Experts at Sotheby's have described the manuscript as "the most significant piece of rock material to appear at auction." Sotheby's say bids at the New York auction in June could reach UK £1m. (US $1,688,390) The manuscript will be accompanied by a letter from Dylan's lawyer to verify its authenticity. A Californian friend and business associate bought it from the singer three years ago.
In 1965, Dylan wrote the song in pencil on four small sheets of hotel stationery. The manuscript captures the attention with corrections, revisions, additions and sketches.
Notes attached to the lyrics relate to the singer/songwriter's life at the time and reveal his method of construction.
First verse and chorus from "Like A Rolling Stone"
Once upon a time you dressed so fine
You threw the bums a dime in your prime, didn't you ?
People'd call, say, "Beware doll, you're bound to fall"
You thought they were all kiddin' you
You used to laugh about
Everybody that was hangin' out
Now you don't talk so loud
Now you don't seem so proud
About having to be scrounging for your next meal.
How does it feel
How does it feel
To be without a home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone?
As well as changing the course of popular culture, the song transformed Bob Dylan's career from a folk singer to a rock star.
In 1965, music charts were overrun with short and sweet love songs like, Red Roses for a Blue Lady, Bert Kaempfert, You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin', The Righteous Brothers & Crying In the Chapel, Elvis Presley. Dylan broke the mold with six and a half minutes of dark, brooding poetry and went on to be an influential figure in popular music and culture for more than five decades.
I was a young mother in 1965, and didn't have a lot of time to follow his career. My favorite song of his is House of the Risin' Sun. You can see a list of his titles here.
Which of his songs do you like best?