About the song
The year was 1965, and the world was on the brink of a musical revolution. The American rock band, the Byrds, was about to release their debut studio album, “Mr. Tambourine Man,” which would forever change the landscape of popular music. This groundbreaking album, released on June 21, 1965, by Columbia Records, marked the beginning of a new era in rock music, blending the traditional folk sound with the energy and innovation of the emerging rock genre.
The album’s signature sound is characterized by the distinctive 12-string Rickenbacker guitar played by Jim McGuinn and the band’s intricate harmony singing. The material on the album consists mainly of cover versions of folk songs, primarily composed by the legendary Bob Dylan, and original songs written or co-written by singer Gene Clark. The album’s lead single, “Mr. Tambourine Man,” became an international hit and established the band as a major force in the music industry.
“Mr. Tambourine Man” was not only a commercial success but also a critical one. It is widely regarded as the first effective American challenge to the dominance of the Beatles and other British Invasion bands during the mid-1960s. The album’s influence on the music industry cannot be overstated. It popularized the folk rock genre by merging intelligent lyrical content with electric guitars and a rock backbeat, a formula that would be emulated by countless bands in the years to come.
The term “folk rock” was first coined by the American music press to describe the Byrds’ sound in mid-1965, around the same time that the “Mr. Tambourine Man” album was released. The band’s unique blend of a British Invasion beat, jangly guitar playing, and poetic or socially conscious lyrics has influenced a multitude of acts in the mid-1960s and continues to inspire musicians to this day.
The album peaked at number 6 on the Billboard Top LPs chart and reached number 7 in the United Kingdom, making it the band’s most successful album on either chart. The “Mr. Tambourine Man” single was released ahead of the album in April 1965 and reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart. A second single, “All I Really Want to Do,” also a Dylan cover, was moderately successful in the U.S., but fared better in the UK, where it reached the top ten.
In conclusion, “Mr. Tambourine Man” is a landmark album that paved the way for the folk rock genre and left an indelible mark on the music industry. Its influence can still be felt today, and it remains a testament to the power of music to transcend time and generations.
Video
https://youtu.be/uPqAvgN6Tyw
Lyrics
[Chorus]
Hey, Mr. Tambourine Man, play a song for me
I’m not sleepy and there ain’t no place I’m goin’ to
Hey, Mr. Tambourine Man, play a song for me
In the jingle jangle morning, I’ll come followin’ you[Verse]
Take me for a trip upon your magic swirling ship
All my senses have been stripped
And my hands can’t feel to grip
And my toes too numb to step
Wait only for my boot heels to be wanderin’I’m ready to go anywhere, I’m ready for to fade
Unto my own parade
Cast your dancing spell my way
I promise to go under it[Chorus]
Hey, Mr. Tambourine Man, play a song for me
I’m not sleepy and there ain’t no place I’m goin’ to
Hey, Mr. Tambourine Man, play a song for me
In the jingle jangle morning, I’ll come followin’ you