Bob Dylan has spent more than six decades shaping the soundtrack of American life — and he’s done it alongside some of the most legendary names in music. From collaborations with Tom PettyandRoy Orbisonto trading verses with Johnny Cash, Dylan’s orbit has long included iconic songwriters and performers.
But when asked in a 1984 interview to name the songwriters who truly impressed him, Dylan didn’t name the usual suspects. Instead, he praised someone known more for poetry than performance — someone whose legacy stretches beyond albums and into the pages of beloved children’s books.
In a resurfaced conversation with journalist Bert Kleinman, Dylan was asked to share his thoughts on songwriters of his era. He responded, in his typically understated fashion, “I think there are lot of good songwriters, though what I’ve done I’ve done all alone, but there’s a lot of other good songwriters… of my era.”
When asked for specifics, Dylan offered a few measured compliments. “Randy Newman writes good songs, Paul Simon’s written some good songs; I think ‘America’ is a good song, I think ‘The Boxer’ is a good song. I think ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ is a good song. I mean, he’s written a lot of bad songs too, but everybody’s done that.”
Calling those songs merely “good” might seem like mild praise from someone often labeled as the greatest songwriter of all time. But Dylan’s real admiration came when he mentioned a figure who was, at heart, a poet.
“Let’s see… some of the Nashville writers… Shel Silversteinwrites great songs. Really. Like he’s one of my favourite songwriters.”
That word “great” stands out, especially coming from Dylan, who has spent his life writing lyrics that became literature in their own right.
Why Bob Dylan Respected Shel Silverstein
To many, Silverstein is best known for his poetry for children. Books like Where the Sidewalk Ends and A Light in the Attic became bookshelf staples, celebrated for their wit and emotional depth.
But behind the playful rhymes was a true creative powerhouse. Silverstein was a successful cartoonist, playwright, and most notably in this context, an innovative songwriter.
Some may say his most famous musical achievement is writing Cash’s hit “A Boy Named Sue,” a song that earned Silverstein a Grammy. However, that was just one piece of his musical portfolio.
Throughout the 1960s and ‘70s, Silverstein wrote songs recorded by some of the most revered names in country and folk music. Bobby Bare, Kris Kristofferson, Waylon Jennings, Emmylou Harris and Judy Collins all performed his work.
Silverstein’s influence was so strong that in 2010, Bobby Bare and his son, Bobby Bare Jr., curated a full tribute album titled Twistable, Turnable Man: A Musical Tribute to the Songs of Shel Silverstein.
While Silverstein may not have been a “traditional” musician, his lyrics were emotionally resonant. In Dylan’s eyes, that made Silverstein not just “good,” but “great.”
Silverstein tragically passed away on May 10, 1999, at the age of 68 from a heart attack at his home in Key West, Florida. While he left behind a vast collection of stories, songs and illustrations, his impact continues to grow even decades later.
This story was originally reported by Parade on Sep 20, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.yahoo.com ’
