I think this is a Dylan's "pageant of civilization" metaphor song. Another song like this is Costello's "Waiting for the End of the World".
Of course, it's a little bigger than that; the course of civilization is, in a way, mirrored in the individual. This goes along with the observation that as Dylan matured, he stopped talking about the social and started talking about the personal. Here, both are wedded perfectly.
He starts in Rome; this is mankind's religious era. When he talks about "dodging lions and wasting time", he's talking about how apologetics (groomed argumentation on behalf of your religion) is wasted energy.
The reference to the Spanish Stairs is an allusion to the idea that, in spite of the seeming linear structure to pageantry, there are pockets of transcendence. The Spanish Stairs is a famous hang-out for hip, dropped-out types; ostensibly people who transcend the pageant. So: is it ancient Rome, or modern Rome you see when you watch these hipsters smoking dope and making out on the Spanish Stairs? Can't tell; perhaps you're seeing double, eh?
He moves on to Brussels; this is the post-religious era. There is a strong sense of the practical secularism sweeping Europe. The Enlightenment coming to a kind of sturdy (and not uncomical) fruition.
And though it all is the powerful thread; the time will come when the hero paints his masterpiece. Is this the culmination of consciousness? God finally realizing the culmination of the dream he started when he chose to put this chain of events into motion?
While razajacs synopsis is definitely a good take, I still can't help thinking something different. I can't go into as much detail, but it strikes me as telling a story of a simple fuck-up. Someone with big dreams, and a big heart that shows big promise, but just can't keep it together. As if when he says "when i paint my masterpiece", he's delusional... saying "one day, you'll see".
While razajacs synopsis is definitely a good take, I still can't help thinking something different. I can't go into as much detail, but it strikes me as telling a story of a simple fuck-up. Someone with big dreams, and a big heart that shows big promise, but just can't keep it together. As if when he says "when i paint my masterpiece", he's delusional... saying "one day, you'll see".
It's always been the closing lines that have made me think this: "... had to be held down by big police. But, someday everythings gonna be different...."....
It's always been the closing lines that have made me think this: "... had to be held down by big police. But, someday everythings gonna be different....". As if everything else described was some crazy early 20's romp thru Europe, taking acid, causing some major commotion, and getting arrested for it.
I dunno... but that's what it's always meant to me.
i know this is months later and you may never see it but i really agree with your take on this classic and one of my personal favorites of both bob's and the band's cover.
i know this is months later and you may never see it but i really agree with your take on this classic and one of my personal favorites of both bob's and the band's cover.
maybe not so much about specifically doing drugs through europe (although it certainly fits no doubt in bob's biography at that point in his life as well as in the lyrics themselves) but in a general sense as well. you are very right i think that it is almost like a has been or a a never was preaching to no one in particular...
maybe not so much about specifically doing drugs through europe (although it certainly fits no doubt in bob's biography at that point in his life as well as in the lyrics themselves) but in a general sense as well. you are very right i think that it is almost like a has been or a a never was preaching to no one in particular about how it will all be good in a bit...
I think this is a Dylan's "pageant of civilization" metaphor song. Another song like this is Costello's "Waiting for the End of the World".
Of course, it's a little bigger than that; the course of civilization is, in a way, mirrored in the individual. This goes along with the observation that as Dylan matured, he stopped talking about the social and started talking about the personal. Here, both are wedded perfectly.
He starts in Rome; this is mankind's religious era. When he talks about "dodging lions and wasting time", he's talking about how apologetics (groomed argumentation on behalf of your religion) is wasted energy.
The reference to the Spanish Stairs is an allusion to the idea that, in spite of the seeming linear structure to pageantry, there are pockets of transcendence. The Spanish Stairs is a famous hang-out for hip, dropped-out types; ostensibly people who transcend the pageant. So: is it ancient Rome, or modern Rome you see when you watch these hipsters smoking dope and making out on the Spanish Stairs? Can't tell; perhaps you're seeing double, eh?
He moves on to Brussels; this is the post-religious era. There is a strong sense of the practical secularism sweeping Europe. The Enlightenment coming to a kind of sturdy (and not uncomical) fruition.
And though it all is the powerful thread; the time will come when the hero paints his masterpiece. Is this the culmination of consciousness? God finally realizing the culmination of the dream he started when he chose to put this chain of events into motion?
While razajacs synopsis is definitely a good take, I still can't help thinking something different. I can't go into as much detail, but it strikes me as telling a story of a simple fuck-up. Someone with big dreams, and a big heart that shows big promise, but just can't keep it together. As if when he says "when i paint my masterpiece", he's delusional... saying "one day, you'll see".
While razajacs synopsis is definitely a good take, I still can't help thinking something different. I can't go into as much detail, but it strikes me as telling a story of a simple fuck-up. Someone with big dreams, and a big heart that shows big promise, but just can't keep it together. As if when he says "when i paint my masterpiece", he's delusional... saying "one day, you'll see".
It's always been the closing lines that have made me think this: "... had to be held down by big police. But, someday everythings gonna be different...."....
It's always been the closing lines that have made me think this: "... had to be held down by big police. But, someday everythings gonna be different....". As if everything else described was some crazy early 20's romp thru Europe, taking acid, causing some major commotion, and getting arrested for it.
I dunno... but that's what it's always meant to me.
shrug
i know this is months later and you may never see it but i really agree with your take on this classic and one of my personal favorites of both bob's and the band's cover.
i know this is months later and you may never see it but i really agree with your take on this classic and one of my personal favorites of both bob's and the band's cover.
maybe not so much about specifically doing drugs through europe (although it certainly fits no doubt in bob's biography at that point in his life as well as in the lyrics themselves) but in a general sense as well. you are very right i think that it is almost like a has been or a a never was preaching to no one in particular...
maybe not so much about specifically doing drugs through europe (although it certainly fits no doubt in bob's biography at that point in his life as well as in the lyrics themselves) but in a general sense as well. you are very right i think that it is almost like a has been or a a never was preaching to no one in particular about how it will all be good in a bit...
cheers