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April 8, 2008

Bob Dylan wins Pulitzer prize; pigs fly

The Pulitzer Prizes for 2008

SPECIAL CITATION: Bob Dylan

For his profound impact on popular music and American culture, marked by lyrical compositions of extraordinary poetic power.

The AP photo is of Bob playing McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket August 24, 2006.

"Something is happening but you don't know what it is, do you, Mr. Jones?" was written about a journalist.

You walk into the room
With your pencil in your hand
You see somebody naked
And you say, "Who is that man?"
You try so hard
But you don't understand
Just what you'll say
When you get home
Because something is happening here
But you don't know what it is
Do you, Mister Jones?...

-- 1985, "Ballad of a Thin Man" on Highway 61 Revisited, 1965; the rest of the lyics

Maybe the nod is a thanks for the heads-up from today's journalists. If it weren't for Bob, I'd be somebody else now.

Bob Dylan, Ballad of a Thin Man, from Eat the Document., 1966.

NEW YORK (AFP) — Legendary musician and folk icon Bob Dylan was handed a special citation from the Pulitzer Prize board Monday, following in the footsteps of fellow musicians Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane.

Dylan was honored with the special citation for his "profound impact on popular music and American culture, marked by lyrical compositions of extraordinary poetic power," the board said, announcing the winners.

The board, which normally concentrates on US print journalism, does not make special citations every year but has in the past recognized Theodor Seuss Geisel, the writer of the "Dr Seuss" books, and author Ray Bradbury.

Jazz musicians Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane were both mentioned posthumously, in 2006 and 2007.

I'm sure he didn't apply for one, paying the $50 entry fee. But he sure did lay out the future, back when.

Now, Things Have Changed.

Six awards went to the Washington Post, including "Dana Priest, Anne Hull and photographer Michel du Cille in exposing mistreatment of wounded veterans at Walter Reed Hospital," Virginia Tech, security contractors in Iraq, a world-class violinist who, as an experiment, played beautiful music in a subway station, the nation’s complex economic ills...

Flying pigs.

Posted by Sheila Lennon at 2:46 AM | Permalink