Bob Dylan's Draft Lyrics for Mr Tambourine Man Sell for USD 508K at Nashville Auction

A collection of Bob Dylan memorabilia, including draft lyrics for "Mr Tambourine Man," fetched over half a million dollars at an auction. The event, held in Nashville by Julien's Auctions, featured around 60 items related to the legendary singer-songwriter. These items, which included photos, music sheets, a guitar, pencil sketches, and an oil painting by Dylan, collectively brought in nearly USD 1.5 million through both in-person and online bidding.

Significant Auction Highlights

Among the auctioned items, 50 belonged to the late music journalist Al Aronowitz. The draft lyrics of "Mr Tambourine Man" were the most valuable piece. These typewritten drafts spanned three versions of the 1965 song and were composed on two yellow sheets with Dylan's notes on a third sheet. According to Julien's Auctions, Dylan originally wrote these drafts at Aronowitz's New Jersey home.

The auction house referenced a 1973 article by Aronowitz detailing how Dylan crafted the lyrics. "Dylan sat with my portable typewriter at my white formica breakfast bar in a swirl of chain-lit cigaret smoke, his bony, long-nailed fingers tapping the words out on copy paper," Aronowitz wrote. The third draft closely resembled the final version but still had notable differences.

Other Notable Sales

In addition to the lyrics, other significant sales included a 1968 oil-on-canvas painting signed by Dylan that sold for USD 260,000 and a custom Fender guitar from 1983 that he owned and played, which fetched USD 225,000. These items highlighted the diverse range of memorabilia available at the auction.

Dylan's influence continues to resonate as evidenced by last month's release of "A Complete Unknown." This film explores his rise to fame in the early 1960s. Timothée Chalamet portrays Dylan in the movie, a role he has prepared for over several years, involving singing and playing guitar.

The song "Mr Tambourine Man" was featured as the lead track on the acoustic side of Dylan's 1965 album "Bringing It All Back Home." It became his first composition to reach No. 1 in both the United States and the United Kingdom. This achievement underscores Dylan's enduring impact on music history.

The auction not only celebrated Dylan's artistic contributions but also highlighted his ongoing cultural significance. Through these sales, fans and collectors alike had an opportunity to own a piece of music history connected to one of America's most iconic artists.