Bob Dylan's draft lyrics for his legendary 1965 song "Mr. Tambourine Man" sold for an impressive $508,000 (£417,471) at an auction in Nashville, United States. This sale was a part of a larger collection of 60 items from the iconic singer that went under the hammer. The auction highlighted Dylan's enduring influence on music and culture, drawing significant attention from collectors and fans alike.
The draft lyrics, spread across two yellow sheets of paper, comprise three typewritten drafts of the song—though not its final version. The third draft closely resembles the finished song but still features notable variations from the recorded lyrics. In addition to the draft lyrics, the auction included a 1968 oil painting created and signed by Dylan, and a 1983 Fender Telecaster electric guitar that he owned and played. The items collectively contributed to nearly $1.5 million in total sales, as reported by the auction house.
Among the notable sales was a Levi's denim jacket worn by Dylan in the 1987 musical drama film "Hearts of Fire," which fetched $25,400 (£20,874). The auction also featured music journalist Al Aronowitz's first-hand account, detailing Dylan writing "Mr. Tambourine Man" at Aronowitz's home in March 1964.
"I took the crumpled sheets, smoothed them out, read the crazy leaping lines, smiled to myself at the leaps that never landed and then put the sheets into a file folder." – Al Aronowitz
The auction showcased several of Dylan's sketches that far exceeded their estimated price tags. One sketch expected to sell for between $1,500 (£1,233) and $2,500 (£2,054) astonishingly went for $88,900 (£73,057).
"Mr. Tambourine Man" is celebrated as one of Dylan's most famous hits. The song gained further popularity when the Byrds released their rendition just a month after Dylan's version hit the shelves. The Byrds' version achieved significant success, becoming the first Dylan composition to reach number one on both the Billboard Hot 100 in the US and in the UK.
In December 2024, audiences witnessed Dylan's rise to fame through a biopic titled "A Complete Unknown," featuring Timothee Chalamet as the celebrated singer. This film further cemented Dylan's legacy in popular culture.
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