The one musician Bob Dylan says will last forever: “He rises above all”
Popularity is easy to come by, particularly if you have enough money and PR behind you, but becoming ‘timeless’ is a much more elusive quality. Artists come and go throughout the years, some finding intense success within the pop charts only to be forgotten about in a matter of years. Others, like Bob Dylan, completely changed the landscape of music within a few short years, committing themselves to the history books forever.
Dylan has always been a fiercely individualistic songwriter, operating entirely on his own wavelength and producing works that are often divisive yet instilled with an undeniable sense of genius. Within only a few years of his debut album, the songwriter revolutionised American folk music, earning both respect and hatred for ‘going electric’ in 1965. His work was regularly criticised by purists and non-believers, but Dylan himself remained committed to his own artistic aims, earning himself a timeless appeal in the process.
Of course, the folk hero was not entirely alone in his journey. From his very beginning, Dylan took huge inspiration from a range of true originals, including the likes of rock and roll progenitor Little Richard and folk legend Woody Guthrie. In particular, though, Dylan always maintained a deep love and respect for ‘the Man in Black’, Johnny Cash.
Originally, Cash had entered the music industry singing gospel music but quickly found an audience once he turned to country and early rockabilly. His distinctive voice, outlaw style, and groundbreaking songwriting gave Cash something of a universal appeal, and a young Bob Dylan was enamoured by records like ‘I Walk The Line’ in the mid-1950s.
This admiration of Cash only grew when, early on in Dylan’s career, the songwriter was criticised by the folk magazine Sing Out, only to find himself defended by Johnny Cash in an open letter. “The letter meant the world to me. I’ve kept the magazine to this day,” Dylan later wrote.
Soon thereafter, Cash and Dylan struck up something of a friendship, united in a common love of music and originality and not bowing down to the demands of industry executives. The pair even recorded together, most notably on ‘Girl from the North Country’, which became the opening track of Nashville Skyline after the pair recorded it in 1969. This partnership continued throughout their respective lives and careers, even if they began to cross paths less and less.
When Cash passed away in 2003, Dylan penned a heartfelt obituary to the legendary songwriter for Rolling Stone. Hepaing praise onto his hero, Dylan wrote, “In plain terms, Johnny was and is the North Star; you could guide your ship by him — the greatest of the greats then and now.”
Speaking openly about his adoration for the outlaw country legend, the songwriter continued, “Truly he is what the land and country is all about, the heart and soul of it personified and what it means to be here; and he said it all in plain English.”
For a songwriter who is so often branded a timeless genius, Dylan seemed to view Cash as unparalleled in his enduring legacy. “I think we can have recollections of him, but we can’t define him any more than we can define a fountain of truth, light and beauty,” he wrote. “He rises high above all, and he’ll never die or be forgotten, even by persons not born yet — especially those persons — and that is forever.”
High praise indeed, but if anyone is deserving of such resounding praise, it is Johnny Cash, and if anybody is qualified to deliver such praise, it is Bob Dylan.
Never Miss A Tale
The Far Out Bob Dylan Newsletter
All the latest stories about Bob Dylan from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.