Top tracks — play these first
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World Gone Wrong Start here — The title track encapsulates the album's themes of despair and reflection, featuring poignant lyrics that resonate with contemporary issues while drawing from folk traditions.
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Love Henry — This ballad showcases Dylan's storytelling prowess, weaving a narrative that blends love and tragedy, highlighting his ability to breathe new life into classic themes.
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Blood in My Eyes — With its raw emotional intensity, this track delves into themes of loss and suffering, making it a standout representation of the album's darker undertones.
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Delia — This haunting rendition reflects Dylan's deep connection to American folklore, transforming a traditional murder ballad into a poignant meditation on fate and sorrow.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
Dylan's return to folk roots is marked by strong storytelling and cohesive acoustic arrangements.
What we noticed
- The album features a consistent use of acoustic instrumentation, primarily guitar and harmonica, creating an intimate atmosphere.
- Each track is built around traditional folk melodies, with Dylan's vocal delivery emphasizing storytelling over melodic variation.
- The sequencing maintains a somber tone throughout, with the last three tracks gradually slowing down the tempo.
- Composition 25% of the score
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8/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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8/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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8/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- reflective storytelling for introspection
- melancholic mood for quiet evenings
- haunting melodies that linger
- gentle pacing for thoughtful listening
Maybe skip if you
- seeking upbeat party tracks
- prefer instant gratification sounds
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Critical Peak — Marks a return to folk roots with high artistic acclaim and emotional depth.
- Themes
- American folk traditions· disillusionment and nostalgia· murder ballad storytelling
- Career context
- Released in 1993, World Gone Wrong is Bob Dylan's 29th studio album and marks a return to his roots in folk music after the rock-oriented albums of the late '80s. This album follows the critically acclaimed Oh Mercy and showcases Dylan's continued evolution as he delves into historical and personal narratives through a stripped-back acoustic format.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Leonard Cohen· Neil Young· Johnny Cash
Tracklist
- 1 World Gone Wrong Start here 3:57
- 2 Love Henry 4:24
- 3 Ragged & Dirty 4:09
- 4 Blood in My Eyes 5:04
- 5 Broke Down Engine 3:22
- 6 Delia 5:41
- 7 Stack a Lee 3:50
- 8 Two Soldiers 5:45
- 9 Jack‐A‐Roe 4:56
- 10 Lone Pilgrim 2:43
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
American III: Solitary Man
Johnny Cash
Shares a reflective storytelling style and somber themes rooted in American folk traditions.
Revival
Gillian Welch
Explores similar themes of nostalgia and disillusionment through haunting melodies and traditional folk influences.
Murder Ballads
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Delves into dark narrative storytelling, echoing the murder ballad tradition with a modern twist.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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