15
OPPOSITE: HE ALWAYS ENJOYED
motorcycles, and indeed one of them would
play a central role, and lead to a crucial
interlude, in his life and career. But when he
and his pal Dale Boutang are happy young
teens in Hibbing posing with a Harley in
1956, there is no crashing being done. The
“Poems Without Titles” are written in 1960.
The previous year he has graduated from
high school, and the yearbook says what you
need to know: He wants to be a rock star, and
is into social studies. In 1963, Bob Dylan will
write a poem: “Hibbing’s got souped-up cars
runnin’ full blast on a Friday night / Hibbing’s
got corner bars with polka bands / You can
stand at one end of Hibbing’s main drag an’
see clear past the city limits on the other
end / Hibbing’s a good ol’ town.”COURTESY LINDA & BOB HOCKING
STEPHEN CHERNIN/GETTY
08-35 LIFE_Bob Dylan 2020 Folksinger.indd 15 FINAL 1/13/20 4:16 PM