes behind me."

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"Baby, Stop Crying," Street Legal
"You been down to the bottom with a bad man, babe
But you're back where you belong
Go get me my pistol, babe
Honey, I can't tell right from wrong"

"Thunder on the Mountain," Modern Times
"I was thinking about Alicia Keys, couldn't keep from crying"

"Mississippi," Love and Theft
"Your days are numbered, so are mine
Time is piling up, we struggle and we scrape
We're all boxed in, nowhere to escape"

"Positively 4th Street," Single
"I know the reason
That you talk behind my back
I used to be among the crowd
You're in with"

"Like a Rolling Stone," Highway 61 Revisited
"How does it feel
To be on your own
With no direction home
Like a complete unknown"

The Life and Career of Bob Dylan

Filed by Theo Spielberg, Cameron Matthews and Ken Partridge

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mojo

there was the depest love in his lyrics, and also the deepest hate. problem was they both could be the same lyric, depending on the mood he was in on the night he sang the song

Monday at 10:16 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
crownjamesp

Aint never was nobody like him never before an aint never gon be nobody like him never again. May he live forever.

May 24 2012 at 5:33 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply