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Books

The Philosophy of Modern Song by Bob Dylan

Gary Browning considers the ideas and emotions expressed in Bob Dylan’s songs and writings.

Bob Dylan’s The Philosophy of Modern Song (2022) eponymously declares itself to be philosophical, but it is not clear if or how it is a philosophical work. The Guardian’s review talked of it being “a high-flown and slightly misleading title”, while the description of the review in Esquire doesn’t mince words: “Bob Dylan isn’t done lying to us just yet – The Philosophy of Modern Song as a title is almost entirely untrue.”

Certainly, the title of the book is never explained within its pages, and remains as enigmatic as Dylan’s songs and identity. The truth is that the book is not easy to categorise. It goes hither and thither in discussing over sixty modern songs, offering seemingly rambling anecdotes and one or two sharp comments about the human condition.

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