The Rough and Rowdy Way of Life

On his most recent album of original material, released five and a half years ago now, Bob Dylan sings (or croaks) a lyric that seems profoundly self-referential: “I’ve already outlived my life by far.” Like all things Dylan, it is open to interpretation. Here’s mine, specially tailored for what I’m about to write: Bob Dylan believes he has outgrown the clichés that people use to talk about him.