Bob Dylan's Lyrics Sold

Bob Dylan's draft lyrics for his iconic 1965 song 'Mr Tambourine Man' have been sold at auction for a staggering $508,000 in Nashville, USA. The sale, conducted by Julien's Auctions, featured two yellow sheets of paper containing three typewritten drafts of the song, adorned with Dylan's handwritten marginal notes. While not the final version, the third draft closely resembles the released lyrics, albeit with significant variations.

The auction, which included 60 items from Dylan's personal collection, also featured a 1968 oil painting created and signed by the folk-rock legend, as well as a 1983 Fender Telecaster electric guitar he owned and played. The sale provides a rare glimpse into Dylan's creative process and the evolution of one of his most celebrated compositions.

Adding historical context to the sale, music journalist Al Aronowitz's first-hand account of Dylan composing the song in his home, believed to be in March 1964, was included. Aronowitz described discovering crumpled drafts in his waste basket, which he subsequently preserved. The song's impact extended beyond Dylan's own recording, with The Byrds' cover version reaching number one on both the US Billboard Hot 100 and the UK charts, marking it as the first Dylan composition to achieve this dual feat.

The auction's success extended to other Dylan-related items, with several sketches far exceeding their estimated values. One sketch, initially valued between $1,500 and $2,500, sold for an astonishing $88,900. In total, the collection garnered nearly $1.5 million in sales, underscoring Dylan's enduring cultural significance and the high value placed on artifacts from his storied career.