Definitely one of Dylan's all time best tracks. I never tire of it. I find it moving on a very basic level, the search for honor and respect in a society replete with tawdry commercialism, exploitation, and pervasive hucksterism and dishonesty. The search has religious overtones, e.g., the "valley of dry bone dreams" is a biblical reference. "I'm on a rollin' river, in a jerkin' boat" recalls the Rimbaud poem, The Drunken Boat. Many of the lines are nonetheless puzzling, e.g., "Footsteps running across the silver sand, steps goin' down into tattoo land" -- ? I haven't a clue what that means. Yet this is a Seeker's song, I am sure of that. It is about the lifelong search for Dignity, which ultimately cannot be found outside of our own hearts.
Dylan's words seem cryptic despite the lyrical simplicity. My advice: don't try too hard: close your eyes, open your ears, and let this most wonderful of songs take you downstream :)
Dylan's words seem cryptic despite the lyrical simplicity. My advice: don't try too hard: close your eyes, open your ears, and let this most wonderful of songs take you downstream :)
Definitely one of Dylan's all time best tracks. I never tire of it. I find it moving on a very basic level, the search for honor and respect in a society replete with tawdry commercialism, exploitation, and pervasive hucksterism and dishonesty. The search has religious overtones, e.g., the "valley of dry bone dreams" is a biblical reference. "I'm on a rollin' river, in a jerkin' boat" recalls the Rimbaud poem, The Drunken Boat. Many of the lines are nonetheless puzzling, e.g., "Footsteps running across the silver sand, steps goin' down into tattoo land" -- ? I haven't a clue what that means. Yet this is a Seeker's song, I am sure of that. It is about the lifelong search for Dignity, which ultimately cannot be found outside of our own hearts.
a seeker's song -great comment.
a seeker's song -great comment.
Dylan's words seem cryptic despite the lyrical simplicity. My advice: don't try too hard: close your eyes, open your ears, and let this most wonderful of songs take you downstream :)
Dylan's words seem cryptic despite the lyrical simplicity. My advice: don't try too hard: close your eyes, open your ears, and let this most wonderful of songs take you downstream :)