Apocalyptic Themes in the Music of Bob Dylan: Can This Really Be the End?

It's been frequently noted how the arc of Mark Twain's life coincided with the appearance and re-appearance of Haley's comet. One might similarly argue that the arc of Bob Dylan's career has coincided with periods of cultural upheaval that gave birth to apocalyptic fears and doomsaying. Both the tempestuous Sixties and our current cultural  unheavals have generated books, articles and (now) podcasts forecasting the end of the world. (Examples include Hal Lindsay's The Late Great Planet Earth, Billy Graham's Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, Kurt Vonnegut's Cat's Cradle and Nevil Shute's On the Beach.) As we look around today the theme of doom has had a major resurgence, for better or worse. 

It's well known that from the beginning of his career Bob Dylan's music has often touched on apocalyptic themes. The Cold War weighed heavily on our hearts and in our thoughts. I remember practicing air raid drills in school and many Americans (including relatives of mine in Cleveland) stockpiled food and water in fallout shelters. 

Original lyrics to "Go Away Bomb." Bill Pagel Archives.

So it's no surprise that young Bob Dylan produce songs dealing with societal upheavals and the search for meaning in turbulent times. One such song, which he penned shortly after his arrival in New York, was "Go Away Bomb," which he wrote for Izzy Young of the Folklore Center.

Here are some other noteworthy examples:

"A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall": Released in 1963, this song is filled with vivid imagery of impending catastrophe. Purportedly written during the Cuban missile crisis, the song reflects more than just the anxiety of the Cold War era, it also paints a bleak picture of a world on the brink of destruction, with references to natural disasters, political turmoil, and moral decay.

"All Along the Watchtower": This song, which first appeared on John Wesley Harding, features apocalyptic imagery inspired by the Book of Isaiah. Dylan's lyrics evoke a sense of foreboding and uncertainty, with references to "two riders approaching" and "the wind began to howl," symbolizing an impending reckoning. The opening line sets the tone though.  "There must be some way out of here," said the joker to the thief. 

"The Times They Are A-Changin'": Released in 1964, this iconic anthem captures the spirit of social upheaval and transformation. While not explicitly apocalyptic, the song reflects a sense of impending change and the need to adapt to shifting realities. Dylan's lyrics convey a message of hope and resilience in the face of uncertainty.

[This hasn't been the only song in which Dylan shakes the tree and contemplates coming changes. See Dylan and Fifty Years of Change: Six Songs About Transitions.]

 

"Ain't Talkin'": From his 2006 album Modern Times, this song features apocalyptic imagery reminiscent of biblical prophecy. Dylan's lyrics paint a haunting portrait of a world in decline, "walking through the cities of the plague" and just walkin' "in the last outpost, at the world's end." Dylan's ominous tone reflects a sense of impending doom and existential dread. Then again, there are a lot of songs in which he opts for that ominous tone, (e.g. "Not Dark Yet")

Today, we seem to be confronting more threats than a Hydra, a mythological swamp serpent creature that would grow two new heads for each one that was severed. Wars, bombs, plagues, corrupt leaders, injustice, climate change, the tenuous energy grid... and a host of other threats seem to hover over us. 

In 1776 Thomas Paine wrote, "These are the times that try men's souls." There is a sense of peril in those words. The Great Depression produced a similarly ominous national mood, as did the Cold War--which in the Sixties was exacerbated by assassinations, riots in the streets, burning cities and and unnecessary war. 

In light of all this history, "Can this really be the end?"

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Related Link: Are You Protopian, Utopian or Dystopian?

Tonight is the kickoff for Duluth Dylan Fest. If you're in the 'hood and want to be part of some of the events, visit https://duluthdylanfest.com/duluth-dylan-fest-2024/