Bob Dylan stepped into Columbia Records’ New York studio and emerged with one of rock’s most enduring anthems—“Like a Rolling Stone.” More than just a song, it signaled a seismic shift in Dylan’s career, marking his controversial pivot from folk troubadour to electric icon.

Three decades later, The Rolling Stones—named after the Muddy Waters tune “Rollin’ Stone”—offered their own take on Dylan’s masterpiece. Their version debuted as the lead single from Stripped, a 1995 album blending raw studio cuts and intimate live performances captured during their Voodoo Lounge Tour. Then, in 1998, the saga came full circle when Dylan and the Stones shared the stage in Buenos Aires for a fiery rendition of the track during the South American leg of the Bridges to Babylon Tour.

The performance wasn’t just a tribute; it was a meeting of musical titans. Bob took the lead, with Mick Jagger and Keith Richards lending harmonies—a moment layered with symbolism and history.

But what exactly is “a rolling stone”?

According to Merriam-Webster, the phrase dates back to Erasmus of Rotterdam in 1508, who noted the Greek proverb that a rolling stone “does not gather algae.” The Latin version similarly stated, “A rolling stone is not covered with moss.” By the mid-1500s, English playwright John Heywood included a version in his writings: “the rollyng stone never gatherth mosse.” Originally, the phrase cautioned against rootlessness—a warning that wanderers would never acquire the stability or refinement of settled life.

A 1611 French-English dictionary elaborated further, equating the “rolling stone” to a vagabond or wanderer—someone who roamed aimlessly. Interestingly, that very image could easily describe the swaggering stage presence of Mick Jagger, who “trot[s] up and downe” stages across the globe like a man possessed.

The term soon rolled into American blues culture. In 1950, Muddy Waters recorded “Rollin’ Stone,” a version of “Catfish Blues” that would inspire a generation. Among them? A scrappy group of British musicians who would adopt the song’s name as their own, launching The Rolling Stones into rock ‘n’ roll mythology.

As for Dylan, “Like a Rolling Stone” emerged after a grueling UK tour—chronicled in D.A. Pennebaker’s Don’t Look Back. Dylan described the song’s origin as a 20-page rant that he refined into four powerful verses. Some hear a stinging critique of a socialite fallen from grace; others see Dylan grappling with his dual identity as folk prophet and rock pioneer.

The song’s impact, however, went beyond its lyrics. It was the sound—a thunderclap of defiance and reinvention. Backed by a formidable group of musicians, including Mike Bloomfield (guitar), Bobby Gregg (drums), and a then-unknown Al Kooper on Hammond organ, Dylan captured something raw and electric. Kooper, who wasn’t even supposed to play organ, added a riff so iconic Dylan insisted it be pushed higher in the mix.

That organ line has since become a hallmark of the song. When The Stones toured in the mid-’90s, their keyboardist Chuck Leavell echoed Kooper’s part, paying homage to the original.

In a poetic twist, the song that once redefined Bob Dylan would later unite him with the band that took its name from the same source that inspired his own defiance. In Buenos Aires, in front of a roaring crowd, Dylan and the Stones turned “Like a Rolling Stone” into a shared anthem—equal parts rebellion, history, and rock ‘n’ roll royalty.