---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: [Bob] Dylan thus deserves the Nobel…"
description: "\"[Bob] Dylan thus deserves the Nobel Prize, not just for \"new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition,\" as the Nobel committee aptly..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3b/jay-michaelson-15590_bob_bob-dylan-thus-deserves-the-nobel-prize_2829438.jpg"
---

#  \[Bob\] Dylan thus deserves the Nobel Prize, not just for…

![“[Bob] Dylan thus deserves the Nobel Prize, not just for "new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition," as the Nobel committee aptly described his work, but also for embodying the contradictions within it.” quote by Jay Michaelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3b/jay-michaelson-15590_bob_bob-dylan-thus-deserves-the-nobel-prize_2829438.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3b/jay-michaelson-15590_bob_bob-dylan-thus-deserves-the-nobel-prize_2829438.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3b/jay-michaelson-15590_bob_bob-dylan-thus-deserves-the-nobel-prize_2829438.jpg)

> “\[Bob\] Dylan thus deserves the Nobel Prize, not just for "new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition," as the Nobel committee aptly described his work, but also for embodying the contradictions within it.”

[Jay Michaelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-michaelson/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Bob Dylan’s work blends poetic innovation with deep contradictions, justifying his Nobel recognition

**In simple terms:** Dylan’s music is both groundbreaking and paradoxical

Key Takeaway

Recognize artistic complexity

Themes

art contradiction innovation

Mood

reflective analytical

Type

literary musical

When to use this quote

- Music criticism
- award discussions
- cultural analysis

Key Concepts

Poetry American song tradition

Questions to Reflect On

- How do contradictions enhance artistic value?
- What defines “great” in music?

A Different Perspective

Some argue his lyrics lack literary depth

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Contradiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contradiction/) [Expression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expression/) [Nobel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nobel/) [Nobel prize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nobel-prize/) [Poetic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetic/) [Prize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prize/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Tradition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tradition/)

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[Kailash Satyarthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kailash-satyarthi/)

> [I think what the Nobel committee is doing is going beyond war and looking at what humanity can do to prevent war. Sustainable management…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangari-maathai/i-think-what-the-nobel-committee-is-doing-is-going-beyond-war-and/)

[Wangari Maathai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangari-maathai/)

> [ The point is not that \[Bob\] Dylan doesn't need a Nobel to attest to how good he is (although he doesn't.) It's that pop… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bennun/the-point-is-not-that-bob-dylan-doesn-t-need-a-nobel-to-attest-to-how/)

[David Bennun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bennun/)

> [It is perfectly reasonable to despair of a world where the Nobel Committee gives the Peace Prize to a man running a war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-firrell/it-is-perfectly-reasonable-to-despair-of-a-world-where-the-nobel/)

[Martin Firrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-firrell/)

> [I think Bob Dylan showed us that songs can rise to the level of literature, and he proved it over and over again. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gauthier/i-think-bob-dylan-showed-us-that-songs-can-rise-to-the-level-of/)

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> [I won't comment on what Bob Dylan said, but I will comment on his receiving the Nobel Prize, which to me is like pinning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/i-won-t-comment-on-what-bob-dylan-said-but-i-will-comment-on-his/)

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> [ The \[Nobel\] prize is for literature.\[Bob\] Dylan is a songwriter. Here is where the argument starts to get interesting, because here is where it… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bennun/the-nobel-prize-is-for-literature-bob-dylan-is-a-songwriter-here-is/)

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> [ \[Bob Dylan\] builds his lyrics, of course, from personal experience, but it's also a literary work. He draws heavily on his knowledge of American… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sjon/bob-dylan-builds-his-lyrics-of-course-from-personal-experience-but-it/)

[Sjon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sjon/)

> [ There's no reason - not yet, anyway - to believe \[Bob\] Dylan himself endorses such an attitude; or that he would think of himself… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bennun/there-s-no-reason-not-yet-anyway-to-believe-bob-dylan-himself/)

[David Bennun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bennun/)

## More by Jay Michaelson

> [ Except in these latter-day songs, \[Bob\] Dylan is a grizzled old prophet who's already been to hell and back. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-michaelson/except-in-these-latter-day-songs-bob-dylan-is-a-grizzled-old-prophet/)

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Browse all 886 Bob quotes

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