The songwriter Bob Dylan admitted was better than him

The one songwriter Bob Dylan had no problem putting above himself was Woody Guthrie. Long before he became one of popular music's most influential figures, Dylan was a passionate admirer of Guthrie's work. The singer considered the author of "This Land Is Your Land" an absolute master of American folk composition and a reference who helped shape his entire artistic vision. When he arrived in New York in the early 1960s, one of the first things Dylan did was look for Guthrie, who was already facing serious health problems. The musician's influence can be seen in several of Dylan's early compositions, especially in songs of protest and social commentary. For Dylan, Guthrie was not just an inspiration: he was the standard that all other songwriters were trying to reach.