Man Gave Names to All the Animals
Bob Dylan
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Man gave names to all the animals In the beginning, in the beginning. Man gave names to all the animals In the beginning, long time ago. He saw an animal that liked to growl, Big furry paws and he liked to howl, Great big furry back and furry hair. "Ah, think I'll call it a bear." Man gave names to all the animals In the beginning, in the beginning. Man gave names to all the animals In the beginning, long time ago. He saw an animal up on a hill Chewing up so much grass until she was filled. He saw milk comin' out but he didn't know how. "Ah, think I'll call it a cow." Man gave names to all the animals In the beginning, in the beginning. Man gave names to all the animals In the beginning, long time ago. He saw an animal that liked to snort, Horns on his head and they weren't too short. It looked like there wasn't nothin' that he couldn't pull. "Ah, think I'll call it a bull." Man gave names to all the animals In the beginning, in the beginning. Man gave names to all the animals In the beginning, long time ago. He saw an animal leavin' a muddy trail, Real dirty face and a curly tail. He wasn't too small and he wasn't too big. "Ah, think I'll call it a pig." Man gave names to all the animals In the beginning, in the beginning. Man gave names to all the animals In the beginning, long time ago. Next animal that he did meet Had wool on his back and hooves on his feet, Eating grass on a mountainside so steep. "Ah, think I'll call it a sheep." Man gave names to all the animals In the beginning, in the beginning. Man gave names to all the animals In the beginning, long time ago. He saw an animal as smooth as glass Slithering his way through the grass. Saw him disappear by a tree near a lake . . .
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10 facts about this song
Song Origin"Man Gave Names to All the Animals" is a track from Bob Dylan's 1979 album "Slow Train Coming". It was a departure from his previous work in that the whole album was an expression of Dylan's newfound Christian faith.
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Album Theme"Slow Train Coming" is an album where Dylan openly expressed his Christian faith. His lyrics drew heavily on the Bible. The song "Man Gave Names to All the Animals" is a direct reflection of the book of Genesis where Adam first names the animals.
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Reggae FlavorThis song is primarily a blues song; however, it incorporates a reggae feel. This mix is in tribute to Dylan’s prior explorations in various music genres.
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Children's BookIn 1999, illustrator Jim Arnosky turned "Man Gave Names to All the Animals" into a children’s book. The book featured Dylan’s lyrics accompanied by Arnosky’s drawings of animals.
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Cover VersionsThe song has been covered by numerous artists. It has been interpreted as a children's song, a gospel song, and a reggae song by artists such as The Wiggles, Jason Mraz, and Townes Van Zandt, respectively.
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Live PerformanceDespite extensive touring since the song's release in 1979, Dylan has performed "Man Gave Names to All the Animals" live fewer than twenty times.
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Song EndingThe song never names the snake. In the book of Genesis, it's the snake who tempts Eve in the Garden of Eden. The omission has been widely perceived as a manifestation of Dylan's faith and a commentary on the nature of temptation and evil.
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Album SuccessDespite the drastic shift in Dylan's musical focus, "Slow Train Coming" was a commercial success, and "Man Gave Names to All the Animals" contributed to this achievement. This album also won Dylan a Grammy award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance.
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Lyric InterpretationWhile the lyrics seem simple and somewhat repetitive, many Dylan fans interpret the recurrent imagery of the animals and the ultimate omission of the snake as reflecting the singer's views on the natural world, temptation, innocence, and guilt.
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Popularity among KidsDue to its catchy rhythm and simple, repetitive lyrics, the song is very popular among children. This fact helped for "Man Gave Names to All the Animals" to be adapted into a children’s book and covered by children’s group, The Wiggles.
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Citation
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"Man Gave Names to All the Animals Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 11 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/36583/Bob+Dylan/Man+Gave+Names+to+All+the+Animals>.
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