SOTU 420 -- Like A Rolling Stone (Bob Dylan) Solo Ukulele

For Season 420 of the Ukulele, we have been asked to select and cover a song from a list of BBC radio programs featuring the most soul-stirring songs of all time. Scanning down the list, I saw the title of this song and knew I needed learn it. Yes, it truly is one of the most powerful songs of all time. Even though the lyrics imply singing to someone else, I am asking myself, "How does it feel?"

[VoxRox]

There is a good story that John Hiatt tells about hearing this song for the first time. Based on my calculations, he would have been twelve, going on thirteen at the time., I can't find a text version of this story, just a small reference to the event in issue number one of "Slow Turning" a fanzine about John Hiatt. Here is a paraphrase of what I remember:
He was sitting alone in the family car parked outside a drug store while his mother was inside to pick something up at the store. John was listening to the radio when the DJ announced the "new single by Bob Dylan, " and it started to play. He sat there mesmerised by the song coming out of the car's radio. When it finished playing, John thought to himself, "I wonder if my mother will recognise me?" He felt that changed by the experience!

[onemanandhisuke]

Wow! You well and truly put yourself totally into this Christopher, but as you say, you just have to dive in. What fabulous lyric, “You used to ride on a chrome horse with your diplomat who carried on his shoulder a Siamese cat”. Classic Dylan. Fabulous gutsy performance 👍👍👍

[kevingriffin]

I'm running out of creative ways to compliment you on your live performances. This is for me, one of your best! Fantastic arrangement and that resonator has the perfect edge to fit the lyrical content. Blown away here ~

[limousinlil]

Wowee! Fabulous performance Christopher!

[DelGriffiths]

Brilliant stuff here, Christopher! :-)

[Astronomater]

this was fantastic! gutsy to play with a metronome. great singing as always.

[BirdsEyeViewOfMyUke]

wow! fantastic performance of this great song! love that uke too, it's perfect for this song

[berniarmstrong]

Nice one Christopher!


I can still remember hearing this for the first time on the radio. It blew my young mind... And opened up the idea there was no limit on what you could do with the lyrics of a "pop" song.
People can say other artists copied Dylan in his earliest years, when he was drawing on the tradition and on Woody's social comment songs. But no-one I know has come close to writing songs as powerful and (superficially) surreal as Dylan from 1965 to 1966.

[jpthen]

If i was in my prime I'd throw you several dimes. Super sir!

[felipemartello]

Best groovy ukulele version that I've found

[bobjking]

How does it feel? That felt pretty damn good.

[JokoLondo]

It's been suggested by some that I should practice using a metronome to improve my tendency to lose the beat. It's encouraging to see someone with your obvious skill and experience using one.