Aretha with no goals, eternally single & one step soft of heaven/ let it be understood that she owns this melody along with her emotional diplomats & her earth & her musical secrets
Bob DylanRead
People are going to say, ‘Well, it’s not very truthful.’ But a songwriter doesn’t care about what’s truthful. What he cares about is what should’ve happened, what could’ve happened. That’s its own kind of truth. It’s like people who read Shakespeare plays, but they never see a Shakespeare play. I think they just use his name.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the subjective nature of truth in art, particularly in songwriting, where emotional resonance matters more than factual accuracy.
Bob Dylan highlights the distinction between factual truth and the deeper, emotional truth often conveyed through songwriting. He suggests that a songwriter prioritizes the essence of an experience over its literal accuracy, creating a form of truth that resonates more profoundly with listeners. This echoes the idea that many appreciate artistic works, such as plays by Shakespeare, without engaging with them in their intended form, relying instead on a superficial understanding.
Themes
TruthSongwritingArtEmotionSubjectivity
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about songwriting at a music seminar, this quote can be used to illustrate the artistic license taken by songwriters.
More from Bob Dylan
All quotes →If I wasn't Bob Dylan, I'd probably think that Bob Dylan has a lot of answers myself.
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Some formulas are too complex and I don't want anything to do with them.
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My songs are personal music, they're not communal. I wouldn't want people singing along with me. It would sound funny. I'm not playing campfire meetings. I don't remember anyone singing along with Elvis, Carl Perkins or Little Richard.
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I wish that for just one time you could stand inside my shoes. You'd know what a drag it is to see you.
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