--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Except in these latter-day songs, [Bob]…" description: "\"Except in these latter-day songs, [Bob] Dylan is a grizzled old prophet who's already been to hell and back.\" — Jay Michaelson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fcd/jay-michaelson-15590_bob_except-in-these-latter-day-songs-bob-dyl_3830.jpg" --- # Except in these latter-day songs, \[Bob\] Dylan is a… ![“Except in these latter-day songs, [Bob] Dylan is a grizzled old prophet who's already been to hell and back.” quote by Jay Michaelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fcd/jay-michaelson-15590_bob_except-in-these-latter-day-songs-bob-dyl_3830.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fcd/jay-michaelson-15590_bob_except-in-these-latter-day-songs-bob-dyl_3830.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fcd/jay-michaelson-15590_bob_except-in-these-latter-day-songs-bob-dyl_3830.jpg) > “Except in these latter-day songs, \[Bob\] Dylan is a grizzled old prophet who's already been to hell and back.” [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. The comment frames the artist as a weathered seer, whose extensive hardships lend credibility to his prophetic voice in contemporary music. **In simple terms:** Seasoned prophet, lived hardship, authentic voice. Key Takeaway Hardship endows artistic authority. Themes authenticity prophetic art experience cultural critique musical legacy Mood respectful reverent thoughtful Type critical analytical When to use this quote - music journalism - cultural studies seminars - artist biography writing Key Concepts prophet hardship music legacy Practical Applications - critical essays on lyrical depth - documentary storytelling Questions to Reflect On - Why does lived experience amplify artistic credibility? - In what ways does a 'prophet' figure influence audience perception? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bob](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bob/) [Bob dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bob-dylan/) [Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dylan/) [Dylan Grizzled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dylan-grizzled-283181/) [Grizzled Old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grizzled-old-283182/) [Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hell/) [Hell and back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hell-and-back/) [Latter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/latter/) [Latter days](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/latter-days/) [Old Prophet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-prophet-283179/) [Prophet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prophet/) [Prophet Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prophet-hell-283180/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [The floor of Christendom and elsewhere is littered with wrecks made by old prophets. God won't stand nonsense from any man. Every man has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-studd/the-floor-of-christendom-and-elsewhere-is-littered-with-wrecks-made/) [Charles Studd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-studd/) > [“Grizzled old bastard like him don’t go providing death-bed transformations.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-barry/grizzled-old-bastard-like-him-don-t-go-providing-death-bed/) [Sebastian Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-barry/) > [“Tell any grizzled old cutthroat a sob story about a double-cross and a broken heart and he'll eat right out of your hand.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-rose-clarke/tell-any-grizzled-old-cutthroat-a-sob-story-about-a-double-cross-and/) [Cassandra Rose Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-rose-clarke/) > [There has been a ton of excellent music in this period (along with a few misses), evoking scenes like a bar-room brawl at a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-michaelson/there-has-been-a-ton-of-excellent-music-in-this-period-along-with-a/) [Jay Michaelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-michaelson/) > [I've been to hell and back so nothing that happens in the jungle can be worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-burrell/i-ve-been-to-hell-and-back-so-nothing-that-happens-in-the-jungle-can/) [Paul Burrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-burrell/) > [You can tell them that I been from hell and back; when the heat is on;i fire back; in this cold world; were your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kid-ink/you-can-tell-them-that-i-been-from-hell-and-back-when-the-heat-is-on-2/) [KID INK](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kid-ink/) > [I have been to hell and back, and let me tell you, it was wonderful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-bourgeois/i-have-been-to-hell-and-back-and-let-me-tell-you-it-was-wonderful/) [Louise Bourgeois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-bourgeois/) > [I've been through hell and back. I have, to be honest, and still I'm able to do what I do and nothing can stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/i-ve-been-through-hell-and-back-i-have-to-be-honest-and-still-i-m/) [Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/) > [You can turn your life around. You can through hell and back. It is possible. Never underestimate yourself. I believe in you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/you-can-turn-your-life-around-you-can-through-hell-and-back-it-is/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) > [You can tell them that I been thru hell and back when the heat is on I fire back in this cold world where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kid-ink/you-can-tell-them-that-i-been-thru-hell-and-back-when-the-heat-is-on/) [Kid Ink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kid-ink/) > [You're gonna have to go through hell, worse than any nightmare you've ever dreamed. But when it's over, I know you'll be the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-burton/you-re-gonna-have-to-go-through-hell-worse-than-any-nightmare-you-ve/) [Tony Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-burton/) > [I would rather be on a roller coaster life going through hell and back to appreciate the glory instead of having it all at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/behdad-sami/i-would-rather-be-on-a-roller-coaster-life-going-through-hell-and/) [Behdad Sami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/behdad-sami/) > [My parents went through hell and back. They came to America with suitcases and a family of seven and $250, and that's it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mila-kunis/my-parents-went-through-hell-and-back-they-came-to-america-with/) [Mila Kunis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mila-kunis/) > [That's what we do on "MasterChef," on "Junior." No school teachers, no parents, let it go. You're going to go on a challenge. We're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-ramsay/that-s-what-we-do-on-masterchef-on-junior-no-school-teachers-no/) [Gordon Ramsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-ramsay/) > [The writings of latter-day prophets clearly teach that the sorrows and sufferings endured by Adam and Eve upon their leaving the Garden of Eden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-k-judd/the-writings-of-latter-day-prophets-clearly-teach-that-the-sorrows/) [Daniel K Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-k-judd/) ## More by Jay Michaelson > [ The most recent incarnation of \[Bob\] Dylan has been the traveling journeyman/ charlatan who sings roots music, snarls dark lyrics that make "All Along… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-michaelson/the-most-recent-incarnation-of-bob-dylan-has-been-the-traveling/) [Jay Michaelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-michaelson/) > [We in the Jewish community are comparatively lucky. All of traditions have anti-gay pieces but the Jewish tradition doesn't have as many anti-sexuality and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-michaelson/we-in-the-jewish-community-are-comparatively-lucky-all-of-traditions/) [Jay Michaelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-michaelson/) > [ Probably the high-watermark of \[Bob\] Dylan's career came after he plugged in his guitar ("Judas!" one fan shouted during a concert) and exploded American… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-michaelson/probably-the-high-watermark-of-bob-dylan-s-career-came-after-he/) [Jay Michaelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-michaelson/) > [ "Masters of War" \[of Bob Dylan\] wasn't peacenik, anti-war stuff. With its minor key and uncompromising final lines ("And I hope that you die/And… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-michaelson/masters-of-war-of-bob-dylan-wasn-t-peacenik-anti-war-stuff-with-its/) [Jay Michaelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-michaelson/) > [“as Krishnamurti said, “It is no measure of health to be well-adjusted to a profoundly sick society.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-michaelson/as-krishnamurti-said-it-is-no-measure-of-health-to-be-well-adjusted/) [Jay Michaelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-michaelson/) > [People should support equality because of their religion not despite it. These are the values that openness, inclusion, diversity promote. And they're directly opposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-michaelson/people-should-support-equality-because-of-their-religion-not-despite/) [Jay Michaelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-michaelson/) > [“Dukkha is not the self-inflicted stress of a technology executive; it’s the real stuff, the kind of suffering that merits the Pali word’s original…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-michaelson/dukkha-is-not-the-self-inflicted-stress-of-a-technology-executive-it/) [Jay Michaelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-michaelson/) > [Funny thing about Bob Dylan, the newest Nobel laureate in literature: He's been a master of self-invention for more than 50 years, creating personae,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-michaelson/funny-thing-about-bob-dylan-the-newest-nobel-laureate-in-literature/) [Jay Michaelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-michaelson/) > [“It is possible to refine awareness itself so much that the emptiness of things, and the role mental construction plays, becomes a directly apprehended…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-michaelson/it-is-possible-to-refine-awareness-itself-so-much-that-the-emptiness/) [Jay Michaelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-michaelson/) > [ In late \[Bob\] Dylan, music is the key to immortality, even though the summer days are long gone. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-michaelson/in-late-bob-dylan-music-is-the-key-to-immortality-even-though-the/) [Jay Michaelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-michaelson/) > [“For the Buddha of the Pali Canon, the goal is liberation: the cessation of suffering, the end of the endless hamster-wheel of dependent origination,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-michaelson/for-the-buddha-of-the-pali-canon-the-goal-is-liberation-the-cessation/) [Jay Michaelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-michaelson/) > [ I suspect many readers might associate \[Bob Dylan\] with one of the shortest phases of his career, the time from 1963 to '65 when… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-michaelson/i-suspect-many-readers-might-associate-bob-dylan-with-one-of-the/) [Jay Michaelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-michaelson/) > [ While \[Bob\] Dylan's folk fans thought he was selling out \[in 1965-67\], actually Dylan was lodging a stronger, deeper critique of American hypocrisy. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-michaelson/while-bob-dylan-s-folk-fans-thought-he-was-selling-out-in-1965-67/) [Jay Michaelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-michaelson/) > [ \[Bob\] Dylan, like Johnny Cash and only a handful of others, simultaneously embodies the American dream and the harsh wake-up call that comes after… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-michaelson/bob-dylan-like-johnny-cash-and-only-a-handful-of-others/) [Jay Michaelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-michaelson/) > [There has been a ton of excellent music in this period (along with a few misses), evoking scenes like a bar-room brawl at a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-michaelson/there-has-been-a-ton-of-excellent-music-in-this-period-along-with-a/) [Jay Michaelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-michaelson/) [Explore all 42 Jay Michaelson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-michaelson/) ## More Bob quotes > [In the movie, the stars above the ship bear no correspondence to any constellations in a real sky. Worse yet, while the heroine bobs...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/in-the-movie-the-stars-above-the-ship-bear-no-correspondence-to-any/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [I think anyone that grew up in the '70s and '80s grew up with Bob Barker and Wink Martindale and I think that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-fieri/i-think-anyone-that-grew-up-in-the-70s-and-80s-grew-up-with-bob/) [Guy Fieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-fieri/) > [Over the past 50 years Bob Hope employed 88 joke writers who supplied him with more than one million gags, and he still couldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-murphy/over-the-past-50-years-bob-hope-employed-88-joke-writers-who-supplied/) [Eddie Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-murphy/) > [I like men who are very cool but who are also so brilliant that they are almost insane. Sean Penn, Gary Oldman, Bob Dylan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jolene-blalock/i-like-men-who-are-very-cool-but-who-are-also-so-brilliant-that-they/) [Jolene Blalock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jolene-blalock/) > [I was very engaged by the folk music movement.Bob Dylan; Joan Baez; Peter, Paul and Mary. And then I sort of discovered world music,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/i-was-very-engaged-by-the-folk-music-movement-bob-dylan-joan-baez/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [ The most recent incarnation of \[Bob\] Dylan has been the traveling journeyman/ charlatan who sings roots music, snarls dark lyrics that make "All Along… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-michaelson/the-most-recent-incarnation-of-bob-dylan-has-been-the-traveling/) [Jay Michaelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-michaelson/) > [Well. We’ll just have to hope that this wasn’t a loup-garou, I guess.” “If it was a louper, you’d know,” Bob said wisely. “In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/well-we-ll-just-have-to-hope-that-this-wasn-t-a-loup-garou-i-guess-if/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [Because of my tremendous respect for Bob Barker and for the show's high standards of professionalism I consider this a tremendous honor that few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-west/because-of-my-tremendous-respect-for-bob-barker-and-for-the-show-s/) [Randy West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-west/) > [That's who I wanted to be like was Bob Dylan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kristofferson/that-s-who-i-wanted-to-be-like-was-bob-dylan/) [Kris Kristofferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kristofferson/) > [Everybody who I ever cared about has told me that they like my music: Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, Al Green, The Spinners, Smokey Robinson.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-hall/everybody-who-i-ever-cared-about-has-told-me-that-they-like-my-music/) [Daryl Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-hall/) > [Bob's work gleaned from hoofing, from vaudeville, from ballet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-reinking/bob-s-work-gleaned-from-hoofing-from-vaudeville-from-ballet/) [Ann Reinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-reinking/) > [Producing Bob Dylan was pretty much a spectator sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-kooper/producing-bob-dylan-was-pretty-much-a-spectator-sport/) [Al Kooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-kooper/) > [Listen, the story of the United States is this: One kid, without anything, walks out of his house, down the road, with nothing but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-bone-burnett/listen-the-story-of-the-united-states-is-this-one-kid-without/) [T Bone Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-bone-burnett/) > [I figure if I keep my health, I have no intention of retiring. I love to work. I want to be like Bob Hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/i-figure-if-i-keep-my-health-i-have-no-intention-of-retiring-i-love/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [I've been racking my brain. I've been trying to figure out how Bob Dole's luggage got on my airplane...I told the doctor, I said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/i-ve-been-racking-my-brain-i-ve-been-trying-to-figure-out-how-bob/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) [Browse all 886 Bob quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bob/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Except in these latter-day songs, [Bob] Dylan is a grizzled old prophet who's already been to hell and back.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jay Michaelson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-michaelson/except-in-these-latter-day-songs-bob-dylan-is-a-grizzled-old-prophet/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bob" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-michaelson/except-in-these-latter-day-songs-bob-dylan-is-a-grizzled-old-prophet/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fcd/jay-michaelson-15590_bob_except-in-these-latter-day-songs-bob-dyl_3830.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fcd/jay-michaelson-15590_bob_except-in-these-latter-day-songs-bob-dyl_3830.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fcd/jay-michaelson-15590_bob_except-in-these-latter-day-songs-bob-dyl_3830.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Except in these latter-day songs, [Bob] Dylan is a grizzled old prophet who's already been to hell and back.” — Jay Michaelson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Jay Michaelson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-michaelson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Except in these latter-day songs, [Bob]...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-michaelson/except-in-these-latter-day-songs-bob-dylan-is-a-grizzled-old-prophet/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-michaelson/except-in-these-latter-day-songs-bob-dylan-is-a-grizzled-old-prophet/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```