‘Like a Rolling Stone’ is a song by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, released on July 20, 1965.
The 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 cut down the original 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.
Like A Rolling Stone’s clever mixture of folk rhythms combined with electric rock and roll, its anthemic hook (thanks to Al Kooper’s unique organ riff), plus its defiant yet vulnerable lyrics had a massive impact on the music of the 1960s
The song has topped the Rolling Stone Magazine’s ‘500 Greatest Songs Of All Time’ list every time the list has been updated since 2004.
Songwriter - Bob Dylan
Producer - Tom Wilson
SONG LYRICS
[Verse 1]
Once upon a time you dressed so fineThrew 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 a-kiddin' you
You used to laugh about
Everybody that was hangin' out
Now you don't talk so loud
Now you don't seem so proud
About having to be scrounging your next meal
[Chorus]
How does it feel?
How does it feel?
To be without a home?
Like a complete unknown?
Like a rolling stone?
[Verse 2]
Aw, you've gone to the finest school all right, Miss Lonely
But ya know ya only used to get juiced in it
Nobody's ever taught ya 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?"
[Chorus]
How does it feel?
How does it feel?
To be on your own
With no direction home
A complete unknown
Like a rolling stone?
[Verse 3]
Aw, you never turned around to see the frowns
On the jugglers and the clowns when they all did tricks for 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 discover that
He really wasn't where it's at
After he took from you everything he could steal?
[Chorus]
How does it feel?
How does it feel?
To hang on your own
With no direction home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone?