| Bob Dylan – No Time to Think Lyrics | 17 years ago |
|
OK, nobody else has taken a try at commenting on this great song, so here are my thoughts to get a dialogue started.: 1. This song is a wonderful combination of Dylan's gifts of clever word selection and brilliantly suggestive imagery (that allows listeners to glean their own meaning based on their own perspectives, interpretations, experiences, priorities, etc.). 2. The name and refrain state the main point: we do not have time -- or take time -- to think -- especially about things that deserve substantial time. 3. There are 8.5 stanzas. The tempo of most of the lines seems "rushed" -- except for the first line of each refrain - the lists of four nouns -- these nouns are recited very slowly and mockingly compared to the other lines. To me Dylan is saying that we don't have or take enough time to analyze the many important things of life, we simply attach a bunch of broad and useless labels and move on. He mocks the labels with their uniform rhyme and using his exaggerated rhythm, repetitive melody and sarcastic vocals. 4. Some of the stanzas seem to have somewhat unambiguous, coherent unifying themes. Others do not. Someone please help me here.......... |
|
| Bob Dylan – Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands Lyrics | 17 years ago |
|
I don't see this as purely a love song, but I appreciate comments from fans of this song that offer specific ideas as to the meaning that they receive from some specific lyrics. Dylan often avoids adjectives that would reveal his meaning in favor of, for example, nouns that invite ambiguity. Take for instance the first line: With your mercury mouth in the missionary times, When I hear "mercury mouth" I think of shiny lips. (I am totally lost as to what a "cowboy mouth" could be or what a "curfew plug" could be, but I digress). When i hear "missionary times" I think of times in a relationships limited to somewhat reserved sex. Other times I think that Dylan was stoned and just thought that the words flowed nicely! But most of all I am surprised by the extent to which Dylan's lyrics attract us and invite us to reach diverse interpretations -- like Rorschach ink blot tests! Hearing other people's interpretations gives me insights into their perspectives as well as helping me to see myself better (example: do my somewhat sensual interpretations of the first line indicate that I am obsessed with sex?). I am most interested in what some of you think of these oft repeated and probably key lines: My warehouse eyes, my Arabian drums, Should I leave them by your gate, Or, sad-eyed lady, should I wait? For example, leaving something by a gate seems a little cold to me - which brings me back to my original point that to me this is not purely a love song, but rather a song of mixed emotions from a guy in love. |
|
| Bob Dylan – Mama, You Been on My Mind Lyrics | 17 years ago |
|
I think it is about former lovers who once felt very deeply about each other and are now apart. He remembers how good some of the relationship was, but must have reasons to not be asking to return to it. He does not know what he really wants in terms of whether he would like to get together again. At times he thinks "yes", at other times "no" and he does not even know why he is so confused. He is wondering how she feels now, but he is not asking for that response. There is one thing though that he does know that he wants: he wants her to know that he still thinks of her - both as part of the past, and possibly as part of the future. Which can only mean that he would like her to respond in a way that helped him make sense of his feelings. That would be my guess. |
|
| Bob Dylan – Brownsville Girl Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| I think all of the song is about Dylan's relationship with his fans as he journeys through life like the journet in teh song. He saw the movie (Gunfighter) once and he lived it once - saying that he was in the movie. I think Dylan is like Henry Porter from "Rawhide" - changing his name like Dylan did - but more importantly we really do not know much about him. | |
* This information can be up to 15 minutes delayed.