In light of recent world events this song is eerily prophetic of the effect of oil politics and the corresponding rise of the Christian right in the US:
"All that foreign oil controlling American soil
Look around you, it's just bound to make you embarrassed
Sheiks walking around like kings, wearing fancy jewels and nose rings
Deciding America's future from Amsterdam and to Paris
And there's slow, slow train coming up around the bend."
The religious right (just my view! no flaming!) is emodied perfectly in these lines:
"But the enemy I see wears a cloak of decency
All non-believers and men stealers talking in the name of religion"
For today what do we see? More than ever, people hiding behind evangelical religion and yet espousing greed (capitalism), killing (Iraq), dealing with the devil for profit (e.g. China, Pakistan, Russia and our other 'friends' - "Fools glorifying themselves, trying to manipulate Satan" indeed), hatred (intolerance of others - non-Christians, gays, basically anyone who gets in the way).
That point aside - what a song. Fantastic music, and some of the best lyrics of the period for Dylan. RayMan, I agree about astronomy but I think the 'n' just sounded better so Dylan went with it.
More than anything this track has a building sense of the 'slowness' of the train that's coming, the steady beat and great bass all adding a sense of unstoppable, steady rythm.
In light of recent world events this song is eerily prophetic of the effect of oil politics and the corresponding rise of the Christian right in the US:
"All that foreign oil controlling American soil Look around you, it's just bound to make you embarrassed Sheiks walking around like kings, wearing fancy jewels and nose rings Deciding America's future from Amsterdam and to Paris And there's slow, slow train coming up around the bend."
The religious right (just my view! no flaming!) is emodied perfectly in these lines:
"But the enemy I see wears a cloak of decency All non-believers and men stealers talking in the name of religion"
For today what do we see? More than ever, people hiding behind evangelical religion and yet espousing greed (capitalism), killing (Iraq), dealing with the devil for profit (e.g. China, Pakistan, Russia and our other 'friends' - "Fools glorifying themselves, trying to manipulate Satan" indeed), hatred (intolerance of others - non-Christians, gays, basically anyone who gets in the way).
That point aside - what a song. Fantastic music, and some of the best lyrics of the period for Dylan. RayMan, I agree about astronomy but I think the 'n' just sounded better so Dylan went with it.
More than anything this track has a building sense of the 'slowness' of the train that's coming, the steady beat and great bass all adding a sense of unstoppable, steady rythm.