Well, it's always been my nature

To take chances

My right hand drawing back

While my left hand advances

Where the current is strong

And the monkey dances

To the tune

Of a concertina

Blood dryin' in my yellow hair

As I go from shore to shore

I know what it is

That has drawn me to your door

But whatever could it be

Makes you think

You've seen me before

Angelina

Oh, Angelina

Oh, Angelina

His eyes were two slits

Makin' a snake proud

With a face that any painter would paint

As he walked through the crowd

Worshiping a God

With the body of a woman

Well endowed

And the head of a hyena

Do I need your permission

To turn the other cheek?

If you can read my mind

Why must I speak?

No, I have heard nothing

About the man

That you seek

Angelina

Oh, Angelina

Oh, Angelina

In the valley of the giants

Where the stars and stripes explode

The peaches they were sweet

And the milk and honey flowed

I was only following instructions

When the judge

Sent me down the road

With your subpoena

When you cease to exist

Then who will you blame?

I've tried my best to love you

But I cannot play this game

Your best friend

And my worst enemy

Is one and the same

Angelina

Oh, Angelina

Oh, Angelina

There's a black Mercedes

Rollin' through the combat zone

Your servants are half dead

You're down to the bone

Tell me, tall man

Where would you like

To be overthrown

In Jerusalem or Argentina?

She was stolen from her mother

When she was three days old

Now her vengeance has been satisfied

And her possessions have been sold

He's surrounded by God's angels

And she's wearin' a blindfold

But so are you

Angelina

Oh, Angelina

Oh, Angelina

I see pieces of men marching

Trying to take Heaven by force

I can see the unknown rider

I can see the pale white horse

In God's truth name

Tell me what you want

And you'll have it of course

Just step into the arena

Beat a path of retreat

Up them spiral staircases

Pass the tree of smoke

Pass the angel with four faces

Begging God for mercy

And weepin'

In unholy places

Angelina

Oh, Angelina

Oh, Angelina

Oh, Angelina

Oh, oh, Angelina

Oh, oh, Angelina


Lyrics submitted by nitsirhc

Angelina Lyrics as written by Bob Dylan

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Angelina song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

8 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +1
    General Comment

    once again, about the bob-sara relationship, i think, and about d-i-v-o-r-c-e......with "the names changed to protect the innocent" ......tumultuous relationship and torrid love affair......had one like that, but couldn't write about it like this though such a gift.. amazing lyrics as per usual from mr.dylan, (then add in the perfect/heavenly/tremendous music..omg,) the emotions and feelings this songs brings out are veeerrrrrrry "familiar"..... and bring rise to deep thought and introspection both into self and this "trip" called life...

    HonoluluBobon October 07, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    how could it not be ? nature to take chances, right vs. left handed, artist vs.thinker, one recording (boot at that), no other versions, never performed(same applies to SadEyedLady, Sara, on and on for a host of songs, out of respect for her one would assume, or legal agreement) angelina=little angel, search source of name dylan, blonde child of the sea, powerfully evocative lyrics, dylan at one of his finest moments, ONE i say, because there are literally hundreds of such moments/songs/lyrics/masterpieces, truly a master of his craft, and not a bad painter either !!

    HonoluluBobon July 27, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    and (blood dryin' in my hair) as i go from shore to shore (never ending tour) and on and on......he is THE man of the century in music.....music for between your ears.....

    HonoluluBobon July 27, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I think you have to focus on the time this was written. This song was recorded towards the end of his born again Christian phase, so it's reasonable to assume that he's dealing with some real theological ideas here. As great as an lyricist as Dylan is, I think it's unwise that any one of his songs is autobiographical. Sure, a lot of them are, but a lot of them aren't.

    I'm not going to pretend to know what this song is about. But a number of verses refer directly to verses in Revelation. For example: the men trying to take heaven by force, the unknown rider, the pale white horse, and the angel with four faces. The tall man being overthrown could be Satan, since Jerusalem is said to be the place of the final battle between God and the devil. Argentina probably refers to the Falkland Islands war between England and Argentina.

    The verses "Do I need your permission to turn the other cheek?" refers to a quote from Jesus, and the next line (If you can read my mind, why must I speak?) seems to address him.

    My hunch is that the most important verse is "I've tried my best to love you, but I cannot play this game." I think this song might be about Dylan' beginning to walk away from Christianity. But like I said, it might have nothing to do with him. It could be one of his ultrasymbolic Christian songs like Groom's Still Waiting at The Altar.

    pthalomarieon October 23, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    This whole song is spiritual in nature, filled with biblically referenced teachings.

    In the first verse: Bob's methods

    He illustrates where the "current" is strong and tends to drag others along, it's in his nature to take chances and use his performances (monkey dances) and draws back his right hand (the hand of power or authority) to use his tunes to persuade instead of force.

    The 2nd: His motivation

    "Blood dryin’ in my yellow hair" - may illustrate his battle (dryin' - it's not a fresh battle) with fear "yellow" (maybe the fear of rejection). "as I go from shore to shore" - travels the world "I know what it is that has drawn me to your door" - what motivates him. "But whatever it could be, makes me think you’ve seen me before" - make him think you understand his motivation.

    The 3rd: Calling out of false prophets and church

    "His eyes were two slits that would make a snake proud with a face that any painter would paint as he walked through the crowd" - Deceivers that would make Satan proud, "wolves in sheep's clothing. "Worshipping a god with the body of a woman well endowed and the head of a hyena - those thinking their "endowed" with God's wisdom. "Do I need your permission to turn the other cheek? - to turn away from a false church If you can read my mind, why must I speak? - don't misconstrue this as my rejection of my faith No, I have heard nothing about the man that you seek - Your Christ and mine are not the same.

    The 4th & 5th: Calling of America & the earthly powerful to judgment

    "In the valley of the giants where the stars and stripes explode, The peaches they were sweet and the milk and honey flowed. I was only following instructions when the judge sent me down the road With your subpoena"

    "When you cease to exist, then who will you blame I’ve tried my best to love you but I cannot play this game. Your best friend and my worst enemy is one and the same."

    "There’s a "black Mercedes" (disguised figures - tall "men") rollin’ through the combat zone (the world). Your servants are half dead, you’re down to the bone (time is almost up). Tell me, tall "men", where would you like to be overthrown, in "Jerusalem or Argentina"? (in the spiritual or in the flesh).

    She was stolen from her mother when she was three days old Now her vengeance has been satisfied and her possessions have been sold. He’s surrounded by God’s angels and she’s wearin’ a blindfold And so are you, Angelina - The deceivers are also the deceived.

    The 6th: Two paths

    "I see pieces of men marching; trying to take heaven by force I can see the unknown rider, I can see the pale white horse. In God’s truth tell me what you want and you’ll have it of course Just step into the arena." - by force

    "Beat a path of retreat up them spiral staircases, Pass the tree of smoke, pass the angel with four faces Begging God for mercy and weepin’ in unholy places" - by surrender

    Maybe "Angelina" is a play on a false angel

    gaskorupon April 15, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This is one of Dylan's greatest songs. Not sure I would say it's about Bob and Sara.

    I read an interesting article somewhere that said it was a continuation of the song Farewell Angelina.

    Rubber_Soul1012on June 05, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    how could it not be ? nature to take chances, right vs. left handed, artist vs.thinker, one recording (boot at that), no other versions, never performed(same applies to SadEyedLady, Sara, on and on for a host of songs, out of respect for her one would assume, or legal agreement) angelina=little angel, search source of name dylan, blonde child of the sea, powerfully evocative lyrics, dylan at one of his finest moments, ONE i say, because there are literally hundreds of such moments/songs/lyrics/masterpieces, truly a master of his craft, and not a bad painter either !!

    HonoluluBobon July 27, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I'm always amazed with everyone's interpretations and this discussion doesn't fail. I think you're all correct about Angelina. It's a song which, to me, has always fit both bills of unanswerable spirituality/religion conflicts and those simpler issues of the plain ol' human condition.

    Who else but Dylan could go to the places where all people but the soulless always wander to ponder and try to figure out?

    Sidrison January 06, 2015   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines: "Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet" So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other: "I had all and then most of you" Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart "Some and now none of you" Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship. This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
Album art
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere. In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Album art
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Album art
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988. "'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it." "There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Album art
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example: "'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/