Last Update: 04/05/2026 at 2:50 PM EST
Hootie Pay Dylan For Borrowed Lyrics
Coverage from American Songwriter, AOL, and others
Articles
4
Latest Article
11/05
Active Days
277
Executive Summary
Hootie & the Blowfish settled with Bob Dylan after its hit Only Wanna Be with You borrowed lines from Idiot Wind and a title from Tangled Up in Blue
- Only Wanna Be with You borrowed lines from Id iot Wind and used the title Tangled Up in Blue
- The song became Hootie & the Blowfish biggest hit, reaching No 6 on the Billboard Hot 100
- Dylan's team reportedly did not object until the song became a major hit
- The dispute ended in an out-of-court settlement and one-time payment reported around 350000 dollars
- Darius Rucker described the song as a tribute to Bob Dylan, not an attempt to profit
- Dylan did not receive a writing credit for the song
- Cracked Rear View went multi-platinum, so the payment likely had limited impact on the band
Quick Facts
- What: Settlement over borrowed lyrics in a hit song
- Where: In the United States music industry
- Why: Dylan sought compensation for uncredited lyric use
- Who: Hootie & the Blowfish and Bob Dylan
- When: November 3 1995 after the song became a hit
Coverage Timeline: 277 Days
Featured Article
On 1995-11-03, Hootie & the Blowfish settled with Bob Dylan in an undisclosed venue over alleged borrowing from Idiot Wind and Tangled Up in Blue.
Additional Articles
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Darius Rucker and Hootie & the Blowfish paid Bob Dylan's publisher after lifting a line from Idiot Wind in Only Wanna Be with You.
Bob Dylan's lyrics inspired Hootie & The Blowfish's 1995 hit Only Wanna Be With You, prompting a licensing dispute and settlement.
1995, Hootie and The Blowfish's Only Wanna Be with You prompted a settlement with Dylan's representatives after uncredited use of Idiot Wind lyrics, in the United States.