"I wanted to write a big song, some kind of theme song, with short, concise verses that piled up on each other in a hypnotic way," said Dylan. "This is definitely a song with a purpose." Inspired by Scottish and Irish folk ballads and released less than two months after the assassination of John F. Kennedy, the song became an immediate anthem and was covered by artists from the Byrds to Cher. Said Dylan, "I knew exactly what I wanted to say and who I wanted to say it to." (Bob Dylan)

#59 of Rolling Stone's Best 500 Songs