“My favourite poet”: Willem Dafoe’s favourite Bob Dylan song
Throughout history, artists have strived to express themselves, reflect the times, and speak directly to audiences, but few have managed to achieve these aims quite as expertly as Bob Dylan. From his origins as a folk devotee, the Minnesota-born songwriter became a defining voice of the 1960s and beyond. His timeless compositions seem to transcend generations, borders, and cultures, amassing an unparalleled audience across the globe. Among those dedicated fans, Willem Dafoe has often spoken of his adoration for Bob Dylan.
Dafoe was always destined to be an actor, and he spent a lot of his youth participating in high school theatre productions and attempting to break into the industry that would eventually come to adore him. Simultaneous to these early acting efforts, music was a huge part of Dafoe’s early life. In fact, music has been a continued fixture of Dafoe’s acting career, from the infamous ‘White Rabbit’ scene in Platoon to his appearance in John Waters’ cult musical Cry-Baby.
Growing up during the artistic golden age of the 1960s, it was inevitable that Dafoe would develop a healthy appreciation for music. Seemingly, his taste was heavily influenced by his older siblings, as his sisters helped to raise the budding young actor while his parents were working. With these influences in his life, along with the musical landscape of the 1960s, it was only a matter of time before Dafoe was introduced to the distinctive voice of Bob Dylan.
During the mid-1970s, just as Dylan had done a decade prior, Dafoe relocated to New York City in search of stardom and artistic expression. Perhaps that parallel is among the reasons why the actor holds such a deep appreciation for Dylan’s music. His love of the songwriter goes far beyond big hitters like ‘Mr. Tambourine Man’ or ‘Like A Rolling Stone’, he has an intimate knowledge of the folk heroes back catalogue.
The actor gave an insight into his musical taste when revealing his ten favourite songs to Two Paddocks. Among classic tracks by the likes of The Velvet Underground, David Bowie, and Jimi Hendrix, among others, the actor highlighted his all-time favourite Bob Dylan tune. Selecting the often under-appreciated ‘Love Minus Zero/No Limit’, Dafoe called the songwriter “My favourite poet.”
‘Love Minus Zero/No Limit’ featured on Dylan’s 1965 album Bringing It All Back Home, one of his most revolutionary records. Arriving at the monumentous point at which the folk devotee ‘went electric’, the album is evocative of the songwriter’s power and inventiveness during that period. The song Dafoe selected is, in essence, a love song detailing the calming influence of a loved one on Dylan’s chaotic life.
Evoking the poetry of William Blake and the gothic musings of Edgar Allen Poe, the song is a writing masterclass, so it should come as no surprise that Dafoe cites the song among his favourites. “I have no doubt that if I met Bob Dylan,” the actor once theorised, “It would be disappointing — and annoying to him.”
However, he added, “But that’s why I like Bob Dylan”. His colossal reputation as a songwriter and performer has elevated Dylan to an unparalleled pedestal, but that legendary persona forms a significant part of his appeal, at least in the mind of Willem Dafoe.
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