The Byrds - Mr. Tambourine Man

The Byrds - Mr. Tambourine Man 1965

"Mr. Tambourine Man" is a song written and performed by Bob Dylan, which was released on his 1965 album Bringing It All Back Home (see 1965 in music). The Byrds also recorded a version of the song that was released as their first single on Columbia Records and which reached #1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 chart and the UK Singles Chart. The Byrds' version was also the title track of their first album, Mr. Tambourine Man. The Byrds had access to an early version of the song recorded by Dylan and Ramblin' Jack Elliott during the session for the 1964 album Another Side of Bob Dylan. Because of their early access to the song, The Byrds were able to release their version just two weeks after Dylan's. The Byrds' recording of the song was influential in initiating the musical subgenre of folk rock, leading many contemporary bands to mimic its fusion of jangly guitars and intellectual lyrics in the wake of the single's success.

This song has been covered by many artists, including Judy Collins, Odetta, Melanie, and William Shatner. The song's popularity led to Dylan recording it live many times, and it has been included in multiple Dylan and Byrds compilation albums. It has been translated into several languages, and has also been used in television shows and films, and referenced in several books.

The song has a bright, expansive melody and has become famous in particular for its surrealistic imagery, influenced by artists as diverse as French poet Arthur Rimbaud and Italian filmmaker Federico Fellini. The lyrics call on the title character to play a song and the narrator will follow. Interpretations of the lyrics have included a paean to drugs such as LSD, a call to the singer's muse, a reflection of the audience's demands on the singer, and religious interpretations. Dylan sings the song in four verses, but only one of these was recorded by The Byrds. Dylan's and The Byrds' versions have appeared on various lists ranking the greatest songs of all time, including an appearance by both on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 best songs ever. Both versions also received Grammy Hall of Fame Awards.

In other news, I have added the lyrics to this song so you can sing along, or perhaps learn the song! This is how I learned my first Byrds song! Enjoy :)

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Music

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• 1965
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[heiowge]

Love this song.

[DeutschMatheLehrer]

@heiowge Good to hear, Heiowge! It was on my list so I just had to upload it. ;P

[philz96]

i cant find the original song!!!!!!!!!!

[tosomeothertown]

The 60s were not all about hippies, flowers, and love..it was a turbulent time..young people felt ignored and outraged by society.Young boys were sent to their deaths by the evil called "the draft"..many people were killed/beaten just for standing in what they believed in (civil rights movement; war resistance)..it was actually a time of a lot of hate. Luckily ceaseless optimists like Bob Dylan knew how to epitomize the movements into such beautiful lyrics that take the listener away. Love them.

[philz96]

@RaVaGeFALLOUT omg! thank you so much!...im such a bad searcher xD

[RaVaGeFALLOUT]

@philz96 /watch?v=oVuVXqWfQeE&feature=r­elated

[ZarahRinuwar]

@tosomeothertown Maybe this connected,I mean the youth back then have to fight for its beliefs more and in every possible way,through movies,songs...and now what kind of films and music do we have?There is still no absolute freedom and there will never in civilisation.That 's why I wish I was born 60 years earlier – even with all the violence and fear back then.

[allyouneedislovefab4]

I prefer Dylans original version but i still like this one:)

[Floppyblondehair]

How can you resist singing along to this all time classic

[buckarooski99]

this song is what I think of when I recall those wonderfully happy, new, turbulent, world-changing days of the 60s (my teenage formative years)...I now look back from the perspective of a 60-ish "establishment" professional dude guy, and I miss those days so much...! Byrds and Dylan forever !!!!

[ayellowroseforro59]

I also perfer to Byrds version and my dalmation loves when I sing this to her :-)

Guess she has great taste in music.

[Lancaster730]

I prefered the Byrds version , Bob sounded like he was on something .

[mico21299]

I think Bob Dylan sings it Better but its a Great song