Pen Game Maxed Out!! | Bob Dylan - It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding) | REACTION/REVIEW

[@Morthoron1]

There's a reason Dylan won a Nobel Prize for literature. There has never been a lyricist like him.

[@avdude10]

Agreed, this song is amazing. I just relistened to Hurricane and once again was struck by the power of his story telling. There is a young artist named Ren who may come to be known as the modern Bob Dylan. WATCH his song, “Hi Ren” to see why I say that.

[@John_Locke_108]

People never talk about Dylan's guitar playing enough. This is song a perfect marriage of lyrics, vocals, and an exquisite acoustic guitar riff.

[@neilwoodley530]

It's alright Ma... It's life and life only..... This line has underpinned my life. At 70 years old these words are so prescient. Good work young man.

[@kathybwell]

Dylan had bars before bars were a thing ❤‍🔥

[@dougieyou]

So true...the first rap song ever....people should recognize that.

[@VIDSTORAGE]

The old country and western swing performers were reciting and rapping long before this came out .I assume Dylan was influenced by that when he was young

[@musiclover9361]

​@@dougieyouJimmy Dean's 'Big Bad John' from 1961 might be the first rap song.

[@dougieyou]

@@musiclover9361 never thought of it that way but you might be right...thanks

[@dougieyou]

@@VIDSTORAGE never thought of that but "Iv'e been Everwhere" by hank snow could be what your talking about

[@jasonmccluskey3623]

One of the Greatest writers of all time

[@elston3153]

@@jasonmccluskey3623 The greatest creator of songs ever and the most important artist on the planet, Singer, songwriter, lyricist , Poet, Sculptor welder, Painter,author ,Dj, actor, he has many hands, oh and he makes A decent drop of bourbon,

[@kenkaplan3654]

This song is probably the single greatest lyrical achievement in modern popular music. It is an incredible tour de force. When it and the album came out it , it stunned everyone. No one had ever heard anything like it. Dylan had already established himself as a great songwriter, he invented the singer-songwriter genre, but this was something else. This was a man already great elevating his game to unfathomable heights. The mid 60's trilogy has never been matched. What a treasure he gave us.

[@robinreiley1828]

I like that you mentioned Marcus Aurelius, the same concerns that he had 2000 years ago, are the same as Bob Dylan had 60 years ago, and that you struggle with today...There are some Truths that are Universal and are Real in All , Places and Times , for all Women and Men....

[@AnyangU]

IMHO, this is the wisest song ever. Pure brilliance. God bless you Bob Dylan and everyone else!

[@elston3153]

I love it when people get Dylan. You do, a lot don't when you get into Dylan you go deep, my family think I'm insane coz I'm so in to the greatest creator of songs ever

[@kenkaplan3654]

Dylan is one of the few, if perhaps the only, artist who has a monster catalogue of different versions, takes and outtakes from various albums and periods of his life that those who follow him eagerly seek.

[@philfranco7598]

Long live the greatest of all time! A true Nobel Laureate. With me all of my days through all good, and the worst times .

[@gernblanston5697]

This song is like Christmas morning for those of us who love lyrics.

[@allauricia1985]

I saw him twice But when I heard his music in the 60s It was so easy to become an addict for his stuff He had a lot to say and said like no one ever has or will again ✌️

[@frankmarx8997]

Great reaction. This song was featured in the final episode of The Soprano’s .

[@hongfang2348]

Yes, there is much that can be said about these lyrics. I'll touch on 2 things. First, the rhyming scheme is rather complex. Each line within a stanza rhymes and also the last lines of each stanza rhyme. Check out the lyrics to see what I mean. Second, Bob gave an interview to Ed Bradley around 2004 for the CBS show, 60 Miinutes. Here is some of the dialog: Those early songs were almost magically written,” says Dylan, who quotes from his 1964 classic, “It’s Alright, Ma.” “Try to sit down and write something like that. There’s a magic to that, and it’s not Siegfried and Roy kind of magic, you know? It’s a different kind of a penetrating magic. And, you know, I did it. I did it at one time.” Does he think he can do it again today? No, says Dylan. “You can’t do something forever,” he says. “I did it once, and I can do other things now. But, I can’t do that.”

[@PaulSchuster-yj4zb]

Thanks, I never thought of the rhyme scheme that way.

[@kenkaplan3654]

It's called channeling. It comes from a higher source and flows through you.

[@carlos_herrera]

Ever since Dylan won the Nobel Prize I joked that he could have won it just for 'leopard skin pillbox hat.' But this song, Desolation Row, Visions of Johanna, etc. Is really why he won it.

[@w.davidbegleyjr1134]

Desolation Row & Visions are pure genius. Not a week goes by that I don’t listen to both.

[@mapegatkinson92]

He made our generation think. Thank you Bob.

[@garyhamalainen1651]

There can be no doubt that Dylan was a master lyricist . When some of his 60s stuff came out nobody had ever heard anything like it. One of my favorite musicians of the time was guitar icon Jimi Hendrix, who was absolutely obsessed with Dylan's songs. If you were some sort of literature professor you could devote several semesters to Bob Dylan and not even cover it all and if someone wanted to know what Dylan was about, this song would be a great place to start. Simply incomparable.

[@unusual686]

Greatest song lyrics ever^

[@michaelwalker5257]

Great that you call him a "watcher". In another song the chorus refers to "my warehouse eyes" - which, to me, means that they're looking at EVERYTHING, and storing it up for later. I think this is one of his top five songs (along with Desolation Row, Visions of Johanna, and a couple of others). Good job!!

[@dyl-annfan6]

Bob Dylan is unique, a one off, irreplaceable, the likes of whom we will never see again

[@jnagarya519]

Dylan's voice: songs that fit the throat.

[@antonymorris1962]

It’s a rare joy seeing the spark of life in someone’s eyes when a Dylan line lands in their mind for the first time. ❤

[@kenkaplan3654]

"Money doesn't talk, it swears"

[@dougieyou]

"so much to unpack"....lol.....Iv'e been trying that since 65 and still trying to digest it all...funny how much of it still applies to today huh?

[@jasonmccluskey3623]

Dylan!

[@michaeldonovan4793]

When intelligence still ruled in the world of pop- Beatles, Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison, Bob Dylan, The Band, Neil Young, Pink Floyd etc.

[@gilevin100]

Iconic brillance

[@t0dd000]

Love this song so much.

[@tonywestwood7019]

Great reaction. love it. Thanks so much.

[@AP-gb3eh]

I miss hearing artists that have a great vocabulary and wield it . Poets are so necessary to a society

[@xmathmanx]

no need to miss it, it is there in front of you just a click away

[@arru23]

Listen to billy woods

[@Squeekyleaks]

There's Bob Dylan...then there's everyone else.

[@danielperezcabezas109]

I hear you man! There´s always a lot of stuff even in a single line of Dylan´s but you touched some interesting points.There´s a live version of this one in the Before the flood LP from the early 70es where he sings like he was hollering the lyrics at your face.So impressive.

[@philfranco7598]

Thank you so much for looking into this master.

[@HelynnHeels]

💖BOB💖

[@johannbogason1662]

One of his best song among plenty.

[@2leys]

My life was changed when I discovered Bob Dylan's music when I was in a miserable marriage and finding out who I really was. The song that started my journey was when I was watching "The Big Lebowski" and when I looked up the song that was playing it was Bob Dylan's "The Man in Me" and it changed my life outlook and showed me exactly who I wanted to be. Bought the album "New Morning" and never looked back. Here are some of my favorite thinkers and heart breakers from Dylan: The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carol- thinker Ballad of a Thin Man- thinker Who Killed Davie Moore- thinker The Ballad of Frankie Lee and Judas Priest- thinker I Shall be Released- Soul finder With God on Our Side- thinker One too Many Mornings- heart breaker Don't Think Twice it's Alright- heart breaker It's Alright Ma, I'm Only Bleeding- thinker Tomorrow is a Long Time- soul crushing heart breaker Chimes of Freedom- thinker Blowin in the Wind- thinker Idiot Wind- inspirational Tangled Up in Blue- wonderful Visions of Johanna I shall be Free I gotta stop there or I'll never stop.

[@tcanfield]

Sometimes a poetic image is so potent that it stays with you the rest of your life, like the way “bent out of shape by society’s pliers” entered my vernacular over 50 years ago, only I shortened it to “bent out of shape”. Fantastic metaphor,Bob - it applies to so many people !

[@Goatchild90]

"It's life and life only" One of my favourite songs of all time

[@lisarainbow9703]

I always viewed this as a counter culture anthem for the late 60's. It speaks out against the status quo... In fact, it was part of the soundtrack for the movie , "Easy Rider", which you might enjoy watching, Biz.. One of Jack Nicholson's earliest acting roles...

[@johnleebold8894]

Spot on man Bob is epic and his cryptic hard arse commentary hits the mark ! He hints at them strikes out profound truths . He has an enormous catalog and genres from political to personal gospel reggae folk rock country jazz So many vocal styles . Lyrically he is without peers . Do ‘ Blind Willie McTell ‘ or ‘ Slow Train Coming ‘ or his later work like ‘ Mississippi ‘ or ‘ It’s Not Dark Yet ‘ or ‘ The Early Roman Kings ‘

[@jonneil7169]

The poet Allan Ginsberg said at one time that if you understand one quarter of Dylan's lyrics then you're doing good, or something to that effect. Get what you can from it, but don't try too hard, just dig it. "Gates of Eden" is another masterful song worth hearing that i see no-one reacting to..

[@kenkaplan3654]

That's because he has so many.

[@zenhaelcero8481]

Saw Dylan in March of this year. He's still got it. If you get the chance, jump at it. Try hitting up I Feel A Change Comin On.

[@blanewilliams5960]

This is brilliance by Bob and a favorite of mine. I would watch that video Biz! Thank You!

[@cindyfalstrom7231]

I am in awe of this song because of the lyrics. This one put me mind of Beat poetry and also, strangely enough, of certain rap songs. I also like the fact that is was minimal in the singing - I'm one of those who cant stand Bob's singing voice. However, I do have very deep respect for this iconic songwriter and performer. If you wish to do a deeper dive into this song, I would happily watch it. BTW, I like the fact that you are including more background info on the reviews you are doing lately. I really love rock history and learning the stories and background of artists and the inspriration for the songs they write and perform. If some one else is bored by that, they can just tune it out.

[@dantean]

Those lines, those lines--each one like a flaming arrow straight to the heart. And the reference to Marcus Aurelius was genius. 🔥💓🏹

[@74artgrrl]

Thank you for covering this. It’s my favorite Dylan song and has been one of my favorite songs for at least 20 years. Welcome aboard!

[@philfranco7598]

Dylan was with me in ‘68 in Vietnam

[@scottsmith1712]

I've been listening to this song (and all other Dylan) since I was young child. My father was a huge Dylan fan... hated it in my younger years, probably because the old man played it when coming home drunk. Was in high school when I became a 'convert'... and it was this song. I've seen Dylan 13 times since 1986... 8 times with my dad. Thanks dad... and rest well, all is forgiven, you were a good man. And I would love to hear your take on 'the ballad of Frankie Lee and Judas Priest'... that song has haunted me since I was little, would love to hear your take.

[@gregusmc2868]

Bob is a poet. Seen him live in 1985 and 1990. (85 with The Band) ❤🫡 Semper Fi brother. (From a 1964 Boomer)

[@brettholcomb3763]

At this time Dylan wrote quite a few songs inspired by his experience of being "embraced" by the "establishment."

[@alik5895]

It's a topical song straight out of the headlines which we 60 years later can't draw meaning from in the immediate way listeners of 1965 could. This song was recorded the day that I was born. He was literally singing about me busy being born while everyone around me was busy dying.

[@themroc8231]

"Money doesn't talk, it swears" is a hell of a line.

[@LarryNeie-lj7zc]

That he not busy being born is busy dieing....that pretty much sums up our life!

[@billmiller520]

I'm a Dylan fella and I love your shaky perspective of his words. Up to interpretation. As he kinda said.....if I picture a house, I see red and blue but you may see it as yellow and green. It's about perspective. His words may identify with you today with this meaning but tomorrow it may mean something else. It's a perspective point in time. What you decide the words may mean today and their connotations tomorrow are significantly different tomorrow. Up to you!

[@billmiller520]

The important part is how we see it together. It's up to us

[@danielschaeffer1294]

It’s rather amusing when black reactors hear this and say “Hey, Bob Dylan invented rap???” Well, no, he didn’t; back in his acoustic period he did lots of “talking blues,” and they were just modernizations of Woody Guthrie’s “talking blues.” There was undoubtedly lots of folk poetry going on in southern culture, black and white, long before the phonograph was invented. Dylan was really a very traditional artist, and was proud of it. Look on the cover - on the coffee table there’s a record by Robert Johnson.

[@christinawoolley6206]

Love love love watching you soaking it all in! Thank you so much for sharing! 😽🎶💕

[@watchbizmatik]

💙💙

[@dt1064]

Rodger McGuinn did a good cover of this song in the movie Easy Rider.

[@mattjohn4731]

Definitely. It's a heavy song! 🎤💥

[@dannyhudson7675]

songwriter unmatched simple as that he is a genius with words

[@DavidsonYeager]

Appreciated your insight and commentary to this great Dylan tune 🔥

[@chrisgrey9616]

...."Desolation Row" is equally gripping...

[@davidcrews1923]

Everybody does it’s all right ma I’m only bleeding, but there’s so many more you could do, here’s a list: Like a Rolling Stone Desolation row, William Zanziger Up to me( version 2 ) A hard rains gonna fall We’ll start with those….

[@russelllowy9405]

Dylan, the greatest poet and the first rap artist.

[@IODell]

Great review of a great song. Thanks.

[@andysielaff2252]

we’re all gonna be there at the end. Thanks for being you. Keep on

[@Patirot101]

Spitting lines about the times the 1960s❤

[@MichaelBoscoe-es4kw]

I am 64 years of age British man bob Dylan and gill Scot heron poets and before I forget Leonard coehn😮😮😮

[@maggiebryan2355]

❤this one

[@SofiaNorling-j5i]

You REALLY need to hear his ephos on the JFK assasination, ”murder most foul”

[@deadwood75]

In 1965, the Viet Nam war was escalating, and so was opposition to the war. Lots of late 1960s popular music has an anti-war sentiment.

[@ricktiberio]

Spitting bars in 65.!!!

[@thejoelrooganexplosion2400]

Yes dude. Dylan is my man. Would love to see more Dylan reactions from you man

[@charliecochran3035]

There's so much there that you'd have to make an awfully long video to discuss it all. To oversimplify things, I feel like this is just a young man assessing the world he's entering, observing how fucked up it is, and saying "I think I've got this. It's just life." Edit...my favorites are Tombstone Blues and Desolation Row. Tons of funny and ponderable lyrics. Tombstone Blues in particular makes me laugh every time, and I've known the song for 30 years.

[@dignity0327]

An amazing song for sure...no one could write lyrics and songs like this...there is only one Bob Dylan...please give "The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carrol" from the Times they are a changing album...painful song about racism and injustice...

[@dead_beat_poet]

Great, very respectful reaction 👍 Do "from a Buick 6" - you'll dig it. Let's talk about it.

[@DEPARTMENTOFREDUNDANCYDEPT]

So glad to see you discover and appreciate this great poet/song writer. Is this not basically RAP? By a white boy from Minnesota? In 1964?

[@dudly8408]

I'm old!, I'm so old I knew Bobby when he went by a DIFFERENT NAME.. Now it's up to you to find out what that was. ( It's worth looking into!) 😅

[@matbritton6816]

Once upon a time this song was considered Pop music. 🤔

[@MusicFan1977]

A Marcus Aurelius reference? Nice!

[@shellybastion9974]

..Have you covered "Gates of Eden"? If not, might want to.

[@StephenDouthart]

I consider this the first Rap

[@seansersmylie]

Jeepers, you're on fire:)

[@dennisfarris4729]

Somebody probably has done a doctoral thesis on that.

[@jnagarya519]

Bob Dylan was a REwriter.

[@johno1765]

I'll watch if you print out the lyrics and discuss them in a video - I'm nobody." 🙃

[@lisarainbow9703]

Yep, I would watch it, too. I would enjoy a deep dive discussion on these lyrics.

[@mrnobody9104]

hitting me where it hurts brother 65 i get it is getting up there. but damn it's the year i was born!!!! Oh well beats the alternative 8 ).

[@rodneygriffin7666]

Dylan is Eminem's Papa! Way before Hip-Hop. Get Schooled young brother. Knowledge is Power!

[@glennmaher3098]

Try blind Willie McTell of the bootleg Vol 1-3 , i guarantee you will not be disappointed.

[@MrBoyneboy]

Bob Dylan had more bars than San Quentin

[@johncarr7198]

Brain dumping is right Bob just was in a motorcycle crash and in hospital, He tried to sum everything in a song

[@thomaskelley1718]

"Ballad of a thin man"

[@TravisMoore-w4h]

Gates of Eden?

[@paulschmidtke425]

I don't think bob even knows what he means , i like what you said about a brain dump , there seems like a lot of nonsense and then he dumps a phenomenal line , pretty sure its the holy spirit in charge of his pen

[@kenkaplan3654]

I thin k Dylan knew quite well what he meant in the songs he writes and wrote. All that "it's just songs" is a myth he created tom get people off his back.

[@johncarr7198]

Lyric- he who sings with his tongue on fire… Now read the lyrics of 90% of rap songs Hmm

[@colleentrygg7376]

He’s almost rapping but without all the profanity.

[@bakomako7607]

Pretty Saro (Unreleased from "Self Portrait" Sessions) Song by Bob Dylan best Dylan voice ever if people think that he can sing just listen this song :)

[@Pahdopony]

Speaking of writing, when will you get busy on a new rap record? You need to put those writing skills to use! 😁

[@John_Locke_108]

Cam I suggest not reading the lyrics while listening for the first time. Just focus on what you're hearing and let the words and music absorb into your soul.

[@dwhite849]

Far too much to talk about on this one - it would take a day or two

[@NancyMoran-r3b]

Eminem’s writing reminds me of Dylan’s.