The Musician Bob Dylan Thought Was “The Ultimate End” of Country Music: “Gives Me the Chills”

In many ways, Bob Dylan seems completely set apart from his peers. It’s hard to nail down his inspirations because he can only be seen as an inspiration himself. However, there is one country artist he has routinely given props to. Find out which artist that is below.

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Bob Dylan’s Country Hero

Dylan has paid homage to country music a fair few times. One of the most famous ways he did so was collaborating with Johnny Cash. On paper, it doesn’t seem like Dylan and Cash would have much in common. Cash was more subdued and wasn’t expressly a protest artist. On the other hand, Dylan was outspoken about his beliefs.

Looking deeper, though, the two musicians had a lot in common. Dylan was a massive fan of country music, and Cash was a forward-thinker who rivaled his Greenwich Village counterpart. The artists highlighted their mutual admiration by collaborating. But Dylan has made sure to express his feelings instead of just showing them.

“Johnny Cash was at that time – if not now – he was the epitome of country music, the living ultimate end,” Dylan once said. “I loved all of his gospel songs, too. And meeting him at that point was the high thrill of a lifetime.”

“I was asked to give a statement on Johnny’s passing and thought about writing a piece instead called ‘Cash Is King’ because that is the way I really feel,” he added elsewhere. “In plain terms, Johnny was and is the North Star; you could guide your ship by him — the greatest of the greats then and now.”

Dylan and Cash’s Collaboration

Dylan and Cash collaborated several times. The most famous of these was “Girl From the North Country.” This duet became a calling card for both musicians, combining their strengths into one cohesive sound.

Dylan once spoke about this collaboration, calling it a “blur.” Despite their differing backgrounds, songs seemed to flow out of them when they worked together. “We’d see each other from time to time here and there,” Dylan added. “And get together and pound songs out. A lot of it just went by in a blur.” Their unlikely collaboration and mutual admiration speak to the universal language of music.

Revisit Dylan and Cash’s “Girl From the North Country” below.

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