Gravity dwarf I really don't think you could be more wrong on this one. Dylan really isn't contradicting himself at all in the places you pointed out.
The reason he says he's alright in some parts and then in others that he's not is because he wants her to think he's alright even though he's not because he knows she's not coming back and wants her to be happy.
He says he won't stand in her way any longer, even though it hurts him. He tried to make her stay at one point but he's given up on it because he knows she wasn't happy there. He's not contradicting himself because he's talking about two different moments in time.
And again when he says their seperation pierced him to the heart though they've never been apart, he's talking about his mindset at two different times. The realisation that a part of her was still with him didn't come until later, and even though a part of her is with him and they're not completely apart, he can still be upset that she is not physically there. It's a little like the way some people think about death. The person may be gone, but their memory and a part of them can live on inside of you. That doesn't mean it's irrational to be upset that they are gone.
And he doesn't want her to know that he still misses her and thinks of her because he doesn't want to make himself vulnerable or feel like he is being a burden to her after she has 'freed' herself, but of course in reality he does still think of her and want to be with her.
I don't think he thinks he's being ridiculous at all. He simply knows that she won't come back and that she is happier without him even though he still longs for her.
I agree with all you say, but I also think you can read the song both ways. On an emotional level, it resonates with me the way it does with you Jim. However, my head tells me that Gravity Dwarf may be pointing out that Dylan is not above a little self-irony. Either way, it is possibly the most moving song I have heard Dylan sing.
I agree with all you say, but I also think you can read the song both ways. On an emotional level, it resonates with me the way it does with you Jim. However, my head tells me that Gravity Dwarf may be pointing out that Dylan is not above a little self-irony. Either way, it is possibly the most moving song I have heard Dylan sing.
Gravity dwarf I really don't think you could be more wrong on this one. Dylan really isn't contradicting himself at all in the places you pointed out.
The reason he says he's alright in some parts and then in others that he's not is because he wants her to think he's alright even though he's not because he knows she's not coming back and wants her to be happy.
He says he won't stand in her way any longer, even though it hurts him. He tried to make her stay at one point but he's given up on it because he knows she wasn't happy there. He's not contradicting himself because he's talking about two different moments in time.
And again when he says their seperation pierced him to the heart though they've never been apart, he's talking about his mindset at two different times. The realisation that a part of her was still with him didn't come until later, and even though a part of her is with him and they're not completely apart, he can still be upset that she is not physically there. It's a little like the way some people think about death. The person may be gone, but their memory and a part of them can live on inside of you. That doesn't mean it's irrational to be upset that they are gone.
And he doesn't want her to know that he still misses her and thinks of her because he doesn't want to make himself vulnerable or feel like he is being a burden to her after she has 'freed' herself, but of course in reality he does still think of her and want to be with her.
I don't think he thinks he's being ridiculous at all. He simply knows that she won't come back and that she is happier without him even though he still longs for her.
I agree with all you say, but I also think you can read the song both ways. On an emotional level, it resonates with me the way it does with you Jim. However, my head tells me that Gravity Dwarf may be pointing out that Dylan is not above a little self-irony. Either way, it is possibly the most moving song I have heard Dylan sing.
I agree with all you say, but I also think you can read the song both ways. On an emotional level, it resonates with me the way it does with you Jim. However, my head tells me that Gravity Dwarf may be pointing out that Dylan is not above a little self-irony. Either way, it is possibly the most moving song I have heard Dylan sing.