Скачать или смотреть Stream of Consciousness Songwriting: Lessons from Bob Dylan

How much does a lyric really need to mean before it earns its place in a song?

In this episode of Muse & Measure, Tyler Burba responds to a thoughtful question about Bob Dylan’s songwriting style—specifically how Dylan balances semantic meaning with sound, rhythm, imagery, and attitude in songs that feel surreal, fragmented, or dreamlike.

Using examples from songs like "Visions of Johanna," "I Want You," and "Desolation Row," this video explores how Dylan builds emotional coherence without traditional narrative logic. Rather than telling linear stories, Dylan uses cascades of imagery, refrains, and vocal stance to anchor meaning emotionally instead of intellectually.

Topics include:
Semantic meaning vs sonic instinct in songwriting
Why Dylan’s imagery feels disjointed but still works
How refrains and choruses ground surreal verses
Stream-of-consciousness writing as emotional truth
When poetic freedom becomes emotional avoidance
Giving yourself permission to “throw the whole world in”
How to tie wild imagery back to a human feeling

This episode is for songwriters wrestling with poetic lyrics, abstract imagery, or the fear that their songs don’t “make sense”—and wondering whether that’s actually a problem at all.

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Listen to “Desolation Row” By Bob Dylan:    • Bob Dylan - Desolation Row (Official Audio)  

Liaten to “Visions of Johana” by Bob Dylan:    • Bob Dylan - Visions of Johanna (Official A...  

Listen to “I Want You” by Bob Dylan:    • Bob Dylan - I Want You (Official Audio)  

Please send your questions, comments, and criticisms to [email protected]

More information about Tyler Burba’s music: www.existentialhymns.com

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Welcome to Muse and Measure, where songwriting meets spiritual practice. This channel is for songwriters and seekers exploring the craft of lyrical storytelling, emotional catharsis, persona, poetic technique, and musical structure—through the lens of mindfulness, existential reflection, and creative transformation. Whether you're stuck on a bridge, chasing a chorus, or wrestling with the muse, you’ll find tools, insights, and inspiration for writing songs that are both personal and transcendent.

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