Bob Dylan’s 1974 Classic “Forever Young,” Illustrated

“May you grow up to be righteous, may you grow up to be true… May you stay forever young.”

On January 18, 1974, the world welcomed Bob Dylan’s Planet Waves album. On it was “Forever Young” — one of Dylan’s most beloved songs, inspired by his four-year-old son Jakob.

In 2008, Dylan asked award-winning illustrator Paul Rogers, whose stunning covers for Hemingway classics you may have encountered and admired, to apply his signature mid-century aesthetic in reimagining the lyrics of the iconic anthem as a series of illustrated vignettes for young readers. Forever Young (UK; public library) was born — a charming children’s book about a little boy who embodies the heart of the Dylan classic: adventurousness, doing the right thing, and the eternal spirit of youth.

Rogers writes in the Illustrator’s Notes, before offering a page-by-page breakdown of some of the hidden stories in the drawings:

Listening to nearly every Dylan album while creating the illustrations for this book gave me time to think about the people who inspired him and how his music has inspired so many. These drawings include images from Dylan’s life and lyrics from his songs. Some are obvious and others are meant to be a bit of a mystery.

Forever Young is at once refreshingly unexpected and somehow completely natural — the lyrics, after all, are the perfect life-advice to youngsters:

May you grow up to be righteous
May you grow up to be true
May you always know the truth
And see the lights surrounding you
May you always be courageous
Stand upright and be strong
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young

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The Story of David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust Character

The curious rise, rise, and retirement of one of pop culture’s greatest cults.

David Bowie celebrates his 66th birthday today. From the BBC comes the fascinating story of his flamboyant Ziggy Stardust character, Bowie’s iconic androgynous glam-rock alter ego, which went on to become one of the 20th century’s biggest pop culture cults. The documentary is based on D. A. Pennebaker’s 1983 concert film Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, which captured Bowie’s original surprising announcement retiring the celebrated persona at London’s Hammersmith Odeon Theater ten years prior.

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In 2012, bringing you (ad-free) Brain Pickings took more than 5,000 hours. If you found any joy and stimulation here this year, please consider becoming a Member and supporting with a recurring monthly donation of your choosing, between a cup of coffee and a fancy dinner:

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10½ Favorite Albums of 2012

By popular demand, here is a music equivalent to complement those favorite books of 2012 — a highly subjective and hopelessly non-exhaustive selection of the 10 or so albums on heaviest rotation this year, many of which you might recognize from past Literary Jukebox installments.

MY HEAD IS AN ANIMAL

My Head Is An Animal (iTunes; UK) by Of Monsters and Men

Release date: April 3, 2012

LOVE THIS GIANT

Love This Giant (iTunes; UK) by David Byrne and St. Vincent

Release date: September 10, 2012

SUGARING SEASON

Sugaring Season (iTunes; UK) by Beth Orton

Release date: September 28, 2012

BREAK IT YOURSELF

Break It Yourself (iTunes; UK) by Andrew Bird

Release date: March 6, 2012

COME HOME TO MAMA

Come Home To Mama (iTunes; UK) by Martha Wainwright

Release date: October 16, 2012

THE IDLER WHEEL…

The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do (iTunes; UK) by Fiona Apple

Release date: June 15, 2012

BLUNDERBUSS

Blunderbuss (iTunes; UK) by Jack White

Release date: April 23, 2012

TRAMP

Tramp (iTunes; UK) by Sharon Van Etten

Release date: February 7, 2012

BABEL

Babel (iTunes; UK) by Mumford & Sons

Release date: September 21, 2012

WHAT WE SAW FROM THE CHEAP SEATS

What We Saw From The Cheap Seats (iTunes; UK) by Regina Spektor

Release date: May 25, 2012

BONUS: JUST TELL ME THAT YOU WANT ME

Just Tell Me That You Want Me: A Tribute To Fleetwood Mac (iTunes; UK), featuring Lykke Li, Washed Out, Best Coast, The New Pornographers, MGMT, and more

Release date: August 13, 2012

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