The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
In the still of the night, in the world's ancient light
Where wisdom grows up in strife
My bewildered brain, tolls in vain
Through the darkness on the pathways of life
Each invisible prayer is like a cloud in the air
Tomorrow keeps turning around
We live and we die, we know not why
But I'll be with you when the deal goes down
We eat and we drink, we feel and we think
Far down the street we stray
I laugh and I cry and I'm haunted by
Things I never meant nor wished to say
The midnight rain follows the train
We all wear the same thorny crown
Soul to soul, our shadows roll
And I'll be with you when the deal goes down
Well the moon gives light and shines by night
And I scarcely feel the glow
We learn to live and then we forgive
Or the road we're bound to go
More frailer than the flowers, these precious hours
That keep us so tightly bound
You come to my eyes like a vision from the skies
And I'll be with you when the deal goes down
Well I picked up a rose and it poked through my clothes
I followed the winding stream
I heard the deafening noise, I felt transient joys
I know they're not what they seem
In this earthly domain, full of disappointment and pain
You'll never see me frown
I owe my heart to you, and that's sayin' it true
And I'll be with you when the deal goes down
Where wisdom grows up in strife
My bewildered brain, tolls in vain
Through the darkness on the pathways of life
Each invisible prayer is like a cloud in the air
Tomorrow keeps turning around
We live and we die, we know not why
But I'll be with you when the deal goes down
We eat and we drink, we feel and we think
Far down the street we stray
I laugh and I cry and I'm haunted by
Things I never meant nor wished to say
The midnight rain follows the train
We all wear the same thorny crown
Soul to soul, our shadows roll
And I'll be with you when the deal goes down
Well the moon gives light and shines by night
And I scarcely feel the glow
We learn to live and then we forgive
Or the road we're bound to go
More frailer than the flowers, these precious hours
That keep us so tightly bound
You come to my eyes like a vision from the skies
And I'll be with you when the deal goes down
Well I picked up a rose and it poked through my clothes
I followed the winding stream
I heard the deafening noise, I felt transient joys
I know they're not what they seem
In this earthly domain, full of disappointment and pain
You'll never see me frown
I owe my heart to you, and that's sayin' it true
And I'll be with you when the deal goes down
Lyrics submitted by JoshPowell, edited by Mikesch
When the Deal Goes Down Lyrics as written by Bob Dylan
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
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This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
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such abeautiful song!
the video is too youtube.com/watch
Truly Bob Dylan is one of rock's greatest lyricists
This is one of a few songs on the Modern Times record that takes me back to Willie Nelson' masterful Stardust record...musically (though I was not alive at the time). As a Christian, I can't help but love the beautiful spiritual imagery in Dylan: "We all wear the same thorny crown Soul to soul, our shadows roll And I'll be with you when the deal goes down"
And Dylan's opening stanzas get me every time: In the still of the night, in the world's ancient light Where wisdom grows up in strife My bewildering brain, tolls in vain Through the darkness on the pathways of life Each invisible prayer is like a cloud in the air Tomorrow keeps turning around We live and we die, we know not why But I'll be with you when the deal goes down
(best stanza in the song)
I think this is the best song on the album. He's not simply putting his great poetry to music, nor is he coming up with simple lyrics in order to show off a great musical melody. Here, the lyrics are top-notch, and the rhyme scheme is perfect, and like the last person said, it's like a Willie Nelson classic--I'd say, because it is modest and heartfelt and low-key.
This is truly a song to us all. The lyrics can be interpreted as Christian as well as Buddhist, as Buddhist themes like frailty, transient joys, and suffering co-mingle with Christian prayers, radical guilt, and thorny crowns. Anyone, believer or atheist, should be able to enjoy this song. A great reflection on putting our lives in perspective.
Like Shep1986 and LoganWalter I see this song as a prayer. The singer is in a process of striving to have his wisdom grow in a world "full of disappointment and pain" where many experiences are "not what they seem". Though in the "darkness on the pathways of life" his toiling often appears in vain, he is sure that he will succeed in finally being together with his addressee, who is indicated as Jesus with the "thorny crown" while I whonder who it should be for a Buddhist.
Wearing a thorny crown like Jesus indicates suffering like him instead of passively relying on his suffering. Similarly active strife is found necessary. Still the reasons for living and dying remain hidden - at least to most people.
Yes, " A great reflection on putting our lives in perspective" (Shep1986).