Bob Dylan’s 1961 Handwritten Lyrics for a Song about Wisconsin to be Auctioned

Original handwritten lyrics by musician and Nobel Laureate Bob Dylan will be auctioned by Nate D. Sanders Auctions on March 30, 2017.  

According to a press release, the lyrics were written for an unpublished song about Wisconsin. Dylan had a special connection with Wisconsin. He went to camp there as a child and briefly lived in Madison in 1960 after dropping out of the University of Minnesota. Dylan was determined to make a name for himself in Madison, which was one of the hotspots for folk music at the time. He played at various clubs but didn’t make a major impression. 

According to the press release, Dylan penned these original handwritten lyrics in November 1961 and gave them to Peter Crago, a fellow New York musician and roommate. 

The lyrics are an ode to the Badger state. They read in part

Wisconson [sic] is the dairy state
I guess you all know well
I was in Wow Wow Toaster there
The truth to you I'll tell
It's milk & cheese & cream
I've known 'em all my days
I'm going back to my hometown I'm leaving right aways
 

The lyrics come with a certificate of authenticity from music dealer Roger Epperson. Bidding for the lyrics begins at $30,000. More information about the lyrics can be found by clicking here.