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
If you told the truth, that was all well and good and if you told the un-truth, well, that's still well and good. Folk songs had taught me that.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Truth and falsehood can coexist and both have their own value, as conveyed through folk music.
In this quote, Bob Dylan reflects on the nature of truth and deception, suggesting that both can be seen as acceptable outcomes, much like themes often explored in folk songs. This perspective invites listeners to appreciate the complexity of human experience, where honesty can coexist with untruths, and both can serve as meaningful expressions in storytelling and life.
Themes
TruthUntruthFolk SongsComplexityHuman Experience
In practice
Example use cases
During a discussion on storytelling, you could use this quote to illustrate the duality of truth in art.
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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I'm the oldest son of a crazy man, I'm in a cowboy band.
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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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