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Bob Dylan — Forever Young
Album: Planet Waves
Avg rating:
7.2

Your rating:
Total ratings: 385









Released: 1974
Length: 4:51
Plays (last 30 days): 0
May God bless and keep you always,
May your wishes all come true,
May you always do for others
And let others do for you.
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung,
May you stay forever young,
Forever young, forever young,
May you stay forever young.

May you grow up to be righteous,
May you grow up to be true,
May you always know the truth
And see the lights surrounding you.
May you always be courageous,
Stand upright and be strong,
May you stay forever young,
Forever young, forever young,
May you stay forever young.

May your hands always be busy,
May your feet always be swift,
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift.
May your heart always be joyful,
May your song always be sung,
May you stay forever young,
Forever young, forever young,
May you stay forever young.
Comments (75)add comment
awesome song imo

Bob Dylan 1964 by ~kaleidosc0pe
©2007-2010 ~kaleidosc0pe



Joan Baez - "Forever Young" Live

"Joan singing "Forever Young" a Bob Dylan song. In my opinion, the best cover of the song."

That darn Bob, sure can write a touching lyric now and then!
dot lathers cream on his face. rubs a little on steve. marvelous. dot.
iTuner wrote:
Saw Dylan a few years ago and just didn't get it. The way one of my sculpture professors talked about him it was like he walked on water. That was 20 years ago and I still can't figure out the complete allure.
Just 'cause you can't figure it out doesn't mean your prof was wrong. Dylan is that good. Shame you don't hear it. This is one of his most moving songs, imo.
I heard this song when I was 17 when the Last Waltz came out. Thought it was a good idea - I said to myself yeah I'm gonna do that.
A beautiful song of life and hope for new generations. This was my favorite song with the birth of my daughter years ago.
Excellent followup from Patty Griffin's You'll Remember.
my grandmother's favorite song
ch83575 wrote:
Does anybody know whether this is The Band paying as backup? It sounds more like people trying to sound like The Band than the actual thing.
Yes, and this is the only studio recording made by Bob and the Band.
beakersbeats wrote:
this was my wifes "father/Daughter dance"...great song if I may say!
Ironically, Wedding Song is the best track on this LP.
jah_blessed wrote:
I guess you should've "been there" to appreciate this...
Wasn't there then and am not now. This is rather painful to listen to. Saw Dylan a few years ago and just didn't get it. The way one of my sculpture professors talked about him it was like he walked on water. That was 20 years ago and I still can't figure out the complete allure.
beakersbeats wrote:
this was my wifes "father/Daughter dance"...great song if I may say!
I was just thinking about my daughter before I logged on. No shit. And thinking this would be a great song to dance at her weddiing, whenever. Wow.
this was my wifes "father/Daughter dance"...great song if I may say!
jah_blessed wrote:
I guess you should've "been there" to appreciate this...
Ah yeah, I see your point...but you gotta admit, on most days, it takes a good strong cup of coffee to get through 'Buffalo Soldier' - is that because neither one of us has ever been to Jamaica?
jah_blessed wrote:
I guess you should've "been there" to appreciate this...
yeah, i suppose so...
I guess you should've "been there" to appreciate this...
I think it is Robbie based on the version of this song on the Last Waltz, it's the same style Robbie plays there. Papa_John wrote:
I believe so. Here's what AMG says about this song: Song Review by Thomas Ward One of Dylan's most charming and popular songs, "Forever Young" is an ode written for Dylan's children, a prayer for their youth, and although slightly cloying in places, it works beautifully. The lyrics are almost hymnal in their simplicity and grace — "May God bless and keep you always/May your wishes all come true/May you always do for others/And let others do for you" opens the song, and Dylan sings with full commitment to every word. One of the most touching images in the song is "May you build a ladder to the stars/And climb on every rung," preceding the chorus of "May you stay forever young." The song also produces one of the Band's finest performances on Planet Waves. Robbie Robertson's guitar especially is inspired. A slow, stately hymnal ballad, the song has been enduringly popular with Dylan's fans and is a regular concert favorite. The song has also been extremely popular with other artists, with artists as diverse as Diana Ross and Tim O'Brien recording versions of it, to varying degrees of success.
Beautiful.... simply beautiful. May God bless and keep you always, May your wishes all come true, May you always do for others And let others do for you. May you build a ladder to the stars And climb on every rung, May you stay forever young, Forever young, forever young, May you stay forever young. May you grow up to be righteous, May you grow up to be true, May you always know the truth And see the lights surrounding you. May you always be courageous, Stand upright and be strong, May you stay forever young, Forever young, forever young, May you stay forever young. May your hands always be busy, May your feet always be swift, May you have a strong foundation When the winds of changes shift. May your heart always be joyful, May your song always be sung, May you stay forever young, Forever young, forever young, May you stay forever young.
Amazing! It is unbelievable but Bill just managed to put a segue of 3 of the worst singers ever: 5:31 pm - Bob Dylan - Forever Young 5:27 pm - Coldplay - Til Kingdom Come 5:22 pm - Neil Young - Long May You Run Thank god, old Bob Dylan and, up to certain extent Neil Young, have indeed something smart to say and they are, by far, better musicians than the 'so-called-music' that came in between... To me, it translates like follows: 5:31 pm - redemption 5:27 pm - ogodpleasemakeitstop 5:22 pm - his voice, ugh...
This track is a great bookend for a set that included Neil Young's unplugged Long May You Run. The version he does with Springsteen is terrific too.
radiojunkie wrote:
Let's see -- Dylan has never sent thousands of people to their deaths over a pack of lies, but as far as I know, Bush has never written a song or tried to sing... Okay, I guess we're even.
Righteous.
ch83575 wrote:
Does anybody know whether this is The Band paying as backup? It sounds more like people trying to sound like The Band than the actual thing.
I believe so. Here's what AMG says about this song: Song Review by Thomas Ward One of Dylan's most charming and popular songs, "Forever Young" is an ode written for Dylan's children, a prayer for their youth, and although slightly cloying in places, it works beautifully. The lyrics are almost hymnal in their simplicity and grace — "May God bless and keep you always/May your wishes all come true/May you always do for others/And let others do for you" opens the song, and Dylan sings with full commitment to every word. One of the most touching images in the song is "May you build a ladder to the stars/And climb on every rung," preceding the chorus of "May you stay forever young." The song also produces one of the Band's finest performances on Planet Waves. Robbie Robertson's guitar especially is inspired. A slow, stately hymnal ballad, the song has been enduringly popular with Dylan's fans and is a regular concert favorite. The song has also been extremely popular with other artists, with artists as diverse as Diana Ross and Tim O'Brien recording versions of it, to varying degrees of success.
I am almost ashamed to admit that it wasn't so very long ago that I didn't care for the music of Bob Dylan...then I discovered RP...heard a lot of Dylan music...and now I really do appreciate it. free your mind...listen to RP!
I don't sing. But here I am trying to hit that high note.......... ForEEEEEEEEEEVVVVVVVVvvver YYYoooooooooUUUUUNnnnnnnnng.
Does anybody know whether this is The Band paying as backup? It sounds more like people trying to sound like The Band than the actual thing.
I love this song. It's not just the melody and the lyrics but also the amazing subtleties in his voice.
That's it, he got 'round to playing Neil Young and Bob Dylan, with short breaks for others. It's officially the Last Waltz Reunion Tour!! = ) 10:27 am - Bob Dylan - Forever Young (Coldplay) 10:18 am - Neil Young - Long May You Run (Kottke) (Bowie) 10:01 am - Robbie Robertson - Broken Arrow 9:57 am - Emmylou Harris - Where Will I Be 9:53 am - The Staple Singers - I'll Take You There
fretman wrote:
All this talk about Dylan's voice is like hearing crap about Lyle Lovett's looks. Enough, get over it, and enjoy the music.
See, the thing is--Lyle's looks don't affect the music, whereas Bob's voice does (making it hard to enjoy the music). His voice doesn't always irritate me, and I think he's written some of best lyrics I've ever heard, but it's enough for me to understand the gripes.
I disagree. It's easily one of the best sets. :P lotus_65 wrote:
easily the worst set of music i have ever heard on rp: 8:26 am - Bob Dylan - Forever Young 8:22 am - The Wallflowers - The Beautiful Side Of Somewhere 8:17 am - Neil Young - Long May You Run 8:13 am - Leo Kottke - Jack Gets Up 8:06 am - David Bowie - Heroes (live acoustic) 8:01 am - Robbie Robertson - Broken Arrow 7:57 am - Emmylou Harris - Where Will I Be 7:53 am - Staples Singers - I'll Take You There 7:50 am - Blur - Good Song 7:46 am - Modest Mouse - Float On (these where ok)
easily the worst set of music i have ever heard on rp: 8:26 am - Bob Dylan - Forever Young 8:22 am - The Wallflowers - The Beautiful Side Of Somewhere 8:17 am - Neil Young - Long May You Run 8:13 am - Leo Kottke - Jack Gets Up 8:06 am - David Bowie - Heroes (live acoustic) 8:01 am - Robbie Robertson - Broken Arrow 7:57 am - Emmylou Harris - Where Will I Be 7:53 am - Staples Singers - I'll Take You There 7:50 am - Blur - Good Song 7:46 am - Modest Mouse - Float On (these where ok)
radiojunkie wrote:
Let's see -- Dylan has never sent thousands of people to their deaths over a pack of lies, but as far as I know, Bush has never written a song or tried to sing... Okay, I guess we're even.
fretman wrote:
All this talk about Dylan's voice is like hearing crap about Lyle Lovett's looks. Enough, get over it, and enjoy the music.
Well put!
Bill, great triplet... Neil Young, followed by k.d. Lang's cover of Young's Helpless, followed by Dylan's Forever Young...... very subtle! You are making me dizzy!
All this talk about Dylan's voice is like hearing crap about Lyle Lovett's looks. Enough, get over it, and enjoy the music.
Mugro wrote:
Hey!! I can almost understand his lyrics!! It almost doesn't sound like Bob. Still, I hate Bob Dylan like the rest of you hate George Bush, so now you understand that I will never like Dylan! :P
Let's see -- Dylan has never sent thousands of people to their deaths over a pack of lies, but as far as I know, Bush has never written a song or tried to sing... Okay, I guess we're even.
Hey!! I can almost understand his lyrics!! It almost doesn't sound like Bob. Still, I hate Bob Dylan like the rest of you hate George Bush, so now you understand that I will never like Dylan! :P
Very nice stretch of music here (since Staples), even if it is a loop....
hey! a Bob Dylan song i like! cool!
lotus_65 wrote:
Well, I guess you can consider me entombed in steel and concrete!
Just jump in the ocean and swim with the fishes
steeler wrote:
Exactly. If you're not moved by this one . . . you can't be moved.
Well, I guess you can consider me entombed in steel and concrete!
I guess this block has bee about timeless anthems..what a delightful treat...
Johray63 wrote:
Though I understand what you can hold against Dylan's singing, it touches me a great deal more than to listen to some smooth singer doing a clean version of a song like this.
Exactly. If you're not moved by this one . . . you can't be moved.
boy, I\'m one of those folks for whom Dylan hasn;t ever done a bad song...but he sure tried hard on this one!
One of my favorite artists.... Is that "The Band" or the Dead backing him up?
The song is one of the all-time great songs, but like so many other Dylan tunes, I prefer the song when I hear others sing it instead. The version from The Band\'s Last Waltz and The Pretenders versions spring to mind.
Original Song: 4 Base rating for Dylan: 6 This version of this song: 1 Maybe if it was as personal as \"Lay Lady Lay\", or as interesting as \"Black Diamond Bay\", it would be worth keeping. This isn\'t worth the disk space.
Is that realy the great Bob Dylan?? I can hardly recognise him singing there.. For the first time on RP, I\'ll have to rate a Dylan song below 5. :( When did he sing this?
My favorite version of this is Joan Baez's, which I greatly prefer to this one. This problem with Dylan's vocals is not exactly new. In this connection, I'd like to plug "The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration" double CD, which is full of great performers doing Dylan songs. It is hard to beat, but strangely does not include this song. Oh well.
Sure, it's fun to make fun of Mr. Zimmerman's vocals, but it's the sentiment that get's me, every time! (Though, this is not in my Dylan Top 10.)
what the?!!? what is he screaming this time?
Originally Posted by stalfnzo: Does anyone understand a single word this guy is saying?!?
Only those who feel (about) the same, I guess.
Does anyone understand a single word this guy is saying?!?
what a performance!
The quickie acoustic version on \"Biograph\" is pretty great too. His agent (?) needed to have the lyrics so they could get them copyrighted. Bob couldn\'t write \'em down, so he grabbed a guitar and sang it into a clunky old reel-to-reel tape recorder. It was the only way he could remember the words.
This is not as bad as most other Dylan, I\'ll give it a 4.
Dylan is Dylan, he\'ll never be a great singer in the traditional sense of the word, but there\'s so much more than \"good\" singing that makes a song. Great lyrics sung with great passion and soul don\'t require a great voice. That said, Dylan\'s live version from The Band\'s \"Last Waltz\" takes what\'s great about this song and adds tons more energy and spirit to it.
I agree with barre1......it\'s Dylan\'s voice.....somehow makes the song more believable....
Though I understand what you can hold against Dylan\'s singing, it touches me a great deal more than to listen to some smooth singer doing a clean version of a song like this.
Originally Posted by Leslie: This is a pretty great song, but Dylan's vocals on this hurt my ears at times! Geez, the guy can't hold a note!
I'm with you on this song Leslie. Bob's vocal abilities don't do his writing skills any justice at all.
\'sniff\' this one makes me cry... so touching was sung at my wedding may you hands always be busy may your feet always be swift may you have a strong foundation when the winds of changes shift rock on RP
Like the song, but I can\'t stand Bob Dylan\'s singing!
This is a pretty great song, but Dylan\'s vocals on this hurt my ears at times! Geez, the guy can\'t hold a note!