No Time to Think Lyrics

Lyric discussion by ADylanFan 

Cover art for No Time to Think lyrics by Bob Dylan

OK, nobody else has taken a try at commenting on this great song, so here are my thoughts to get a dialogue started.:

  1. This song is a wonderful combination of Dylan's gifts of clever word selection and brilliantly suggestive imagery (that allows listeners to glean their own meaning based on their own perspectives, interpretations, experiences, priorities, etc.).

  2. The name and refrain state the main point: we do not have time -- or take time -- to think -- especially about things that deserve substantial time.

  3. There are 8.5 stanzas. The tempo of most of the lines seems "rushed" -- except for the first line of each refrain - the lists of four nouns -- these nouns are recited very slowly and mockingly compared to the other lines.

To me Dylan is saying that we don't have or take enough time to analyze the many important things of life, we simply attach a bunch of broad and useless labels and move on.

He mocks the labels with their uniform rhyme and using his exaggerated rhythm, repetitive melody and sarcastic vocals.

  1. Some of the stanzas seem to have somewhat unambiguous, coherent unifying themes. Others do not.

Someone please help me here..........