The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan

I never imagined I’d find myself thanking little Timmy for bridging us to a musical genius, but you have to give it to him here. His role in "A Complete Unknown" has sparked an obsession with Bob Dylan. I am starting out at his roots with the 22 year old Freewheelin’ Bobby, and it is undeniable how timeless this album remains.

The record is home to some of Dylan’s most iconic works, such as Blowin’ in the Wind and Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right. But for me, it’s the gripping tones and poetic brilliance of tracks like Masters of War, Oxford Town, and I Shall Be Free that truly resonate.

As you dive deeper in the album, the lyrics reveal a beautiful web of rhyme, alliteration, and activism, shaped in part by the influence of Dylan’s then-girlfriend, Suze. Rather than attempt to dissect this masterpiece in its entirety, I’ll simply share some of the lines that have stayed with me after countless listens:

“That even Jesus would never forgive what you do” – Masters of War
“I’ve been gambling so longgg” – Down the Highway
“When your rooster crows at the break of dawn” – Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right
“Two men dead ’neath the Mississippi moon. Somebody better investigate soon” – Oxford Town
“Ask me why I’m drunk alla time. It levels my head and eases my mind” – I Shall Be Free

- Cole, January 10, 2025