Bob Dylan names Scottish poet Robert Burns as his biggest inspiration
His powerful songs have inspired countless other musicians.
Now Bob Dylan has named his own greatest inspiration as the Scottish poet Robert Burns.
The American singer-songwriter was asked to say which lyric or verse has had the biggest effect on his life.
According to some experts it was based on a song Burns heard a girl singing.
The poet himself, a pioneer of the Romantic movement, referred to it as a 'simple old Scots song which I had picked up in the country'.
Dr Gerard Carruthers, director of the Centre for Robert Burns Studies at the University of Glasgow, said: 'A Red, Red Rose is one of the greatest love songs of all time. It's a song that resonates down the ages. It's part of the Burns song canon.
'It's one of his most emotive and emotional, perhaps his biggest expression of love.
'Burns was a hugely committed artist who dealt with everyday emotions and big emotions so in that sense it's not a surprise he's influenced Dylan.
'I imagine Dylan will still be loved in 200 years as much as Burns is.'
Sir Paul McCartney, Morrissey and Nick Cave have previously revealed their greatest inspiration. Dylan is the 100th artist to take part.
Paul Rees, editor-in- chief of music magazine Q, said: 'You can rely on Dylan to be different. Most musicians have chosen other musicians as their inspiration and a lot of them have chosen Dylan himself.
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'Lyrically, Dylan is very literary. You could imagine the influence of this. The best Bob Dylan lyrics have that sort of romanticism.
'Burns was a folk hero and Dylan is also very much of that American song book tradition of traditional folk music.'
However, Dylan's reverence for Burns is unlikely to impress Newsnight presenter Jeremy Paxman, who in August denounced the Scottish poet as 'no more than a king of sentimental doggerel'.
Now Bob Dylan has named his own greatest inspiration as the Scottish poet Robert Burns.
The American singer-songwriter was asked to say which lyric or verse has had the biggest effect on his life.
Inspired: Bob Dylan said it was a lyric by Scottish poet Robert Burns that had the greatest effect on his life
He selected the 1794 song A Red, Red Rose, which is often published as a poem, penned by the man regarded as Scotland's national poet. According to some experts it was based on a song Burns heard a girl singing.
The poet himself, a pioneer of the Romantic movement, referred to it as a 'simple old Scots song which I had picked up in the country'.
Dr Gerard Carruthers, director of the Centre for Robert Burns Studies at the University of Glasgow, said: 'A Red, Red Rose is one of the greatest love songs of all time. It's a song that resonates down the ages. It's part of the Burns song canon.
'It's one of his most emotive and emotional, perhaps his biggest expression of love.
'Burns was a hugely committed artist who dealt with everyday emotions and big emotions so in that sense it's not a surprise he's influenced Dylan.
'I imagine Dylan will still be loved in 200 years as much as Burns is.'
Influential: Bob Dylan in the late Sixties
Dylan, 67, revealed his connection to the verse as part of the music retailer HMV's My Inspiration campaign, started by David Bowie two years ago when he selected lyrics by the late Syd Barrett of Pink Floyd. Sir Paul McCartney, Morrissey and Nick Cave have previously revealed their greatest inspiration. Dylan is the 100th artist to take part.
Paul Rees, editor-in- chief of music magazine Q, said: 'You can rely on Dylan to be different. Most musicians have chosen other musicians as their inspiration and a lot of them have chosen Dylan himself.
'Lyrically, Dylan is very literary. You could imagine the influence of this. The best Bob Dylan lyrics have that sort of romanticism.
'Burns was a folk hero and Dylan is also very much of that American song book tradition of traditional folk music.'
However, Dylan's reverence for Burns is unlikely to impress Newsnight presenter Jeremy Paxman, who in August denounced the Scottish poet as 'no more than a king of sentimental doggerel'.
David Bowie is inspired by lyrics by the late Pink Floyd star Syd Barrett
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