Almanac Music: Extraordinary Musical Moments – Patti Smith Sings ‘A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall’ at Bob Dylan’s Official Nobel Prize Ceremony, 2016
Almanac Music: Extraordinary Musical Moments – Patti Smith Sings ‘A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall’ at Bob Dylan’s Official Nobel Prize Ceremony, 2016
It’s widely known that when Bob Dylan won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2016, he didn’t turn up to the official ceremony to collect the award – no surprise, there. It seems like a typically quirky, contrary Bob decision. (That said, he did personally accept the prize months later at a private ceremony and also submitted, within a set time limit, the lecture required to receive the monetary part of the prize, worth US $900,000.)
What did occur on the night of Dylan’s official ceremony for the Nobel Prize in Stockholm, Sweden, in December 2016, though, was a case of one music legend performing for another. Patti Smith sang ‘A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall’ to the assembled dignitaries and eminences. With her long grey hair, sage-like face, and androgynous look, she presented an extraordinarily compelling figure on the Nobel stage, as if a powerful seer from an ancient world had suddenly appeared before the seated gathering.
Smith’s performance was wonderful, and certainly matched the gravitas of the occasion. That said, it was notably imperfect – stunningly so, when she stopped about two minutes in, ‘froze’, to use a word she chose in a later interview, apologised for her nervousness, and had to pick up the song from the point at which she’d stopped. Watching the occasion on YouTube, it is clear that the audience were gripped by her performance throughout, including the pause – they gave her rousing applause at the end, to the extent that it felt like they would have demanded an encore if the occasion allowed such a thing.
Watch and listen for yourselves. This Patti Smith performance is certainly an extraordinary musical moment.
And, Almanackers, if you have you own ‘extraordinary musical moment (or moments)’ to share, by all means do so.
For more from Kevin, click HERE.
Read more stories from Almanac Music HERE
If you would like to receive the Almanac Music and Poetry newsletter we will add you to the list. Please email us: [email protected]
To return to the www.footyalmanac.com.au home page click HERE
Our writers are independent contributors. The opinions expressed in their articles are their own. They are not the views, nor do they reflect the views, of Malarkey Publications.
Do you enjoy the Almanac concept?
And want to ensure it continues in its current form, and better? To help keep things ticking over please consider making your own contribution.
Become an Almanac (annual) member – CLICK HERE
One-off financial contribution – CLICK HERE
Regular financial contribution (monthly EFT) – CLICK HERE
About
Kevin Densley is a graduate of both Deakin University and The University of Melbourne. He has taught writing and literature in numerous Victorian universities and TAFES. He is a poet and writer-in-general. His sixth book-length poetry collection, Isle Full of Noises, was published in early 2026 by Ginninderra Press. He is also the co-author of ten play collections for young people, as well as a multi Green Room Award nominated play, Last Chance Gas, published by Currency Press. Other writing includes screenplays for educational films.
She was nervous standing in the great man’s shoes!
Certainly so, Col! But what an overall performance!