10 Overlooked Bob Dylan Songs

In celebration of Bob Dylan’s 80th birthday, we’re looking back at his extensive catalog and putting his most overlooked songs on the spotlight. He’s a prolific songwriter and there’s bound to be some pieces in his discography that has been largely forgotten and unfairly ignored.

Here are his ten best songs that everyone needs to discover:

You’re No Good

A bit of rockabilly. He was still trying to make a name for himself in the music business and this was years before he took a leap of faith and went electric but he definitely showed he had it in him to be a full-fledged rockstar.

Going, Going, Gone

Accompanied by The Band, Bob Dylan brought his A-game with this somber but catchy song about death.

Pressing On

Dylan became a Christian by the late ’70s and his newfound religion reflected in his music as he released a series of contemporary gospel LPs. Not everyone’s a fan of his Christian period but this one is soulful and easily a gem in his catalog.

Dark Eyes

https://youtu.be/YZw1ii300gg

Dylan always shined in acoustic numbers. Compared to the other songs on “Empire Burlesque”, this one doesn’t have the “80s style” aesthetic. He also recorded it with no overdubbing or any other embellishment – just him, his acoustic guitar, and harmonica.

The Groom’s Still Waiting At The Altar

Don’t be fooled by this uptempo blues-rock song because it’s about the apocalypse.

Tweeter and the Monkey Man

We can only imagine how much fun The Traveling Wilburys had while recording their album. It’s often regarded as a playful nod to Bruce Springsteen’s songs.

Blood In My Eyes

Bob Dylan’s voice undoubtedly changed throughout his career. Nevertheless, it’s a lovely piece of music that had his fans debating as to its actual meaning. He performed it live only twice.

Black Diamond Bay

Speaking of overlooked, Dylan played this only once live. However, it was also reportedly mislabeled by a reporter who attended his concert. And it’s a pretty amazing song so we can’t help but wonder why this never made it to his setlist.

Where Are You Tonight? (Journey Through Dark Heat)

The closing track of “Street-Legal”, this song was written in Dylan’s farm in Minnesota. Some say it referenced his divorce while others believed the lyrics foreshadowed his conversion to Christianity.

I and I

The thing about Dylan is, he’s not afraid to explore other musical territories. And so this reggae groove is both refreshing and fascinating.