About the song
“Like a Rolling Stone” is a song by the American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, written in 1965. This groundbreaking track emerged from a handwritten draft Dylan created in June 1965, after a grueling tour known as the Bob Dylan UK Tour 1965. The song was meticulously refined into a concise form, consisting of four verses and a chorus. It was recorded a few weeks later and featured on Dylan’s fourth studio album, *Highway 61 Revisited*.
The recording process was challenging, spanning two days of intense work. Initially written in a 3/4 time signature, the song did not come together as Dylan had hoped. He made a significant breakthrough by experimenting with a rock format, with rock musician Al Kooper playing the organ to give the song a distinctive sound, blending elements of rock and country. Despite its innovative approach, Columbia Records was hesitant to release the single due to its length—over six minutes—and its heavy use of electronic sounds.
However, within a month, the song began circulating in new music clubs, and influential DJs began promoting it. Despite the reluctance of radio stations to play such a lengthy track, “Like a Rolling Stone” quickly gained popularity, reaching number 2 on the U.S. charts and becoming a global hit.
The song is celebrated for its revolutionary fusion of different musical styles, youthful energy, and Dylan’s biting vocal delivery. Its provocative chorus, “How does it feel?” challenges listeners and reflects the song’s audacious spirit. “Like a Rolling Stone” significantly impacted Dylan’s career and is considered one of the most influential post-war songs. It has been covered by many artists, including The Jimi Hendrix Experience, The Rolling Stones, The Wailers, and Green Day.
Rolling Stone magazine ranks “Like a Rolling Stone” as the number one song in its list of “500 Greatest Songs of All Time,” underscoring its lasting influence and cultural importance.
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Lyrics
Once upon a time you dressed so fine
Threw the bums a dime in your prime, didn’t you?
People call say ‘beware doll, you’re bound to fall’
You thought they were all kidding you
You used to laugh about
Everybody that was hanging out
Now you don’t talk so loud
Now you don’t seem so proud
About having to be scrounging your next meal
How does it feel, how does it feel?
To be without a home
Like a complete unknown, like a rolling stone
Ahh you’ve gone to the finest schools, alright Miss Lonely
But you know you only used to get juiced in it
Nobody’s ever taught you how to live out on the street
And now you’re gonna have to get used to it
You say you never compromise
With the mystery tramp, but now you realize
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
A complete unknown, like a rolling stone
Ah you never turned around to see the frowns
On the jugglers and the clowns when they all did tricks for you
You never understood that it ain’t no good
You shouldn’t let other people get your kicks for you
You used to ride on a chrome horse with your diplomat
Who carried on his shoulder a Siamese cat
Ain’t it hard when you discovered that
He really wasn’t where it’s at
After he took from you everything he could steal
How does it feel, how does it feel?
To be on your own, with no direction home
Like a complete unknown, like a rolling stone
Ahh princess on a steeple and all the pretty people
They’re all drinking, thinking that they’ve got it made
Exchanging all precious gifts
But you better take your diamond ring, you better pawn it babe
You used to be so amused
At Napoleon in rags and the language that he used
Go to him he calls you, you can’t refuse
When you ain’t got nothing, you got nothing to lose
You’re invisible now, you’ve got no secrets to conceal
How does it feel, ah how does it feel?
To be on your own, with no direction home
Like a complete unknown, like a rolling stone