4 of Bob Dylan’s Angriest, Most Rebellious Songs

When one thinks of Bob Dylan, one usually thinks of protest songs with powerful lyrics delivered in Dylan’s iconic smooth, calm voice. That being said, Bob Dylan’s angriest songs can really pack a punch. Let’s look at just a few examples, shall we?

1. “Positively 4th Street”

This Bob Dylan classic is one of his most well-known songs. It’s also quite caustic. In “Positively 4th Street”, Dylan unloads about what many believe is a particular person. Many believe that person to be Edie Sedgwick, and others believe it to be Joan Baez. Though, it’s not clear if there’s truth to those rumors. 

There’s a very real possibility that Dylan was firing shots at the lavish lifestyle and excess that celebrities engage in with this song and it isn’t about anyone in particular. Joni Mitchell once said that “Positively 4th Street” inspired her early on in her career.

2. “Masters Of War”

Bob Dylan’s angriest songs pale in comparison to “Masters Of War”. This one has to be Dylan’s rawest, most rage-filled track of his career. With lyrics like “And I hope that you die / And your death will come soon / I’ll follow your casket / By the pale afternoon / And I’ll watch as you’re lowered / Down to your deathbed / And I’ll stand over your grave / ’Til I’m sure that you’re dead”, that notion is hard to argue.

3. “Ballad In Plain D”

Dylan has always known how to look at society at large objectively. That much is clear in “Ballad In Plain D”. 

In this song, Dylan takes aim at cynical and judgemental people who seem to live through their own sense of scorn. “For her parasite sister, I had no respect / Bound by her boredom, her pride to protect / Countless visions of the others she’d reflect / As a crutch for her scenes and her society” are some of his best lines, we’d say.

4. “Idiot Wind”

Quite a few of Bob Dylan’s angriest songs are political or cultural critiques. This song, however, is widely believed to be self-reflective. Dylan denied that “Idiot Wind” is autobiographical, though. 

With that in mind, it’s difficult to speculate on who the lyrics “Idiot wind / Blowing every time you move your teeth / You’re an idiot, babe / It’s a wonder that you still know how to breathe” are about.

Photo by Barry Feinstein/Courtesy of Columbia Records and Legacy Recordings

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