Aside from obvious allusions to Shakespeare's The Tempest, the story of the titanic has always had larger implications. The unsinkable ship, in all its 'vain-gloriousness' sank to the bottom of the sea taking with it Americas aristocracy. It is not an actual account, but more in tune to a legend, even slightly allegorical.
The promised hour was near:
This is a reference to the thomas hardy poem, Convergence of the Twain. In the poem, the iceberg was created by "the Immanent Will that stirs and urges everything" to counter human pride. The two were fated to converge on the promised hour.
The watchman is sleeping because no one ever doubt's progress. This is the nature of humanity.
There is no escaping the obvious apocalyptic judgment by water that occurs in many religions, particularly Catholicism. Dylan is prone to use apocalyptic themes. The best humanity has to offer is no match for the will of the 'Deep Blue Sea'
This is not a complete interpretation, just some obvious symbolism. Let the song mean what ever you want it to mean, for all I care lol
Aside from obvious allusions to Shakespeare's The Tempest, the story of the titanic has always had larger implications. The unsinkable ship, in all its 'vain-gloriousness' sank to the bottom of the sea taking with it Americas aristocracy. It is not an actual account, but more in tune to a legend, even slightly allegorical.
The promised hour was near: This is a reference to the thomas hardy poem, Convergence of the Twain. In the poem, the iceberg was created by "the Immanent Will that stirs and urges everything" to counter human pride. The two were fated to converge on the promised hour.
The watchman is sleeping because no one ever doubt's progress. This is the nature of humanity.
There is no escaping the obvious apocalyptic judgment by water that occurs in many religions, particularly Catholicism. Dylan is prone to use apocalyptic themes. The best humanity has to offer is no match for the will of the 'Deep Blue Sea'
This is not a complete interpretation, just some obvious symbolism. Let the song mean what ever you want it to mean, for all I care lol