In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
As I went out one morning
To breathe the air around Tom Paine's
I spied the fairest damsel
That ever did walk in chains
I offer'd her my hand
She took me by the arm
I knew that very instant
She meant to do me harm
Depart from me this moment
I told her with my voice
Said she, but I don't wish to
Said I, But you have no choice
I beg you, sir, she pleaded
From the corners of her mouth
I will secretly accept you
And together we'll fly south
Just then Tom Paine, himself
Came running from across the field
Shouting at this lovely girl
And commanding her to yield
And as she was letting go her grip
Up Tom Paine did run
I'm sorry, sir, he said to me
I'm sorry for what she's done
To breathe the air around Tom Paine's
I spied the fairest damsel
That ever did walk in chains
I offer'd her my hand
She took me by the arm
I knew that very instant
She meant to do me harm
Depart from me this moment
I told her with my voice
Said she, but I don't wish to
Said I, But you have no choice
I beg you, sir, she pleaded
From the corners of her mouth
I will secretly accept you
And together we'll fly south
Just then Tom Paine, himself
Came running from across the field
Shouting at this lovely girl
And commanding her to yield
And as she was letting go her grip
Up Tom Paine did run
I'm sorry, sir, he said to me
I'm sorry for what she's done
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This song is about the problems that can occur from receiving an award and not knowing how to handle the situation. In 1963, Bob Dylan reeceived the Tom Paine award for promoting progressive thought and action in regard to civil liberties. At the award ceremony, Bob Dylan was very uncomfortable and gave a strange and controversial speech which is now well know to his fans. Here is a site with information about this : corliss-lamont.org/dylan.htm .The fair damsel is the award. To secretly fly south is to accept the award and be the spokesman for this cause, and therefore to live in bondage to this cause. Tom Paine himself releases Bob Dylan from this servitude. The spirit of Tom Paine is the spirit of freedom. The lovely girl had tempted Bob Dylan and the spirit of freedom apologizes to Bob Dylan. This beautiful and intriguing song is both an explanation for Dylan's speech and a wish fulfillment for him. What do you think?
On a larger level, Tom Paine's is the America he dreamed of--of freedom. The damsel represents temptation, Paine's America corrupted and the enslaving nature of fame.
@danielss I think you nailed it. Dylan is his own man.
@danielss thanks for that explanation! Dylan’s so damn mysterious lol...and he works at being mysterious lol, he’s no dummy! Can’t believe I’ve not heard of this award situation before. I’m grateful, thanks again!<br /> <br /> John Wesley Harding is such an interesting lip in his career...his “powers” have never abandoned him, but he’s at the absolute peak of his songwriting abilities here...
@danielss It blows my mind to think Dylan - anyone, really - could navigate his way thru the sixties in such a masterful way, or a least it seems that way with 20/20 hindsight. <br /> <br /> This song, in addition to the specific event that inspired it (the award), also, to me, speaks of the larger issue of Dylan’s Image and the control of it. Dylan more than likely cost himself a lot of money and exposure by refusing to appear at the huge Festivals, even though he was ASSUMED to be just a “Hippie-Protest singer”, and separating himself from the groups that did appear, never allowing himself to be lumped in with the “business as usual” of the music biz. <br /> <br /> IDK, but I do find it difficult to imagine that Dylan was doing anything except just moving forward, being a “Song And Dance Man”, which makes it even More remarkable that he looks like a brilliant businessman looking back, so I’d imagine that Albert Grossman was a good manager, although they surely had their disagreements. Idk, maybe he was just another manager but henHAD TO have something to do with Dylan’s image as a fearless artist who has NEVER found himself painted into a corner because he didn’t know where to go NEXT…