Why the Bard's genius gave Dylan the burning desire to write songs

HE IS Scotland's best-loved bard, whose life and work is celebrated every year by millions at home and abroad.

Now, nearly 250 years after his birth, Robert Burns has added one of the world's greatest living lyricists to his long list of devotees.

Bob Dylan has revealed a verse by Burns to be his greatest source of inspiration.

Dylan, who penned some of the most famous songs of the 20th century, including Blowin' in the Wind, Like a Rolling Stone and Mr Tambourine Man, has cited Burns' A Red, Red Rose as the lyric that had the biggest effect on his life.

Written in 1794, the song, which is often published as a poem, is said to have been picked up by Burns after he heard it sung by a girl in the countryside.

Dylan revealed the verse to HMV, as part of the music retailer's "My Inspiration" campaign.

It is the second time Dylan has revealed that he draws inspiration from Scottish folk songs. Four years ago, he said that his famous protest number, The Times They Are A-Changin, was inspired by a Scottish folk tune – Hamish Henderson's The 51st (Highland) Division's Farewell to Sicily.

Burns, a pioneer of the Romantic movement, referred to A Red, Red Rose as a "simple old Scots song which I had picked up in the country".

Dr Gerard Carruthers, director of the centre for Burns study at Glasgow University, said it was little surprise that Dylan – real name Robert Zimmerman – has been influenced by Burns as both are able to connect with people's lives through their art.

He said: "A Red, Red Rose is one of the greatest love songs of all time. It's a song that resonates down the ages. It's part of the Burns song canon. It's one of his most emotive and emotional, perhaps his biggest expression of love. It's very much about comparing love to the joyous things of nature and in the arts. It's Burns where he rejoices most in love. It's from the love gut.

"Some of the songs by Burns are dedicated to particular women. This is perhaps his greatest, so it's slightly strange that it's not dedicated to a particular woman."

He added: "Burns was a hugely committed artist who dealt with everyday emotions and big emotions so in that sense it's not a surprise he's influenced Dylan.

"I imagine Dylan will still be loved in 200 years as much as Burns is."

Dylan's love of Burns is not his only link with Scotland. In 2004, he became a doctor of music after receiving an honorary degree at St Andrews University. The award was a huge coup for the university as he rarely accepts such accolades.

Paul Rees, editor-in-chief of Q magazine' said there were obvious parallels in Burns' and Dylan's work.

"You can rely on Dylan to be different. Most musicians have chosen other musicians as their inspiration, and a lot of them have chosen Dylan himself.

"Lyrically, Dylan is very literary. He's not a traditional rock lyricist," he said. "You could imagine the influence of this. The best Bob Dylan lyrics have that sort of romanticism in it.

"Burns was a folk hero and Dylan is also very much of that American songbook tradition of traditional folk music."

David Bowie kicked off My Inspiration two years ago when he selected lyrics by the late Pink Floyd star Syd Barrett, and Dylan is the 100th artist to take part.

Sir Paul McCartney, Morrissey, Nick Cave and filmmakers Guillermo Del Toro and Mike Leigh, as well as actress Audrey Tautou, have previously revealed their greatest inspiration.

PROFILE

BORN Robert Zimmerman in 1941, Bob Dylan became possibly the most influential figure in popular music. Much of Dylan's most celebrated work dates from the 1960s, when he became an informal chronicler and a reluctant figurehead of American unrest.

A number of his songs, such as Blowin' in the Wind and The Times They Are a-Changin', became anthems of the civil rights movements. Defying pop-music conventions, Dylan's early lyrics incorporated political, social, philosophical and literary influences. His song-writing is generally regarded as his greatest contribution to popular culture.

He has also explored many traditions of American song, from folk, blues and country to gospel, rock 'n' roll and rockabillly to English, Scottish and Irish folk music, and even jazz and swing.