Bob Dylan - Forever Young

I'm a "boomer" and Bob Dylan is one of the musicians who define my generation. "Forever Young" was written and released in the mid-70s after Dylan had fathered several children, and it thus appeals to an older crowd than those who were attracted to him earlier for his "protest"-themed songs.

There are lots of choices of venues for hearing the song. I've embedded two - the first one without video just because the intonation is easier to understand, and the second a cover by Chrissie Hynde and the Pretenders because I enjoy her voice; the latter was done for the closing credits of "Free Willy 2." Here are some other versions -

Dylan with an acoustic guitar on Letterman in 1993

Another version on acoustic guitar.

On the electric guitar, with The Band, in the Last Waltz, 1976.

A Joan Baez cover, date unknown.

And if you don't care for the music, at least accept these lyrics as my wishes to you.

May God bless and keep you always,
May your wishes all come true,
May you always do for others
And let others do for you.
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung,
May you stay forever young,
Forever young, forever young,
May you stay forever young.

May you grow up to be righteous,
May you grow up to be true,
May you always know the truth
And see the lights surrounding you.
May you always be courageous,
Stand upright and be strong,
May you stay forever young,
Forever young, forever young,
May you stay forever young.

May your hands always be busy,
May your feet always be swift,
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift.
May your heart always be joyful,
May your song always be sung,
May you stay forever young,
Forever young, forever young,
May you stay forever young.

(Originally posted in February of '08.  Reposted now because these great lyrics are being criminally abbreviated for a soda pop ad on TV and I wanted to hear the full original.)