Gonna change my way of thinking,
Make myself a different set of rules.
Gonna change my way of thinking,
Make myself a different set of rules.
Gonna put my good foot forward,
And stop being influenced by fools.

So much oppression,
Can't keep track of it no more.
So much oppression,
Can't keep track of it no more.
Sons becoming husbands to their mothers,
And old men turning young daughters into whores.

Stripes on your shoulders,
Stripes on your back and on your hands.
Stripes on your shoulders,
Stripes on your back and on your hands.
Swords piercing your side,
Blood and water flowing through the land.

Well don't know which one is worse,
Doing your own thing or just being cool.
Well don't know which one is worse,
Doing your own thing or just being cool.
You remember only about the brass ring,
You forget all about the golden rule.

You can mislead a man,
You can take ahold of his heart with your eyes.
You can mislead a man,
You can take ahold of his heart with your eyes.
But there's only one authority,
And that's the authority on high.

I got a God-fearing woman,
One I can easily afford.
I got a God-fearing woman,
One I can easily afford.
She can do the Georgia crawl,
She can walk in the spirit of the Lord.

Jesus said, "Be ready,
For you know not the hour in which I come."
Jesus said, "Be ready,
For you know not the hour in which I come."
He said, "He who is not for Me is against Me,"
Just so you know where He's coming from.

There's a kingdom called Heaven,
A place where there is no pain of birth.
There's a kingdom called Heaven,
A place where there is no pain of birth.
Well the Lord created it, mister,
About the same time He made the earth.


Lyrics submitted by coldirons

Gonna Change My Way of Thinking Lyrics as written by Bob Dylan

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Gonna Change My Way of Thinking (2003 version) song meanings
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  • 0
    General Comment

    This incredible song sung by Bob Dylan and Mavis Staples on the 2003 album "Gotta Serve Somebody: The Gospel Songs of Bob Dylan" is Bob Dylan's one-two punch to those that claim Bob Dylan renounced his faith. In the late 1980's Bob Dylan described his 1979-1981 albums as instruments of "laying down the law" for his later music. While his faith can be found in all of his 1979-2006 albums, this song cleary shows that his faith in Christ is still present. This song, along with the 2002 "Cross the Green Mountains", is an encouraging statement of faith and a man's belief that looking to God is the only way to find truth in a world where (to quote his words from Masked and Anonymous) truth and beauty have become "in the eye of the beholder". Yes, there are storms on the ocean and mountains, but the sun is shining and Jesus is calling and we must pray for guidance every day to give us the strength to step out of the dark woods.

    In addition to having a fantastic message and lyrics, this is one of Bob Dylan's hardest-rocking recordings. It's "Love and Theft" meets "Slow Train Coming". Amazing.

    coldironson March 25, 2007   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning
    Keesyon May 31, 2012   Link

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