Bob Dylan Popular Song Rankings [2026]

Blowin’ In The WindBob Dylan1rank/position

Bob Dylan – Blowin’ in the Wind (Official Audio)

Bob Dylan, known as the only musician to have won the Nobel Prize in Literature.

Opening his 1963 album “The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan,” this song portrays universal themes such as war, discrimination, and human indifference through a series of rhetorical questions.

The phrase “the answer is blowing in the wind” carries a depth that allows both the interpretation that the truth is right before us and that it is not easily grasped.

Despite its simple arrangement of just acoustic guitar and harmonica, its very simplicity has allowed it to be sung across the world for generations.

It was memorably used in the film Forrest Gump, and at the 1963 March on Washington it was performed by Peter, Paul and Mary, becoming a symbol of the Civil Rights Movement.

It’s a song that gently stays by your side when you want to reflect quietly on peace and freedom.

Knockin’ on Heaven’s DoorBob Dylan2rank/position

Bob Dylan – Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door (Official Audio)

This is a song written by Bob Dylan for director Sam Peckinpah’s 1973 Western film, “Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid.” It was crafted to accompany a scene in which a mortally wounded deputy sheriff spends his final moments watched over by his wife, and its lyrics—quietly portraying the emotions of someone facing death—are deeply moving.

The gentle sound of acoustic guitar layered with gospel-style chorus creates a solemn yet warm atmosphere that leaves a strong impression.

The song was included on the soundtrack album “Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid,” released in July of the same year, and became a hit, peaking at No.

12 on the U.S.

Billboard Hot 100.

Covered by many artists, including Eric Clapton and Guns N’ Roses, it has continued to be loved across generations.

It’s a song that offers quiet companionship when you want to reflect on life’s turning points or partings with loved ones.

Like a Rolling StoneBob Dylan3rank/position

Bob Dylan – Like a Rolling Stone (Official Audio)

This song, a decisive turning point in Bob Dylan’s career, was released as a single in July 1965.

Dylan, previously known as a leading figure in acoustic folk, fully embraced electric guitar and a rock-band lineup, and the track opened the album Highway 61 Revisited.

Despite its unusual length of over six minutes for a pop single at the time, it reached No.

2 on the U.S.

charts.

The lyrics portray a character called “Miss Lonely,” who is cast from a life of wealth into a stark, solitary reality, and can be read as a scathing critique of a world steeped in pretense.

Its influence extends beyond music—its title was even quoted for a documentary film by director Martin Scorsese.

Give it a listen when you want to take a hard look at yourself.

The Times They Are a-Changin’Bob Dylan4rank/position

Bob Dylan The Times They Are A Changin’ 1964

Since his debut in the early 1960s, Bob Dylan has continued to influence the music world for more than half a century.

In 2016, he became the first musician to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature, with his poetic lyrics highly acclaimed as literature.

This piece opens the album of the same name, “The Times They Are a-Changin’,” released in February 1964, and is a call-to-action folk song influenced by traditional Irish and Scottish ballads.

Addressed to people standing at a turning point in society, it allegorically sings of the peril of clinging to old values, and was widely embraced as an anthem of the civil rights and anti-war movements.

It was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2013 and has remained beloved across generations, appearing, for example, in the opening of the film Watchmen.

It is a song we especially recommend to those at a crossroads in life or to anyone who wants to move forward without fearing change.

Don’t Think Twice, It’s All RightBob Dylan5rank/position

Bob Dylan – Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right (Official Audio)

Featured on his second album, The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan, released in May 1963, this song is known as one of Bob Dylan’s signature early breakup songs.

It is said that the experience of his then-girlfriend leaving to study in Italy is strongly reflected in the lyrics, which blend wistfulness with irony.

While saying goodbye, the narrator keeps telling himself he doesn’t care anymore—an emotional state whose mix of bravado and sincerity remains ambiguous, resonating deeply with listeners.

The gentle fingerpicking on acoustic guitar and the understated vocal create a warm, intimate atmosphere that is part of the song’s appeal.

The track has been used in numerous films and TV series, including Mad Men and This Is Us, often accompanying scenes of parting or new beginnings.

It’s a song that quietly supports those who have experienced the end of a relationship or who need a little courage to move forward.

A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna FallBob Dylan6rank/position

A Hard Rains Gonna Fall {Live at Town Hall 1963} – Elston Gunn

Closely tied to the civil rights movement and anti-war sentiment that swept across America in the 1960s, Bob Dylan rose to worldwide fame as a voice of his era’s conscience.

He drew major attention again in 2016 when he became the first musician to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature.

A signature work from his early period is this song, included on the album The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan, released in May 1963.

Grounded in a British traditional ballad, its structure overwhelms with symbolic images that confront the dark sides of society—war, poverty, and discrimination—an absolute tour de force.

Though arranged simply as an acoustic guitar-and-voice performance, its words cascade for nearly seven minutes, powerfully moving the listener.

At the 2016 Nobel Prize ceremony, Patti Smith performed the piece, and her emotional moment on stage also became a topic of wide discussion.

When you want to reflect deeply on the state of society and the world, lend it your ear.

Masters of WarBob Dylan7rank/position

Bob Dylan – Masters of War | Warlords (Japanese Subtitled ver.)

Released in the spring of 1963, this song by Bob Dylan is known as an anti-war anthem that delivers a scathing critique of war leaders.

Expressing protest against the nuclear arms buildup of the Cold War era, the song harshly condemns the military–industrial complex and those who profit from war.

Featured on the album The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan, it moved many with its direct and powerful lyrics.

Covered by various artists, including Eddie Vedder and Pearl Jam, it is celebrated as a song with a timeless, universal message.

Highly recommended for those who yearn for peace or wish to stand up against social injustice.