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.
Been so long since a strange woman has slept in my bed
Look how sweet she sleeps, how free must be her dreams
In another lifetime she must have owned the world, or been faithfully wed
To some righteous king who wrote psalms beside moonlit streams
I and I
In creation where one's nature neither honors nor forgives
I and I
One say to the other, no man sees my face and lives
Think I'll go out and go for a walk
Not much happening here, nothing ever does
Besides, if she wakes up now, she'll just want me to talk
I got nothing to say, 'specially about whatever it was
I and I
In creation where one's nature neither honors nor forgives
I and I
One say to the other, no man see my face and lives
Took an untrodden path once, where the swift don't win the race
It goes to the worthy, who can divide the word of truth
Took a stranger to teach me, to look into justice's beautiful face
And see an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth
I and I
In creation where one's nature neither honors nor forgives
I and I
One say to the other, no man sees my face and lives
Outside of two men on a train platform there's nobody in sight
They're waiting for spring to come, smoking down the truck
The world could come to an end tonight, but that's all right
She could still be there sleeping when I get back
I and I
In creation where one's nature neither honors nor forgives
I and I
One say to the other, no man sees my face and lives
Noontime, and I'm still pushing myself along the road, the darkest part
Into the narrow lanes, I can't stumble or stay put
Someone else is speaking with my mouth, but I'm listening with my heart
I've made shoes for everyone, even you, while I still go barefoot
I and I
In creation where one's nature neither honors nor forgives
I and I
One say to the other, no man sees my face and lives
Look how sweet she sleeps, how free must be her dreams
In another lifetime she must have owned the world, or been faithfully wed
To some righteous king who wrote psalms beside moonlit streams
I and I
In creation where one's nature neither honors nor forgives
I and I
One say to the other, no man sees my face and lives
Think I'll go out and go for a walk
Not much happening here, nothing ever does
Besides, if she wakes up now, she'll just want me to talk
I got nothing to say, 'specially about whatever it was
I and I
In creation where one's nature neither honors nor forgives
I and I
One say to the other, no man see my face and lives
Took an untrodden path once, where the swift don't win the race
It goes to the worthy, who can divide the word of truth
Took a stranger to teach me, to look into justice's beautiful face
And see an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth
I and I
In creation where one's nature neither honors nor forgives
I and I
One say to the other, no man sees my face and lives
Outside of two men on a train platform there's nobody in sight
They're waiting for spring to come, smoking down the truck
The world could come to an end tonight, but that's all right
She could still be there sleeping when I get back
I and I
In creation where one's nature neither honors nor forgives
I and I
One say to the other, no man sees my face and lives
Noontime, and I'm still pushing myself along the road, the darkest part
Into the narrow lanes, I can't stumble or stay put
Someone else is speaking with my mouth, but I'm listening with my heart
I've made shoes for everyone, even you, while I still go barefoot
I and I
In creation where one's nature neither honors nor forgives
I and I
One say to the other, no man sees my face and lives
Lyrics submitted by DJacques75, edited by Mellow_Harsher
I and I Lyrics as written by Dylan Bob Bob Dylan
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Just my opinion, I & I constitutes the man's lower self and the spiritual Self. In a fallen state, "In creation where nature neither honors or forgives" and in a fallen state, "No man sees My face and lives". the man wakes up with a stranger whom he loves and wonders life, and wants to get away and take a better look at things (go for a walk). But the man speaks of a time when he explored spiritually (untrodden path where the swift dont win the race) and now drifted away, has to face the consequences of his actions (eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth). In this state, he just looks out at the world and their hopes for a better future (two men walking and waiting for spring to come) and looks within himself, still in the dark and narrow lanes, yet pushing forward. He makes his stance clear, that he may not even be what he speaks but at the same time, he would be true to his heart (someone else speaking with his mouth, but listens to his heart) and true to his heart, he would think more for others than himself even in his fallen state (making shoes for others while he goes barefoot). anyway, just my opinion. been there, done that, so that's how I see this song and relate to my perceived view of this song...