Dylan can write some cryptic lyrics, but the meaning of this one practically jumped off the page at me when I first heard it at age 12.
The song is evidence of how Christianized Dylan had already become by early 1978. The song is kind of a poetically history of Israel. Picture Yahweh as the "captain" and Israel as the " beloved maid" who was "torn between Jupiter and Apollo" (conquered by pagans) who "lifted her veil" (defiled her with pagan practices.)
Then think of the Christian imagery later in the song, i.e. "she wakes him up 48 hours later" (48 hours, give or take a few, after the Crucifixion) "near broken chains" (of sin) "...and rolling rocks" (no, not the beer, the stone at the mouth of Christ's tomb.)
The Changing of the Guards is the New Covenant. The final verse portends the final defeat of evil by this Covenant. (The King and Queen of Swords are tarot cards and can be taken to represent occult practices.)
I must mention for reputation's sake that I am NOT a Christian, and there are a few verses that may be there simply for poetry rather than allegory. Still, the basic theme of the song is exceedingly clear imo.
I agree with you. A lot of people misunderstood it at the time becaue Dylan had not professed his Christianity publicly as of yet.
I agree with you. A lot of people misunderstood it at the time becaue Dylan had not professed his Christianity publicly as of yet.
I think this is a misunderstood masterpiece that basically explains why Dylan converted (as a solution to the personal chaos in his life, and as a means of piecing together a meaning for the history of Israel). It's because no one knew he had, and because of the second-rate Springsteen production that people hadn't gotten it.
I think this is a misunderstood masterpiece that basically explains why Dylan converted (as a solution to the personal chaos in his life, and as a means of piecing together a meaning for the history of Israel). It's because no one knew he had, and because of the second-rate Springsteen production that people hadn't gotten it.
Dylan can write some cryptic lyrics, but the meaning of this one practically jumped off the page at me when I first heard it at age 12.
The song is evidence of how Christianized Dylan had already become by early 1978. The song is kind of a poetically history of Israel. Picture Yahweh as the "captain" and Israel as the " beloved maid" who was "torn between Jupiter and Apollo" (conquered by pagans) who "lifted her veil" (defiled her with pagan practices.)
Then think of the Christian imagery later in the song, i.e. "she wakes him up 48 hours later" (48 hours, give or take a few, after the Crucifixion) "near broken chains" (of sin) "...and rolling rocks" (no, not the beer, the stone at the mouth of Christ's tomb.)
The Changing of the Guards is the New Covenant. The final verse portends the final defeat of evil by this Covenant. (The King and Queen of Swords are tarot cards and can be taken to represent occult practices.)
I must mention for reputation's sake that I am NOT a Christian, and there are a few verses that may be there simply for poetry rather than allegory. Still, the basic theme of the song is exceedingly clear imo.
I agree with you. A lot of people misunderstood it at the time becaue Dylan had not professed his Christianity publicly as of yet.
I agree with you. A lot of people misunderstood it at the time becaue Dylan had not professed his Christianity publicly as of yet.
I think this is a misunderstood masterpiece that basically explains why Dylan converted (as a solution to the personal chaos in his life, and as a means of piecing together a meaning for the history of Israel). It's because no one knew he had, and because of the second-rate Springsteen production that people hadn't gotten it.
I think this is a misunderstood masterpiece that basically explains why Dylan converted (as a solution to the personal chaos in his life, and as a means of piecing together a meaning for the history of Israel). It's because no one knew he had, and because of the second-rate Springsteen production that people hadn't gotten it.