Bob Dylan Wins Nobel Prize in Literature

U.S. singer-songwriter Bob Dylan was awarded the 2016 Nobel Prize in Literature “for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition." Photo: Getty

Subscribe to the WSJ channel here:

More from the Wall Street Journal:

More from the Wall Street Journal:

[ruthjohnson]

Who could argue that Bob Dylan isn't a great story teller? He is also a poet. I'm only surprised that he didn't win it sooner.

[stevencharles]

I'm so pleased for Bob. One of the most prolific songwriters of the 20th century.His talent and influence cannot be measured.

[jboyox]

I think it's a worthy to have a discussion on song lyrics and whether they are literature or not, but I don't think making blunt remarks like "this is bullshit" adds to that conversation.

I will say that I think cultural impact should be a consideration, even if it's small, in this award. Not to say that "popularity" should be the sole reason because that would be unfair, but Bob Dylan's lyrics definitely have had cultural impact.

[markfisher]

what took so long? His ability to capture such profound emotions in so few words, making lines rhyme when the words shouldn't, to inspire so many writers, players, singers and so much conscience, and with the simplest cords. To make so much with so little the man is a genius, he has been ever since he started. Yes he is up there with Steinbeck, Keats and the other greats. He has encapsulated human suffering, plight, lament, shame, guilt and triumph, loss and love in single lines. Dylan is a true literary genius and deserves the prize. If you're not able to grasp the enormity of his ability, you need an education.

[pachacamacs]

"My love, she speaks like silence
Without ideals or violence
She doesn't have to say she's faithful
Yet she's true like ice, like fire"

Verses like these have all the imagery, eloquence, beauty and ambiguity that you will also find in Shakespeare, just to mention someone whose writings were also meant to be performed in the first place, not just read.

[angelemerald]

I agree about Blonde on Blonde being a great example of his overall song writing prowess. A more recent example is his 2009 Together Through Life.

[TheDaleraka]

Kardashian for President! Maugli Nobel Prize in Chemistry! Lebron James Noble Prize in Physics! 50-Cent Noble Prize in Literature! Trump Noble Prize in Peace! My grandmother Noble Prize in Medicine! ... Yeah, seems legit

[svendbosanvovski]

He sure has put Minnesota on the map. Good thing he elected to run away from home rather than doing accounts in Abe's shop when he finished high school. He's done OK for a boy who couldn't sing. An incredible human being.

[rhondaflanders]

Hey I'm not surprised about this.The man has talent up the wazoo.Now he just needs to be knighted.

[davidbroughall]

I need not write my own criticism of this choice. I'll leave it to Irvine Welsh, who puts it far more eloquently: "...this is an ill-conceived nostalgia award wrenched from the rancid prostates of senile, gibbering hippies." While Gary Shteyngart said, "I totally get the Nobel committee. Reading books is hard."

[bobmoslow]

When you combine the power of his words, their creative imagery, with the energy of its musical delivery, you do get literature. He's the greatest wordsmith, combined with a beat, since Shakespeare. Isn't it interesting how they both have come under scrutiny for not being the originators of their own works?

[ghettomaster]

Prince Rodgers Nelson was the greatest singer song writer in history!

[Bubbacat]

WELL DONE BLOODY TIME !!      KEEP THEM TUNES COMING !!

[luisvillalta]

As Tony the tiger said, Thats ! Congrats Bob,

[bensharpe]

Brilliant news he is one of the greatest poets.

[icequeen]

Has he done an autobiography? I love to read his book. He deserves more than a Nobel Prize.

[timkjazz]

over the last few years the prize has been awarded more for political reasons than artistic merit. this seems to be an award to keep the prize very topical because it was beginning to be a complete joke. although I'd rather they had awarded the prize to Cormac McCarthy or Thomas Pynchon, Bob Dylan is a cool, intriguing, deserving candidate, congrats to Bob Dylan for words that resonate and will continue to resonate for years to come.

[cyw]

Congratulations!The literature can be heard by our ears.

[GaelleKermen]

Cette récompense honore aussi ceux qui l'ont précédé sur le chemin des mots qui sonnent et racontent la vie des hommes, comme Woody Guthrie, que Robert Zimmerman était allé voir à l'hôpital à son arrivée à New York. Je suis fan depuis 1965, depuis le premier disque, depuis sa première chanson Song to Woodie, le point de départ de son grand œuvre. Avant de commencer à écrire pour lui, Dylan remerciait Woodie. Bravo Maître. Dylan Thomas doit être fier aussi dans sa tombe à Swansea.

[statesresearcher]

First American to receive NOBEL Literature Prize in over 20 years!