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Bob Dylan is one of the greatest artists of the twentieth century . The above three albums represent arguably the best of Bob Dylan and were released in succession to one another: Bringing it All Back Home in March 1965, Highway 61 Revisited in August 1965 and Blonde on Blonde in July 1966. It is worth noting that in the time Bob Dylan released his mid sixties albums, the subject of sex was taboo, and lyricists could only get their point across by talking in code-speak. Here are his top 22 lyrics order of increasing year of composition:

1. ‘‘The ants are my friends, they’re blowin’ in the wind.’’ A deliberate corruption of the famous Bob Dylan lyric: ‘‘The answer my friend is blowin’ in the wind’’ (from the album The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan (1963), track: Blowin’ in the Wind).

2. ‘‘... how many years can a mountain exist before it is washed to the sea, yes and how many years can some people exist before they’re allowed to be free?’’ (from the album The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan (1963)), track: Blowin’ in the Wind).

3. ‘‘... how many times can a man turn his head, pretending that he just doesn’t see?’’ (from the album The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan (1963), track: Blowin’ in the Wind).

4. ‘‘Well,I don’t know,but I’ve been told The streets in heaven are lined with gold I ask you how things could get much worse If the Russians happen to get up there first Wowee! pretty scary!’’ from the Album Another Side of Bob Dylan (1964), track: I Shall Be Free No. 10.

5. ‘‘... the night is pitch black, come and make my pale face fit into place, oh please!’’ This is code-speak for oral sex (from the album Another Side of Bob Dylan (1964), track: Spanish Harlem Incident).

6. ‘‘... her mouth was all watery and wet.’’ This is code-speak for vagina, i.e. her vagina was all watery and wet: (from the album Another side of Bob Dylan, track: I Don’t Believe You).

7. ‘‘... we’ll soon shake your windows and rattle your walls for the times they are a changin’’’ (from the album The Times They Are A-Changin’ (1964), track: The times they are a changin’.)

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8. ‘‘The pump won’t work because the vandals took the handles.’’ (from the album Bringing It All Back Home (1965), track: Subterranean Homesick Blues).

9. ‘‘My love, she laughs like the flowers; valentines can’t buy her.’’ (from the album Bringing It All Back Home, track: Love Minus Zero / No Limit).

10. ‘‘He who is not being busy being born is busy dying.’’ (from the album Bringing It All Back Home (1965), track: It’s Alright Ma, I’m Only Bleeding).

11. ‘‘... from toy guns that spark to flesh coloured Christs that glow in the dark, it’s not easy to see without looking too far that not really much is really sacred.’’ (from the album Bringing It All Back Home (1965), track: It’s Alright Ma, I’m Only Bleeding).

12. ‘‘... but even the President of the United States sometimes must have to stand naked.’’ (from the album Bringing It All Back Home (1965), track: It’s all Right Ma, I’m Only Bleeding).

13. ‘‘... money doesn’t talk it swears.’’ (from the album Bringing It All Back Home (1965), track: It’s Alright Ma, I’m Only Bleeding).

14. ‘‘She sent out for the doctor who pulls down the shade and said my advice to you is to not let the boys in.’’ This is code-speak for promiscuous sexual behaviour (from the album Highway 61 Revisited (1965), track: Tombstone Blues).

15. ‘‘You walk into the room with your pencil in your hand.’’ This is code-speak for penis, i.e. you walk into the room with your penis in your hand, alluding to masturbation in public (from the album Highway 61 Revisited (1965), track: Ballad of a Thin Man).

16. ‘‘... but nobody has any respect anyway they already expect you to all give a check to tax-deductible charity organizations.’’ (from the album Highway 61 Revisited (1965), track: Ballad of a Thin Man). Wonderfully angry young man speak.

17. ‘‘The ghost of electricity howls in the bones of her face.’’ (from the album Blonde on Blonde (1966), track: Visions of Johanna).

18. ‘‘The country music station plays soft but there’s nothing really nothing to turn off.’’ (from the album Blonde on Blonde (1966), track: Visions of Johanna).

19. ‘‘Tonight as I stand in the rain.’’ is sung like ‘‘Tonight is lost and inside the rain.’’ (from the album Blonde on Blonde (1966), track: Just Like a Woman).

20. ‘‘... to live outside the law you must be honest.’’ (from the album Blonde on Blonde (1966), track: Absolutely Sweet Marie).

21. ‘‘Love is all there is, it makes the world go round. Love and only love, it can't be denied. Don't matter what you think about it, you just won't be able to do without it. Take a tip from one who's tried.’’. And here I am thinking that it is money that makes to world go round! From the album Nashville Skyline, track: I Threw it All Away. This song chronicles Bob Dylan’s transition from being an angry young man to being an appreciator of the beautiful.

22. ‘‘They say I shot a man named Gray and took his wife to Italy. She inherited a million bucks and when she died it came to me. I can’t help it if I’m lucky!’’ From the album Blood on the Tracks (1975), track Idiot Wind.

+ A Dylan idiom in artists that followed him

1. The Little River Band’s 1979 song The Lonesome Loser reads like this: ‘‘Have you heard about the lonesome loser?’’, but sounded to my six year old brain like this: ‘‘Have you heard about the lonks ’n’ loozoh?’’.

2. The Eagles’ 1979 song Heartache Tonight reads like this: ‘‘There's gonna be a heartache tonight, a heartache tonight, I know’’ but is sung like this: ‘‘There's gonna be a party tonight, a party tonight, I know’’.

3. David Bowie’s 1983 song Let’s Dance reads like this: ‘‘Put on your red shoes and dance the blues’’ but is sung like this: ‘‘Put on erections and dance the blues!’’

4. Def Leppard’s 1987 song Animal reads like this: ‘‘And I want and I need and I love animal’’, but is sung like ‘‘And I want and I need and I love anymore!’’

5. Def Leppard’s 1987 song Armageddon It reads like this: ‘‘Are you getting it, Armageddon it’’ but is sung like this: ‘‘Are you getting it? I’m a gettin’ it!’’

6. Metallica’s 1998 song Sad But True reads like this: ‘‘I’m yours. Sad but true.’’ but is sung like this: ‘‘I’m your sepulchre!’’

7. Metallica’s 1998 song Don't Tread on me reads like this: ‘‘So be it. Threaten no more. To secure pieces to prepare for war’’ but is sung like this: ‘‘Soviets threaten no more to secure peace is to prepare for war’’.

8. Shihad’s 1999 song My Mind’s Sedate reads like this: ‘‘My mind’s sedate, my mind’s sedate’’ but is sung like this: ‘‘Round varsity, round varsity!’’