The Lyrics that Bob Dylan Wrote for His Pets

Written and verified by the lawyer Francisco María García

Last update: 22 December, 2022

As you may have seen or heard in the media, the 2016 Nobel Prize in Literature went to Bob Dylan. In addition to being a composer and human rights activist, the singer also loves animals.

Bob Dylan, a surprising Nobel prize

The official announcement that awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2016 to Bob Dylan was made on October 13 of that year. Thus, the Swedish Academy said that the jury valued the rock musician for “having created new poetic expressions within the great tradition of American song.”

Bob Dylan’s former name is Robert Allen Zimmerman. Furthermore, this artist was born on May 24, 1941, and began his musical career in 1959, playing in coffee shops in Minnesota. However, his best-known songs are from the ’60s, Blowin’ in the Wind and The Times They Are A-Changin’. Additionally, some songs became hymns of the movement for civil rights and protests against the war in Vietnam.

Music dedicated to pets

Bob Dylan is one of the most influential figures of recent years in the USA because he was a recognized activist, and, like many of us, he also loves animals.

Among Dylan’s best-preserved objects is a poem that he wrote when he was 16 while he was camping at the Herzl Camp in Wisconsin. The poem, entitled The Little Buddy, recounted the sad story of a dog beaten to death.

Accordingly, this composition, signed under his real name, Bobby Zimmerman, is a dark and lugubrious two-page poem using blue ink. Furthermore, it was auctioned off in New York for 12,500 dollars.

Soon after, the auction house itself would discover that this text and its lyrics were very similar to a song written by Hank Snow, a Canadian country singer.

The last part of the poem goes like this: Little buddy rest in peace, God will watch you thru the years, cause I told you in my dreams that you were mine.

Bob Dylan and his cats

Generally speaking, Dylan was photographed with cats, and in 1990 he released his album number 27 entitled Under the Sky, which included the song Cat’s in the well. It seems that Dylan liked this song a lot; the last time he played it was on October 25, 2010.

The lyrics of one of his songs

Cat’s In The Well

The cat’s in the well, the wolf is looking down
The cat’s in the well, the wolf is looking down
He got his big bushy tail dragging all over the ground

The cat’s in the well, the gentle lady is asleep
Cat’s in the well, the gentle lady is asleep
She ain’t hearing a thing, the silence is a-stickin’ her deep

The cat’s in the well and grief is showing its face
The world’s being slaughtered and it’s such a bloody disgrace

The cat’s in the well, the horse is going bumpety bump
The cat’s in the well, and the horse is going bumpety bump
Back alley Sally is doing the American jump

The cat’s in the well, and Papa is reading the news
His hair’s falling out and all of his daughters need shoes

The cat’s in the well and the barn is full of bull
The cat’s in the well and the barn is full of bull
The night is so long and the table is oh, so full

The cat’s in the well and the servant is at the door
The drinks are ready and the dogs are going to war

The cat’s in the well, the leaves are starting to fall
The cat’s in the well, leaves are starting to fall
Goodnight, my love, may the Lord have mercy on us all

More songs about animals

Although Bob Dylan’s love for nature was never the main subject of his most popular songs, they’re still worthy themes that have touched his career.

These songs, in addition to their great tunes, helped raise awareness about the importance of taking care of our planet and respecting all the creatures in it.