Music Blog, Theme Prompt, Writing Prompts

Not The Stones But Like A Rolling Stone

Nancy's Notes 🖊️♬

Written for Song Lyric Sunday –
“Attention Grabbers”
This is my response to the challenge.

This week at Jim Adams’ Song Lyric Sunday, the theme is “Attention Grabbers”. Our challenge is to write about a song with a great intro.

There are countless songs that have great intros, and there are so many that hold warm memories for me. But ultimately, I selected one song from an artist who has been a part of my life for 60+ years, an international superstar and an icon in the music world who continues to write and record music and perform. That artist is Bob Dylan and my song choice this week is “Like A Rolling Stone”.

© Todd Alcott Graphics @ Etsy

On June 16, 1965, on the second day of recording at Columbia Records’ Studio A in Manhattan, folk singer Bob Dylan, along with a band featuring electric guitars and an organ, laid down the master take of “Like A Rolling Stone.” It would prove to be Dylan’s magnum opus, marking his move from folk into electric rock with one of the greatest rock and roll records of all time.

The lyrics are considered confrontational, targeting a formerly wealthy, pampered person (“Miss Lonely”) experiencing a fall from grace. It is sometimes associated with Edie Sedgwick (who was obsessed with Dylan) or seen as a commentary on the shallow lives of the privileged. Sedgwick and Dylan had a brief affair shortly before he married Sarah Lownds and many say that this song was written about Sedgwick. It should be noted that there is absolutely nothing beyond circumstantial evidence to support this theory, but the myth is so widely known that it’s taken on a life of its own and is therefore recognizable on its own terms.

“Like A Rolling Stone” was the only single from Dylan’s sixth album, Highway 61 Revisited, released in 1965 when he was buzzworthy …. especially in the New York City music scene …. but hardly a sensation. The song got significant airplay and many connected with it, sending them on an enlightening journey through his back catalog. Dylan’s producer, Tom Wilson, invited Al Kooper (who was primarily a guitarist and went on to be a very successful music producer) to play the Hammond organ on this song. Dylan loved what Kooper played and made sure it was a prominent part of the recording, famously instructing Tom Wilson to “turn up the organ”. There is a lot of controversy as to whether Kooper was even qualified to play the organ for the final recording session. Ironically, it is his famous organ riff that became a legendary intro and propelled “Like A Rolling Stone” into massive hit status.

Jimi Hendrix, who considered himself a guitarist but not a singer, was inspired by “Like A Rolling Stone”; Dylan proved you didn’t need a conventional voice to sing R&R. Hendrix often played the song, including a performance at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival; that performance is a classic. Hendrix had made a name for himself in Europe, but didn’t manage to make a dent in the US market until the fabled Summer of Love. After Monterey, Hendrix became one of the nation’s future music legends. Hendrix and Dylan met only once, but Jimi had a knack for bringing out the emotions in Dylan’s songs.

“Like A Rolling Stone” made it to #2 in the US – held off the #1 spot by the Beatles’ “Help!”. Dylan had another #2 hit with “Rainy Day Women #12 And #35”, but never reached #1 as a recording artist. He did as a writer when The Byrds hit #1 with their cover of his “Mr. Tambourine Man” in 1965. In the November 2004 issue, Rolling Stone magazine named “Like A Rolling Stone” #1 on their list of the greatest songs of all time. And, yes, in case you were wondering, Rolling Stone magazine, got its name (in a roundabout way) from the song …. but that is a story for another time.

This is “Like A Rolling Stone” by Bob Dylan

LYRICS

Once upon a time you dressed so fine
Threw the bums a dime in your prime, didn’t you?
People call say ‘beware doll, you’re bound to fall’
You thought they were all kidding you
You used to laugh about
Everybody that was hanging out
Now you don’t talk so loud
Now you don’t seem so proud
About having to be scrounging your next meal

How does it feel, how does it feel?
To be without a home
Like a complete unknown, like a rolling stone

Ahh you’ve gone to the finest schools, alright Miss Lonely
But you know you only used to get juiced in it
Nobody’s ever taught you how to live out on the street
And now you’re gonna have to get used to it
You say you never compromise
With the mystery tramp, but now you realize
He’s not selling any alibis
As you stare into the vacuum of his eyes
And say do you want to make a deal?

How does it feel, how does it feel?
To be on your own, with no direction home
A complete unknown, like a rolling stone

Ah you never turned around to see the frowns
On the jugglers and the clowns when they all did tricks for you
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 discovered that
He really wasn’t where it’s at
After he took from you everything he could steal

How does it feel, how does it feel?
To be on your own, with no direction home
Like a complete unknown, like a rolling stone

Ahh princess on a steeple and all the pretty people
They’re all drinking, thinking that they’ve got it made
Exchanging all precious gifts
But you better take your diamond ring, you better pawn it babe
You used to be so amused
At Napoleon in rags and the language that he used
Go to him he calls you, you can’t refuse
When you ain’t got nothing, you got nothing to lose
You’re invisible now, you’ve got no secrets to conceal

How does it feel, ah how does it feel?
To be on your own, with no direction home
Like a complete unknown, like a rolling stone

Source: LyricFind
Songwriter: Bob Dylan
Like A Rolling Stone lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Attention Grabbers

Big thanks to Jim Adams for hosting another great Song Lyric Sunday this week and every week. Be sure to follow the link and check out Jim’s site.

Thanks for stopping by and listening to some great music.

That’s all she wrote, kids. See you on the flip side. 😎

NAR©2026

Everything on The Elephant’s Trunk was created by me, unless otherwise indicated. Thank you for your consideration. NAR©2017-present.

48 thoughts on “Not The Stones But Like A Rolling Stone”

  2. Lots of good background info, Nancy. For some reason, I thought the song was about Joan Baez, but that’s just my impression. The lyrics are cutting (I think you have a few of them wrong here.) I love the serendipity of Al Kooper and the organ. It was meant to be. I adore this song and the intro does grab your attention. It has always surprised me how few of his song got to the top of the charts, and also the ones that did. “Lay Lady Lay” for one. I used to refuse to listen to Rainy Day Woman … because my husband was a pothead and I really wanted him to stop. Great choice, Nancy!

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    1. Thanks for some really excellent comments, Lisa. I appreciate them. Lyrics can be funny and I find so many times they have mistakes. I did my usual cut and paste which I got from an official Dylan site, not Wikipedia or YouTube. You’d think an official site would have correct lyrics. Go figure!

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      1. “When you stare into the vacuum of his eyes, and HE SAYS do you want to make a deal.”

        It’s a pivotal line in the song.

        I agree that the lyrics sites often have them wrong. Almost as if they do it on purpose to know if you really know the song. It’s irritating.

        You are welcome on the comments. I’m glad you chose a song by the maestro of all maestros for the prompt today ❤

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  3. Just my personal opinion but I think it’s one of the best, if not the best single of the sixties. It had everything and Al Kooper helped shape it’s sound…he is the Forrest Gump (with a lot of talent) of rock and roll…being at the right spot at the right time.

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    1. Haha! Love that Forrest Gump analogy, Max. You’re absolutely right! I also have to agree with your assessment of “Like a Rolling Stone”. It’s a classic and I could not overlook it today. Thanks very much for stopping by and sharing your thoughts.

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  7. Great choice, Nancy going with this classic. The phrase “like a rolling stone” has a long history in music.  In 1950, Muddy Waters released the song ‘Rollin’ Stone’, and this along with Bob Dylan’s song became the inspiration for the name of Rolling Stone Magazine.  Mic Jagger was mad thinking the magazine was named after his group, and he felt that they should have been on the cover of the first issue.

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    1. As you saw in my post, I hinted at the name of the magazine, saying, “that’s a story for another time”. I’m really glad you picked up where I left off and explained the origin of the name. I had read about Mick Jagger getting his nose bent out a joint, but it was still fun to be reminded of the story. Thanks very much for your great comments.

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      1. You can’t copyright the name of a song, and this had nothing to do with the Rolling Stones, so Bob Dylan may have been influenced by Muddy Waters and he waws probably influenced by someone before him.

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    1. There are some songs like that, and no matter how many years go by, they still remain timeless. Their meaning and their sound are as fresh now as the day they were written. I think it’s very important for us to keep our music alive. Thanks very much, Fishman. I’m delighted to know you enjoyed my choice today.

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  11. Nancy for some reason I still get chills when I hear that intro. It takes me to a certain place in time and it is a truly iconic intro. Great write up on this fabulous song. Thank you for the memories my friend 🥰

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    1. Music will do that. I don’t even bother to ask anymore; I just welcome the goosebumps that come with the memories and enjoy them. Thank you for your very gracious comments. I’m delighted to know this song continues to have such deep meaning for you. Much appreciated., Christine. ❤️

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  12. Never having been much of a Dylan fan, I will say I really enjoyed the movie about his life- and by way of that gained respect for his body of music. This song definitely fits the classic intro theme though, that is for sure.

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    1. That movie was so good, wasn’t it? Timothée Chalamet was brilliant; he made me forget I wasn’t watching Bob Dylan. I can understand why Dylan was never one of your favorites; his nasal twang takes getting used to. For us, he was the poet of our generation, merging folk music’s social conscience with poetry. He became a counterculture icon, winning the Nobel Prize. I’m really glad you enjoyed and appreciated my song choice. Thanks, Jodi.

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