The Lyrics: 1961-2012

About this book

A major publishing eventa beautiful comprehensive collection of the lyrics of Bob Dylan with artwork from thirty-three albums edited and with an introduction by Christopher Ricks. As it was well put by Al Kooper (the man behind the organ on Like a Rolling Stone) Bob is the equivalent of William Shakespeare. What Shakespeare did in his time Bob does in his time. Christopher Ricks editor of T.S. Eliot Samuel Beckett Tennyson and The Oxford Book of English Verse has no argument with Mr. Koopers assessment and Dylan is attended to accordingly in this authoritative edition of his lyrics. In the words of Ricks: For fifty years all the world has delighted in Bob Dylans books of words and more than words: provocative mysterious touching baffling not-to-be-pinned-down intriguing and a reminder that genius is free to do as it chooses. And again and again these are not the words that he sings on the initially released albums. This edition changes things giving us the words from officially released studio and live recordings as well as selected variant lyrics and revisions to these recent revisions and retrospective ones; and from the archives words that till now have not been published. The Lyrics edited with diligence by Christopher Ricks Lisa Nemrow and Julie Nemrow. As set down as sung and as sung again.