The song first appeared, in two different versions, a slow-pace and a fast-pace, on Dylan's fourteenth studio album Planet Waves.
In the notes included with that album, Dylan is quoted as saying that he wrote "Forever Young" in Tucson, Arizona, "thinking about" one of his sons and "not wanting to be too sentimental".
Written as a lullaby for his eldest son Jesse, born in 1966, Dylan's song relates a father's hopes that his child will remain strong and happy.
Not wishing to sound 'too sentimental', Dylan included two versions of the song on the album Planet Waves, one a lullaby and the other more rock-oriented.
The song was memorably recited on American television by Howard Cosell when Muhammad Ali won the heavyweight crown for the third time.
[8] Rod Stewart recorded a song titled "Forever Young" that was released as a single and included on his 1988 album Out of Order.
Rhiannon Giddens and Iron & Wine's version appeared in the series finale titled "May God Bless and Keep You Always" which derives from the opening lyrics to "Forever Young".
Rogers's visual interpretation of “Forever Young” includes references to Bob Dylan's life and livelihood juxtaposed against the backdrop of the social and political climate.