It’s the most requested song at graduations and funerals, yet it’s the one song Bob Dylan was terrified would make him look "soft." Honestly, if you grew up listening to the grit of Highway 61 Revisited, the idea of Dylan writing a sentimental lullaby feels almost like a betrayal of his "voice of a generation" persona. But that’s exactly what Bob Dylan Forever Young is: a father’s prayer that somehow escaped the living room and became a universal anthem.
You’ve probably heard it in a dozen different ways. Maybe it was the slow, organ-drenched version that closes out side one of the 1974 album Planet Waves. Or maybe you prefer the fast, rowdy version that kicks off side two. Or, if you’re a child of the 80s, you might have first met it through Rod Stewart’s slightly-too-similar hit (more on that legal drama in a bit).
But the real story isn't about the charts. It’s about a man in his early thirties trying to figure out how to be a dad while the world still wanted him to be a prophet.
The Secret History of Planet Waves
In 1973, Dylan was in a weird spot. He had ditched his long-time label, Columbia, to sign a one-off deal with David Geffen’s Asylum Records. He was living in Malibu, hanging out with The Band, and basically living the life of a family man. He had five kids by then.
Jesse Dylan, his eldest son, was about seven years old.
Dylan reportedly wrote the song in Tucson, Arizona. He later told Cameron Crowe for the Biograph liner notes that he wrote it "thinking about one of my sons and not wanting to be too sentimental." That’s Dylan-speak for "I was feeling incredibly emotional but I have a reputation to protect."
Recording it was a whole other headache. He couldn’t decide how it should sound. Was it a folk song? A rock burner? A hymn? Robbie Robertson and the rest of The Band were in the studio with him at Village Recorder in Los Angeles. They recorded it several times. Eventually, he just said "screw it" and put two different versions on the album.
It was a bold move. It’s rare for an artist to give you two takes of the same track on one record, but it shows how much he was struggling with the song's identity.
Why Forever Young Isn't Just a Pop Song
If you look at the lyrics, they aren't actually about staying young in age. It’s not an anti-aging cream in song form. It’s actually a rework of a Jewish tradition.
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The opening lines—"May God bless and keep you always / May your wishes all come true"—are a direct echo of the Priestly Blessing from the Book of Numbers. It’s the Birkat Kohanim. Dylan was tapping into his heritage, creating a "blessing of the children" for the rock and roll era.
The Biblical Connection
- Jacob’s Ladder: When he sings "May you build a ladder to the stars / And climb on every rung," he’s referencing the biblical story of Jacob's Ladder.
- The "Winds of Change": He isn't talking about politics here. He’s talking about the internal fortitude needed to survive when life gets messy.
There's a famous story from the sessions where a young woman heard the slow version and told Dylan he was "getting old." It supposedly rattled him. But that’s the beauty of Bob Dylan Forever Young. It’s the sound of an artist growing up and realizing that the most "rock and roll" thing you can do is admit you care about your kids.
The Rod Stewart Controversy (and Other Covers)
We have to talk about Rod Stewart. In 1988, Rod released his own "Forever Young." It was a massive hit. The problem? The lyrics and structure were so close to Dylan’s that even Rod’s manager, Arnold Stiefel, had to admit there were "definite similarities."
Rod didn't exactly cover it; he sort of... "borrowed" the architecture. To avoid a massive lawsuit, Stewart agreed to share the royalties with Dylan. It was probably the smartest business move Rod ever made.
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But Rod isn't the only one. The song has been covered by:
- Joan Baez: Who brought a sacred, crystalline quality to it in 1974.
- The Pretenders: Chrissie Hynde’s version for the With Honors soundtrack is haunting.
- Bruce Springsteen: He performed it as a duet with Bob at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995.
Honestly, the Springsteen/Dylan version is the one you need to find on YouTube. Seeing those two giants share a mic on this specific song is like watching the two different eras of American songwriting shake hands.
What Most People Get Wrong
People often mistake the song for a happy-go-lucky tune. It’s not. There’s a persistent melancholy under the surface of the slow version. It sounds like a goodbye.
When Dylan performed it at The Last Waltz—The Band’s legendary farewell concert filmed by Martin Scorsese—it felt heavy. It was the end of an era. The Band was breaking up, the 70s were winding down, and the "forever" in the title started to feel like a very long time indeed.
Why It’s the Perfect New Year’s Anthem
Lately, it’s become a staple for New Year’s Eve. Why? Because it’s about a "strong foundation when the winds of changes shift."
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Every January, we’re all looking for a reset. We want to believe that even though we’re getting older, we can keep that "youthful spark" (as cheesy as that sounds). Dylan’s lyrics don’t promise that life will be easy. He wishes for your hands to be busy and your feet to be swift. He’s wishing for work and resilience, not just easy happiness.
How to Actually Experience the Song
If you want to understand why this track still hits people in the gut 50 years later, don't just put it on as background music.
- Listen to the Biograph Demo: It’s raw. You can hear the vulnerability in his voice before the studio polish of Planet Waves took over.
- Watch the Shadow Kingdom Version: In 2021, a 80-year-old Dylan revisited the song for his concert film. Hearing an old man sing "May you stay forever young" to himself is a completely different experience than a young father singing it to his son.
- Read the Children's Book: Paul Rogers illustrated a book based on the lyrics. It’s set in Greenwich Village and follows a young boy through the 60s. It’s a great way to introduce the song to kids.
The real "actionable insight" here is simple: Bob Dylan Forever Young isn't a song about the past. It’s a reminder that character is a choice. Whether you’re graduating, starting a new job, or just trying to survive another Tuesday, the "ladder to the stars" is always there. You just have to keep climbing the rungs.