Dylan Song by Song: "Forever Young" Quiz

Answer: Bob Dylan at Budokan

"Forever Young" was first recorded on Bob Dylan's 14th studio album, "Planet Waves," which was released on January 17, 1974. It was his live version at Budakon, however, that he released as a European single in June of 1979, with "All Along the Watchtower" and "I Want You" on the B-side.

According to Tony Atwood at the "Untold Dylan" blog, this "song was, by Dylan's admission" penned for his son Jesse Dylan, who was born in 1966. The "Planet Waves" album also contains a "Wedding Song" for Dylan's wife, Sara. The couple divorced in 1977, just a few years after "Planet Waves" was released. Together, they had four children: Jesse Byron, Anna Lea, Samuel Isaac Abram, and Jakob Luke.

Answer: Rod Stewart

Rod Stewart's song, "Forever Young," was released as a single from his 1988 album "Out of Order" with "Days of Rage" on the B-side. The song peaked at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100.

A June 26, 1988 article by Patrick Goldstein in "The Los Angeles Times" quotes Rod Stewart's manager Arnold Steifel as saying, "When we were putting the album together, someone pointed out that there was a Dylan song with the same title. So we listened to the two songs. And it would be fair to say that while the melody and the music is not at all the same, the idea of the song is similar. The architecture of the lyrics of the song is very much from Dylan--there are definite similarities." Thus, they sent the song to Bob Dylan to see if he was okay with it, and Dylan's attorney responded that the songwriter wanted to "participate in ownership of the song." This resulted in a 50-50 split of royalties.

Answer: rung

In his "Forever Young," Rod Stewart sang, similarly, "May you...build a stairway to heaven."

"Forever Young" is a blessing for Bob Dylan's child and is somewhat reminiscent of the traditional Irish blessing "May the road rise up to meet you," which runs as follows:

"May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of His hand."

Answer: true

The song continues:

"May you always know the truth
And see the lights surrounding you."

Rod Stewart's "Forever Young" also wishes the addressee to grow up to be "true," and it, too, involves the wish for a surrounding light:

"And may sunshine and happiness surround you when you're far from home.
And my you grow to be proud, dignified and true."

Rod Stewart donated his royalties from his "Forever Young" single to help provide local health care for the homeless.

Answer: courageous

Rod Stewart also speaks of courage in his "Forever Young":

"Be courageous and be brave.
And in my heart you'll always stay
Forever young. (Forever young)."

Louisa Johnson, who won the 12th season of "The X-Factor," did a cover of Bob Dylan's "Forever Young" as her winner's single. It was released December 13, 2015 and reached number 9 on the UK Singles Chart.

Answer: for you

This line may be an allusion to the Golden Rule. The Golden Rule is a principle that states one should treat others how they would like to be treated. In the Bible, Jesus says, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" (Matthew 7:12). The rabbi Hillell the Elder is reported to have responded to a Gentile who asked to be taught the entire Torah while standing on one foot, "What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow: this is the whole Torah; the rest is the explanation; go and learn."

Bob Dylan's version of the Golden Rule is a little different here - "do for others, and let others do for you." It's a subtle line, which reminds us that it's a gift to be able to accept help, because sometimes accepting help can be just as hard as offering it; being willing to let "others do" for us can be humbling.

Answer: swift

There is an old adage that "Idle hands do the devil's work." Perhaps that was a warning Bob Dylan had in mind when he wished, "May your hands always be busy."

According to The Official Bob Dylan Website, by 2020, Bob Dylan had played "Forever Young" live over 493 times. In addition to the original recording on "Planet Waves," versions of the song have been included on Bob Dylan's "Bob Dylan At Budakon," "Greatest Hits Volume 3," "The Essential Bob Dylan," "The Best of Bob Dylan" (2005), and "Dylan" (2007). A demo version on the song is included on "Biograph."

Answer: shift

These verses may be an allusion to Jesus's parable of the man who built his house on a rock. In Matthew 7:24-25, Jesus said, "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock."

Answer: sung

The song concludes:

"May you stay forever young,
Forever young, forever young,
May you stay forever young."

This song is frequently covered. Neil Young, together with The Grateful Dead, performed a cover of "Forever Young" at the Bill Graham memorial concert on November 3, 1991. Stoney LaRue recorded a studio version of "Forever Young" on "The Red Dirt Album," which was released in 2005, and a live version on "Live at Billy Bob's Texas." (2007).

Answer: Parenthood

"When We Were Young," sung by Lucy Schwartz, was alternatively used as the show's theme song when seasons three through six aired internationally, but at first "Forever Young" was used in the U.S. The soundtrack for the family drama includes Dylan's version of the song as well as a cover of "Forever Young" by Lucy Schwartz and John Doe.

In the final episode of the show, in 2015, the song was covered by Iron & Wine and Rhiannon Giddens.

Answer: Steve Jobs

Named by Billboard as the top jazz artist of the 2000s, Norah Jones has released multiple studio albums including "Come Away With Me," "The Fall," and "Begin Again." Apple co-founder Steve Jobs died on October 5, 2011. Both Coldplay and Nora Jones sang at his memorial service, which was attended by tens of thousands of employees.

Answer: Blake Shelton

Released in 2015, "Max" is a Warner Brothers family adventure movie featuring a dog used to help U.S. Marines in Afghanistan. Blake Shelton has recorded numerous albums, including "The Dreamer," "Red River Blue," and "Texoma Shore." Blake Shelton has served as a judge on "Nashville Star" and "Clash of the Choirs" as well as on "The Voice."

Answer: The Pretenders

This version of "Forever Young" was also used in the soundtrack to the 1995 movie "Free Willy 2." The song was originally recorded on the sixth studio album of The Pretenders, which was released in May of 1994 and contained such songs as "I'll Stand By You," "Hollywood Perfume," and "Rebel Rock Me."

Answer: Diana Ross

"Swept Away" was the fourteenth studio album of Diana Ross and included, along with "Forever Young," such songs as "Missing You," "Rescue Me," "It's Your Move," and the title song "Swept Away." "Missing You" peaked at number ten on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

Answer: Janis Joplin

While I could certainly imagine Janis Joplin wailing out a great rock version of this song, she died in 1970, three years before Bob Dylan wrote "Forever Young."

Meatloaf covered the song on his 2003 album "Couldn't Have Said It Better," while Peter, Paul, and Mary recorded a version for their 1978 album "Reunion." A version of the song, sung by Johnny Cash, also appears on the benefit album "Red Hot + Country," which was released in 1994.