Learn English with English, baby!

Join for FREE!

Social_nav_masthead_logged_in
 
Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan

Date: Nov 10 2008

Themes: History, Music

Grammar: Past Progressive Tense

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

Who is the greatest American songwriter alive today? A lot of people would probably say it’s Bob Dylan. He’s been writing and recording songs since the 1960s, when his powerful protest songs inspired an entire generation of young people who were fighting for peace and equality.

Bob Dylan’s music incorporates a lot of different influences, including folk, blues, country, and rock. Over the years, he has continued to grow and change as an artist. He still gives over 100 concerts per year, and he just released a new album of poetic and soulful songs, sung in his increasingly gruff voice, Tell Tale Signs.

But critics of Bob Dylan complain that he’s basically over the hill. They don’t like the rough sound of his voice and feel that his newer songs don’t live up to his earlier material. Listen to Marni tell Jason what it was like to see this legend in person.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

Log in to Listen

2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Jason

Jason

Marni

Marni

Jason:  I know you cater for a lot of famous people…

Marni:  Yeah, yeah.

Jason:  Do you have, like, an autograph book or something you get them all to sign?

Marni:  No, actually, I…It’s kind of…I’m not very star struck easily, so I don’t…I mean, that’s actually part of, like, the job. You know, like, you need to be professional and not bother the artists. But there was one person that we catered for that I just couldn’t resist.

Jason:  Jordan Knight?

Marni:  Close! No, it was actually Bob Dylan.

Jason:  Oh, wow!

Marni:  Yeah. Yeah, well, you know, he’s like, he’s the voice of a generation. He was such a huge, you know, counterculture icon. I…He was right there, you know, sitting right in front of us. And I just couldn’t resist.

Jason:  What was he like? Was he as grizzled as his new music sounds?

Marni:  He…He actually looked pretty cool, I gotta say. He was like just sitting backstage with a cowboy hat on and cowboy boots. And he was just kind of chatting with, uh, fellow musicians. He, um…I mean, you know, he’s…I guess, you know, he’s older, he’s over the hill, whatever you want to say. But he…He looked great. And, I don’t know, I was really moved by him at that time.

Jason:  Oh, really.

Marni:  Yeah.

Jason:  Were you moved more by his legacy of you know, protest songs, and all that stuff, or are you moved still by his new music, his new sort of bluesier…

Marni:  Yeah, I guess I’m moved more by just sort of the legend of Bob Dylan. Just sort of his…who he is, you know, as a whole. I have to admit, like some of his newer songs…I think he’s like very hit or miss right now. Like his voice…Sometimes he sounds great, sometimes kind of garbled. That particular moment, he sounded great. Like that show, he actually sounded really good. And I was like, what a great note to go out on, to…to see Bob Dylan one last time.

 

Grammar Point

Go Super to learn "Past Progressive Tense" from this lesson Go Super!

Quizzes

Go Super to take Quiz Go Super!

 

Lesson MP3

Go Super to download full lesson MP3 Go Super!

The iTEP® test

  • Schedule an iTEP® test and take the official English Practice Test.

    Take Now >

Discussion

Jason wants to know if Marni has a lot of celebrities’ autographs, since she works for a company that provides food at big events where there are often a lot of famous people. The only person Marni has ever asked for an autograph from is Bob Dylan.

Jason asks Marni why she’s so star struck by Bob Dylan. Although she thinks some of Bob Dylan’s new music is good, Marni is more impressed by his role in history and his importance to the counterculture of the 1960s.

Some musicians stop playing music or writing new songs after a few years, but others, like Bob Dylan, keep coming up with fresh ideas and trying new things. What part of Bob Dylan’s career is your favorite? Can you think of any other legends who would make you feel star struck if you met them in person?

 

Comments

Log in to Comment

miffoo

miffoo

Slovakia

Bob Dylan is huge rock, folk legend and influence many people. He never dieCool

12:41 PM Jan 15 2009 |

miffoo

miffoo

Slovakia

Bob Dylan is legend

12:37 PM Jan 15 2009 |

sxmmorgan

France

cest pourri ce document a faire par la prof Non ? 1E1 represent Bristol

05:58 PM Nov 24 2008 |

rony4love

Syrian Arab Republic

coooooooool

03:35 AM Nov 16 2008 |

zoebaby

zoebaby

China

hehe,i downloaded one of his songs,it seems….anyway,i'm totally blind in his before,maybe i gotta shed some light on him…but i think his vocal shows his a grizzled age.anyway, he was voice of a generation…

12:13 PM Nov 15 2008 |

hao100

hao100

Viet Nam

i heard his song once when i was in grade 8, but i couldnt remember its name. However, its melody was so smooth and touching..

12:12 PM Nov 15 2008 |

8rees

8rees

Japan

I like Bob Dylan's newer stuff as much as his 60's and 70's works even though I couldn't stand listening to his voice when I was a child.

I would feel star struck if I met a original member of Guns N' Roses, obviously.

Especially, Izzy Stradlin! I like him so much.

04:48 AM Nov 14 2008 |

josemarcos

josemarcos

Guatemala

Yeah! I love LIKE A ROLLING STONE

03:17 PM Nov 13 2008 |

Marcelolic

Marcelolic

Brazil

Bob Dylan still is a big icon of 60’rock until today! I like some his musics :)

06:46 PM Nov 12 2008 |

Marcelolic

Marcelolic

Brazil

I know many things about 60's rock,but Bob Dylan I know a little things,some musics just…Your musics are cool,but not all…It not to make a lot my taste :)

06:41 PM Nov 12 2008 |

basantarya

basantarya

India

yes I also like Bob dylan and his lyrics.He is really cool

03:17 PM Nov 12 2008 |

sukya

sukya

China

     How many roads must a man walk down

  Before you call him a man ?

  How many seas must a white dove sail

  Before she sleeps in the sand ?

  How many times must the cannonballs fly

  Before they are forever banned ?

  The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind ,The answer is blowing in the wind

How classical the lyrics is!!!His lyrics always  lead people to think deeply!!!yeah…definitely!!!he is a legend!!!Good luck…Bob Dylan!!!

05:21 AM Nov 12 2008 |

lemon__ lee

China

I have never heard about Bob Dylan before till this time

03:55 PM Nov 11 2008 |

Totto

Totto

Sudan

Boy Dylan and Bob Marly are the two of the most influential artests in the world.  Are you kidding me? Smile

06:55 PM Nov 10 2008 |

prakashgiri1986

India

Coolhello how are you

03:26 PM Nov 10 2008 |

kaira_harry

Yemen

i remember somthing …. i did search about Bob Dylan before long long time

i can't say anything about him expcet he is a legend

i'll lesting to he's songs …...

01:54 PM Nov 10 2008 |

kaira_harry

Yemen

01:49 PM Nov 10 2008 |

SÉRGIO

SÉRGIO

Brazil

That guy is an icon of rock culture!!

01:02 PM Nov 10 2008 |

Jerryxlj

Jerryxlj

China

 well, the predicessors of jazz hav'nt define the jazz as jazz that its parponents always put it, the views show in a deverge way particularly the Bobppers & Neobobppers

11:34 AM Nov 10 2008 |

cathyz

cathyz

China

I have never heard about Bob Dylan before either. But I'd like to have a try to listening to him.

07:41 AM Nov 10 2008 |

Likes (36):

See all >

Share this lesson:

  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Bebo
  • Share on Myspace
  • Share on Twitter
  • Email this to a friend
  • Share on Sina

Post Ebaby! lessons on your blog:

Ebaby! Cast