Bob Dylan Reflects on Aging in Rare Op-Ed

Bob Dylan has discusses the ups and downs of aging in a rare op-ed. 

Dylan and other famous figures, including Liza Minnelli and Robert De Niro, were asked by the New York Times to pen op-eds to mark the US President Donald Trump turning 80. 

When asked about the best and worst things about reaching the milestone year, Dylan had some thoughts to share. 

“The best thing about being 80 is that you outlive the clocks that have been chasing you. It’s freedom from that lie that anything was ever under control,” the legendary musician said about turning 80. “You don’t chase the parade anymore. You’re an old king from some vanished country. You’re harder to program.”

On a more negative note, he said, “The old fire in your heart still tells you to do this and that, but your body says we already did it. Also, nothing surprises you. It sounds like a luxury but it’s not, and also you’ve run out of illusions."

Dylan continued: “The really worst part about being 80 is that you find, at last, you’ve got an understanding of something that might have altered everything in the past, had it come at a time when something could still be altered. When you’re young you think that time moves forward. 

"At 80 you know that it doesn’t, it stands still. We’re the ones that move.”

While other people provided advice for Trump in their own op-ed, Dylan didn't provide any words of wisdom for the president on his landmark birthday. 

De Niro, however, did have some words for Trump. 

“The president doesn’t listen to advice. He surrounds himself with feckless clowns who keep their positions by supporting his every whim," the actor said. "If I were able to pierce the shell of cruelty, greed, corruption and stupidity for one piece of advice … I would advise him to get some good advice from good people, and follow it.”

Gloria Steinem was shorter with her own words for Trump. “Resign," she said.