| Bob Dylan – Love Minus Zero/No Limit Lyrics | 10 years ago |
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"In the dime stores and bus stations People talk of situations Read books, repeat quotations Draw conclusions on the wall" I think this verse is a brutal critique of the common idiot. Here's my breakdown: "In the dime stores and bus stations" - Places where lower-middle-class people are found. These are not thoughtful, highly educated people, but they do represent the majority of society. "People talk of situations" - people engage in banal small talk. "Read books, repeat quotations" - these common idiots repeat things that other, better people have written, as if they've really got it all figured out. They are being "posers", in other words. "Draw conclusions on the wall" - Where does one draw on the walls in a bus station? The bathroom stall! Yes, I believe Dylan is referring here to the things scrawled on the wall of a bathroom stall - a harsh critique of society's conventional wisdom. He may also be referring to graffiti, but the sentiment is the same either way. |
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| Bob Dylan – Dead Man, Dead Man Lyrics | 10 years ago |
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This song is about the "dead man" inside of him trying to rise back up, and his awareness of it and struggle against it. The non-Christian listener wouldn't know this unless you were familiar with the New Testament. In Christian theology, the old, sinful you is considered "dead", and the new. born-again you is a "new creation." Here are a few Scriptural examples: 1. Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 2. Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 3. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. |
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| Bob Dylan – 4th Time Around Lyrics | 10 years ago |
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I just have to say, the first few seconds of this song might be the most striking artistic moment Dylan ever created. The gorgeous, haunting instrumentation, the perfectly chosen words, his signature halting delivery...it hit me like a truck the first time I heard it. It's one of the saddest things I've ever heard. I absolutely love the line "Then, she worked on my face until breaking my eyes." I'm a writer myself, and I already know that I'll never write anything this good in my lifetime. |
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| Bob Dylan – Boots of Spanish Leather Lyrics | 10 years ago |
| @[lostaski:3922] He didn't want boots at all. He wanted her. | |
| Bob Dylan – Boots of Spanish Leather Lyrics | 10 years ago |
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I think the nature of the gift he requested is completely irrelevant. Some are pointing out that the "Spanish Boot" was a medieval torture device, but I would be shocked if this was an intentional correlation. The only meaningful point of the last line is the fact the he agreed to accept a gift (any gift). This symbolizes his acknowledgment that she is not coming back. It is a parting gift for the relationship. This is such a powerful and satisfying twist for the end of the song that for the artist to add any other meaning would be unnecessary and even distracting. The more interesting question is: why does he say "Spanish boots of Spanish leather." This phrasing is redundant and awkward, and Bob Dylan is NEVER redundant or awkward. It would have read more smoothly to say "Send me boots of Spanish leather" or any number of other phrasings. I think he repeats the word "Spanish" for one of two reasons: First, perhaps simply to communicate the importance of Spain in his mind, as Spain is the thing that took his love away from him. (Remember, he established earlier in the song that she was going to Spain, by mentioning Madrid and Barcelona). Second, perhaps out of bitterness. It's as if he was petulantly saying: "Enjoy SPAIN! Be sure to send me some SPANISH boots of SPANISH leather. And be sure to use the SPANISH post office!" I'm joking to demonstrate my point, but it may be what he was driving at. Also, one more bonus observation: In the real life event that inspired this song, it was Italy that took his love from him. Spain and Italy are both Latin nations, both on the Mediterranean, and both have strong seafaring traditions, which may be why he selected Spain for the song. |
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