# Original "Like a Rolling Stone" lyrics to be auctioned

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-like-a-rolling-stone-lyrics-to-be-auctioned/687482>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [May 2, 2014, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-like-a-rolling-stone-lyrics-to-be-auctioned/687482 "2014-05-02T03:08:21Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Octarine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/22d042/32.png) [@Octarine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octarine)\
**Post date:** [May 2, 2014, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-like-a-rolling-stone-lyrics-to-be-auctioned/687482/1 "2014-05-02T03:08:21Z")

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Handwritten pages from the Bob Dylan song “Like a Rolling Stone” are apparently set [to go on auction in June](http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/04/30/handwritten-manuscripts-for-dylans-like-a-rolling-stone-to-be-auctioned/) - and they’re expected to fetch around $2,000,000. Wow. A bit steep for me, but it’s interesting to look at the stages of Dylan’s songwriting process. I was especially surprised by how debated the “How does it feel” chorus was - multiple other lines were considered, including “Shut up and deal.”  
ETA: Oh, and for those of you who are preserving their NYT monthly quota (like me!), here’s [an alternative link](http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/bob-dylans-like-a-rolling-stone-lyrics-going-up-for-auction-20140501).

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**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\
**Post date:** [May 2, 2014, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-like-a-rolling-stone-lyrics-to-be-auctioned/687482/2 "2014-05-02T03:43:54Z")

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Interesting that he originally wrote

“You used to laugh about,  
Everybody that was _down and out_”

which became “hangin’ out”. The former makes more sense to me, but the latter is more classically obscure in Dylan’s usual way. There lies his genius, I guess.

At the bottom of the NYT article: mention of a working manuscript for Joni Mitchell’s “Big Yellow Taxi,” expected to sell for $8,000 to $12,000. BYT isn’t one of my favourites but if it was I’d almost consider going for that…

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**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\
**Post date:** [May 2, 2014, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-like-a-rolling-stone-lyrics-to-be-auctioned/687482/3 "2014-05-02T14:35:32Z")

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Fascinating. A relic from Saint Bob. The Jester’s best.

I have a strong connection to collectibles - parents were antique dealers on the side while I grew up; I have collected first edition books and certainly invested time to understand the world of guitars. I find stuff like this really interesting, but can’t imagine wanting it for myself. I see it in a museum or the RRHoF - but in the case of Dylan, find it particularly ripe that Mr. Rebel is canonized so.

The song and dance man part of him is loving it, however. 😉