Nearly eight months after being awarded the 2016 Nobel Prize in Literature, and approaching the mandated six-month deadline that follows the award ceremony, Bob Dylan‘s formal acceptance speech–in his own voice–was released on June 4.
In the speech, he admits that when he received the news, “I got to wondering exactly how my songs related to literature,” and identified three novels “that have stuck with me ever since I read them way back in grammar school”: Moby Dick, All Quiet on the Western Front and The Odyssey.
He references the influence of Buddy Holly who “wrote songs… sang great… and had a commanding presence.”
The now-76-year-old singer-songwriter had received attention last fall for taking an undue amount of time to publicly acknowledge the honor, causing the Nobel committee to comment about Dylan’s silence. Shortly thereafter, Dylan’s website removed his initial comments.
In late October, Dylan described the honor as “amazing, incredible,” in an interview with journalist Edna Gunderson for The Telegraph. “It’s hard to believe…Whoever dreams about something like that?”
But to make matters even more awkward, Dylan then revealed that he would have to skip the December 10 awards event.
At the time, the Academy said it “respects Bob Dylan’s decision,” adding that not traveling to the Swedish capital to personally pick up the prestigious award was “unusual, but not exceptional. The award is still theirs, as it now belongs to Bob Dylan,” the Academy said. “We are looking forward to Bob Dylan’s Nobel lecture, which he must hold, according to the requirements, within six months” from Dec. 10.
Dylan ultimately provided a thoughtful, humble speech that was read by the U.S. Ambassador at the Stockholm Concert Hall. Dylan’s friend Patti Smith performed “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall” in his absence.
On April 1, while in Stockholm to perform, Dylan finally met Nobel officials to accept his prize in a private ceremony. And on June 4, a 27-minute speech was officially released by the Nobel Foundation. In it, Dylan says, “I hope what I say will be worthwhile and purposeful.”
Related: Interview with John Hammond, who signed Dylan to Columbia Records
Dylan was the first American to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature since author Toni Morrison in 1993. He is also the first songwriter to receive it. The original award announcement noted Dylan’s selection was “for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition.” “He is probably the greatest living poet,” Swedish Academy member Per Wastberg said.
In his lecture’s closing, Dylan says: “Songs are unlike literature. They’re meant to be sung, not read.”
Listen to Dylan’s speech in its entirety
Related: Visit Expecting Rain, a great meeting place for Dylan fans
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