Bob Dylan played a significant role in shaping The Beatles’ history. The group’s introduction to marijuana, thanks to a folk legend, opened the doors to their adventurous experimentation during the late 1960s. Dylan and George Harrison developed a strong bond, which broadened the guitarist’s perspective. They ventured beyond the confines of rock music and incorporated elements of folk, blues, and more. Nevertheless, their friendship seemed to be the root of the problem, as John Lennon and Dylan had conflicting views, possibly due to personal differences or, according to some, potential jealousy.
After The Beatles disbanded and faced difficulties in their relationships, Lennon couldn’t resist making jabs at Harrison. He appeared particularly affected by his biography, expressing his disappointment in an interview with Playboy. He mentioned that the book claimed to provide a clear understanding of his impact on each song he wrote. But instead focused on insignificant sax players and guitarists he encountered in later years. I’m not included in the book.
He viewed it as a declaration of insignificance, remarking, “My impact on his life is completely nonexistent.”
However, one of those guitarists is Dylan, which seems to further insult Harrison as he appeared to hold the folk star in higher regard than his own bandmate. “Bob Dylan is incredibly consistent as an artist”. The guitarist once remarked, “even his work that some people dislike, I personally enjoy.” He openly expressed his profound admiration for Dylan, appreciating both his artistic talent and his character. The rest of the Beatles once referred to him as their “idol” when they met him in 1964, expressing a shared admiration. However, as Harrison developed a closer relationship with him, the dynamic between the two influential musicians from The Beatles and Dylan became more contentious.
“George found himself in a challenging position within the Beatles, as he had to work hard to have his songs included on the records, due to the dominance of Lennon and McCartney,” Dylan once commented on the band’s dynamic. Although he greatly admired Harrison’s work, he didn’t hold back in expressing his opinion on Lennon’s efforts. This was evident in his 1966 record Blonde On Blonde, where he subtly criticized the artist.
From the introduction to the dancing rhythm, ‘Fourth Time Around‘ exudes a playful homage to ‘Norwegian Wood‘. The Beatles’ song, the initial album they created following their encounter with Dylan, seemed to the singer as an endeavor to imitate him, as Lennon embraced a more lyrical folk sound. Upon listening to Rubber Soul, Dylan expressed his confusion, exclaiming, “What is this?” Hey there, it’s Bob. John is helping me! Even Sonny & Cher are copying me, but, damn it, I was the one who came up with it.
In response, Dylan confidently demonstrated his expertise. ‘Fourth Time Around’ is a successful comeback for him, where he cleverly ridicules those who imitate him or exploit his style to enhance their own. He boldly sings, “I never took much, I never asked for your crutch / Now don’t ask for mine.”
From that point forward, Lennon and Dylan never saw things from the same perspective. As their friendship deepened, things took a turn for the worse. They found common ground in their shared love for music and philosophy, with both having intricate ties to spirituality and religion. Dylan’s connection was rooted in Christianity, while Harrison’s interest in meditation was just beginning to flourish. Dylan’s late 1970s and ‘80s lyrics were heavily influenced by these ideas, particularly in the song ‘Gotta Serve Somebody‘. In this song, he straightforwardly states, “You’re gonna have to serve somebody. Well, it may be the Devil, or it may be the Lord. But you’re gonna have to serve somebody.”
Clearly, Lennon lacks a solid foundation, as he openly explored various religions and philosophies during his lifetime. However, this track and Dylan’s spiritual side didn’t sit well with him. A year after the folk singer released his track, Lennon recorded ‘Serve Yourself‘, a direct response where he sings, “Well, you may have faith in devils and you may have faith in lords. But, my goodness, you’re going to have to rely on yourself, and that’s all there is to it.”
Throughout the lyrics, Lennon playfully critiques Dylan’s exploration of different religions. The musician’s observations openly target the blind following of his fans, who seem to unquestioningly embrace whatever belief system he adopts each year. “Those who listen to Dylan solely based on his fame won’t grasp the essence of his message. Both in the past and present,” he stated candidly during an interview. “They are merely drawn to a superficial image.” They’re just following the crowd anyway. With Harrison undoubtedly among the crowd, eagerly observing and admiring Dylan’s every action, it appeared to be a subtle jab at his former companion as well.
Meeting your idols can sometimes be a disappointing experience, and Lennon and Bob Dylan are a perfect illustration of that. From initially admiring each other to engaging in musical disagreements, they definitely shattered their early perceptions of one another.
