Temporary Like Achilles

This week, I have been asked what my 25 favourite Bob Dylan songs are. I could not get it down to 25 no matter how hard I tried... but with much soul-searching and a few internal wranglings, I have compiled a list of my 40 personal favourites. Then I have an 'almost-made-it' list of 30 more songs which I will list in a separate post. I am putting my choices in alphabetical order without preference and I am not including any explanation at this point. Most of these songs have been analysed to infinity in the past, and my thoughts on them are not necessary. Of course, this is today's list - tomorrow things might change...

*A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall
*Ain't Talkin'
*All Along The Watchtower
*Ballad of a Thin Man
*Blood In My Eyes
*Brownsville Girl
*Buckets of Rain
*Bye And Bye
*Cold Irons Bound
*Desolation Row
*Don't Think Twice, It's Alright
*The Groom's Still Waiting at the Altar
*Highlands
*I Can't Wait
*Idiot Wind
*If Not For You
*It Ain't Me, Babe
*It's All Over Now, Baby Blue
*It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)
*I Want You
*Jokerman
*Like A Rolling Stone
*Love Minus Zero / No Limits
*Love Sick
*Mississippi
*Most of the Time
*Not Dark Yet
*Rainy Day Women #12 & 35
*Silvio
*Simple Twist of Fate
*Standing In The Doorway
*Subterranean Homesick Blues
*Summer Days
*Takes a Lot to Laugh, Takes a Train To Cry
*Tangled Up In Blue
*Visions of Johanna
*What Was it You Wanted?
*Where Teardrops Fall
*Wiggle Wiggle
*You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You go

These are not always the best songs (although I think some are), but they make me react in some way. Some just make me smile or want to dance. Some are there for the 'stream of consciousness' lyrics that I love to lose myself in and listen to again and again. I surprised myself because there are so few early songs on the list, and none of the 'classics' (Blowin' In The Wind, The Times They Are A-Changin' or Mr. Tambourine Man for example). I do love those songs, but they are not my absolute favourites. Maybe they are of a particular time and place that speaks less to me in some way than the songs that are from my own era (The 1970s and beyond).

Anyway, the list is organic and evolutionary... temporary (like Achilles)!