Like a Rolling Stone
by Bob Dylan
What is “Like a Rolling Stone” really about?
If you’ve ever wondered what “Like a Rolling Stone” by Bob Dylan is really about, you’re not alone. Let’s break it down.
Bob Dylan's 'Like a Rolling Stone' captures the fall from grace of someone who once had prestige and now finds themselves lost and degraded, questioning their new reality and identity.
So… what’s this song really about?
Bob Dylan's 'Like a Rolling Stone' is often interpreted as a critique of societal and personal collapse, where the protagonist once basked in privilege and is now confronted with a harsh, unforgiving reality. The song's verses detail the dramatic shift from a life of abundance and arrogance to one of desperation and anonymity. Dylan uses vivid imagery and allegory to emphasize the shocking transition and emotional turmoil experienced by the protagonist.
The chorus repeatedly asks, 'How does it feel?' emphasizing the emotional weight and introspection that comes with such a downfall. The question probes the protagonist's sense of alienation and loss, underscoring the theme of searching for purpose in a suddenly humble existence. As such, this song has resonated deeply with audiences as a profound meditation on change, ego, and the human condition, encapsulating the feelings of vulnerability and existential strife.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What year was 'Like a Rolling Stone' by Bob Dylan released?
It was released in 1965.
Q: What is the significance of the title 'Like a Rolling Stone'?
The title suggests continual movement without a clear destination, symbolizing the subject's aimless, unstable condition.
Lyrics to “Like a Rolling Stone”
136 ContributorsTranslations
[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?
[Verse 4]
Aw, princess on the steeple and all the pretty people
They're all drinkin', thinkin' that they got it made
Exchangin' all precious gifts
But you'd better take your diamond ring, ya better pawn it, babe
You used to be so amused
At Napoleon in rags, and the language that he used
Go to him now, he calls ya, ya can't refuse
When ya ain't got nothin', you got nothin' to lose
You're invisible now, ya got no secrets to conceal
[Chorus]
How does it feel?
Aw, how does it feel
To be on your own
With no direction home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone?