A major publishing event—a beautiful, comprehensive collection of the lyrics of Bob Dylan with artwork from thirty-three albums, edited and with an introduction by Christopher Ricks. 

As it was well put by Al Kooper (the man behind the organ on “Like a Rolling Stone”), “Bob is the equivalent of William Shakespeare. What Shakespeare did in his time, Bob does in his time.” Christopher Ricks, editor of T. S. Eliot, Samuel Beckett, Tennyson, and The Oxford Book of English Verse, has no argument with Mr. Kooper’s assessment, and Dylan is attended to accordingly in this authoritative edition of his lyrics.

In the words of Ricks: “For fifty years, all the world has delighted in Bob Dylan’s books of words and more than words: provocative, mysterious, touching, baffling, not-to-be-pinned-down, intriguing, and a reminder that genius is free to do as it chooses. And, again and again, these are not the words that he sings on the initially released albums.” 

This edition changes things, giving us the words from officially released studio and live recordings, as well as selected variant lyrics and revisions to these, recent revisions and retrospective ones; and, from the archives, words that, till now, have not been published. 

The Lyrics, edited with diligence by Christopher Ricks, Lisa Nemrow, and Julie Nemrow. As set down, as sung, and as sung again.

Almost 1,000 pages and 13 pounds, this slip-case edition is roughly the size of an LP record, and is being published as a limited edition. (+/- 15 lb with gilded edges in the case.)

“Bob Dylan is one of the most important artists of our time. His work is sometimes compared to Shakespeare’s, and when I held this book in my hands, I couldn’t help thinking that what Christopher Ricks and his colleagues have produced will come to be regarded as the First Folio of Dylan studies. This is an extraordinary work — truly a collector’s item.”

— Jonathan Karp, Simon & Schuster's publisher.

Read more in The New York Times and Rolling Stone

Order The Lyrics. Since 1962 

The signed limited edition through Simon & Schuster