Released on July 20, 1965, “Like a Rolling Stone” is a song by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan. The confrontational lyrics originated from an extended piece of verse Dylan wrote in June 1965, after returning exhausted from a grueling tour of England. Dylan distilled the draft into four verses and a chorus for the final song. The song describes the process of “waking up” to society. It reflects on the Western way of life, emphasizing gratitude and self-awareness. The debutante in the song falls from high society, becoming a loner. Despite the crushing blow, there’s an upside: when you have nothing, you have nothing to lose. Being invisible means having no secrets to reveal. “Like a Rolling Stone” remains one of Dylan’s most enduring achievements. Its impact inspired a stand-alone book by Greil Marcus.