Bob Dylan: Despair & Faith (1981-2006)

[@johnheaton5667]

Three of my favourite songs of his....great analysis Jeff...thanks

[@CalicoSilver]

Thanks John!

[@tammydean4479]

Great video. Some wonderful lines in those songs. “I gaze into the doorway of temptation’s angry flame, and every time I pass that way I always hear my name”. A line that every human if they are honest with themselves can relate to. Also “behind every beautiful thing there’s been some kind of pain”. Romantic relationships, having children, successful career…pain behind all those beautiful things as well as joy. I have never thought of the meaning behind When the Deal Goes Down, but now I will listen to it differently. I think we could also add I’ve Made up My Mind to Give Myself to You to this trilogy, as I feel that it is a love song to God as well. Really enjoyed this comparison.

[@CalicoSilver]

GREAT call on "Made Up My Mind", Tammy! Yes that one could have been included for sure. I think Dylan's been singing about this topic for his whole career. Thanks for your great comment. Cheers! jeff

[@jimquinn5316]

A great video Jeff, Moody and Magnificent songs projecting all kinds of images but essential listening . They demand you to go back and listen again ....

[@CalicoSilver]

Thanks, Jim. So true about Dylan and the re-listenability of his music. Were it not so, I would have tired of him decades ago! Haha.

[@georgecoventry8441]

That's a great analysis of 3 powerful songs! The thing I love about Bob Dylan is.........he does not focus on what's trivial. Neither does Leonard Cohen. And I love both of them for that. They both see the depth, the pain, and the beauty of life, and they write about it. "When The Deal Goes Down" is the perfect conclusion to this trilogy. And I agree with Tammy Dean about also including "'I've Made Up My Mind To Give Myself To You"...a further statement on the same theme, and it's really the ultimate theme.

[@CalicoSilver]

I almost think that Dylan is incapable of resonating with trivialities like most of us do. Another great comment, George. Thanks. Jeff

[@rocky-o]

beautiful piece jeff...incredibly moving in its exit ramp off the initial achievement, that courses a back road of adjustment, and finally resting into a lost map of acceptance......you do his verbiage justice.....peace always my friend...rocky

[@CalicoSilver]

Thanks Rocky!

[@ethanschneider2711]

Amazing three songs

[@CalicoSilver]

Three among hundreds of others, indeed, Ethan. Thanks for your comment. Jeff

[@electricfence61]

Loved this video Jeff, thanks man.

[@CalicoSilver]

Thanks Mick!

[@alanrodger5934]

I had always heard "a whirlpool of lies" which fits well with "following the river to the sea" Really enjoying your commentaries.

[@CalicoSilver]

Thanks, Alan. Glad you're enjoying them! Jeff

[@zem1272]

Great analysis of three timeless masterpieces by the master of his craft.

[@CalicoSilver]

Thanks, Zach. l really enjoy doing this, even though Dylan would probably roll his eyes, haha!

[@gavinbutler5219]

Great choice of songs jeff, he seems to be going between despair and acceptence and expressing it in such articulate and moving way.

[@CalicoSilver]

Indeed, Gavin. Thanks.

[@amherst88]

Been watching some of your older videos Jeff and really enjoyed this one -- in addition to what you described about 'Not Dark Yet' it has always struck me as also (for lack of a better word) prophetic (which he seems to tap into whether he intends to or not). It strikes me as not only about his condition as a result of age but also from the burden of (for another lack of a better word) his 'consciousness', his singularly unenviable capability of being profoundly aware of exactly what human beings are up to. As we have observed in other posts, there is a measurable degeneration in the world human beings have created for themselves and that, for me, is at least part of what he is responding to in the song, being far more deeply aware of it than we are. In that respect it also strikes me that he's evoking that statement somewhere in the NT that 'night is coming,' he can clearly see how close we all are to that level of descent. On a different note you also got me thinking about the differences between Dylan and John Prine -- there is a very different quality to their songwriting, even though Prine wrote utterly heartbreaking songs about what happens to us as human beings there was always a kind of lens of sweet unshakeable humanity in them. I read an interview somewhere with his last wife Fiona (who was from Ireland and probably a 'post-Catholic') that even as she always struggled with the larger things, he had an awareness from somewhere that kept him at peace. It may be the story of the blind men describing the elephant, it's the same animal but they are seeing/feeling it from two different sides.

[@CalicoSilver]

Great comment, Teri!! Excellent insight, thank you. And so very welcome since I have just heard from yet ANOTHER person that believes that "Not Dark Yet" is merely a song about a broken romantic relationship and nothing more.

[@Nick-qf7vt]

Wonderful analysis of these songs! Bob's faith has never been a simple or naive one. I remember Norm Macdonald talking on Twitter about when he spent a day at Bob Dylan's house, listening to Billy Joe Shaver and talking about life. Bob asked what Norm's favourite book of the Bible was (I can't remember what Norm said) and Bob replied his was Ecclesiastes. These last two songs echo the sentiments of Ecclesiastes so well, it's no wonder it's his favourite Bible book. Just like Qoheleth in Ecclesiastes, Bob has everything, has done everything, he's been to the highest mountain and yet insists that "all is vanity". Your mention of Bob's rags to riches struggle reminds me very much of Qoheleth's talk of labour, the lack of profit the labourer sees from his efforts, etc. I'll never understand why some people think that Bob has given up on his belief in God. He's said in a couple interviews (often, he doesn't explicitly say it, it just kind of slips out, or he says something else that strongly implies that he still believes) that he is still a believer. I reckon he's just gotten older and wiser in his faith. Clearly he is a man who examines his faith rigorously, which is something that far, far too many believers fail to do. That's just my interpretation. The depth of Bob's poetry never ceases to astound me. I can honestly say I get way more out of his lyrics than I do from Shakespeare.

[@CalicoSilver]

Thanks for this great comment, Nick. Yes I too get way more from any given Dylan lyric than a Shakespeare sonnet or play. Just the way it is, I guess. And yes, I have little doubt that Dylan still has faith, but like you said, his faith is not a blind one but an examined and sophisticated one. I admire his honesty in this regard. Thanks again, Nick. Always great to hear from you. Jeff

[@Slothrop67]

Great video Jeff. I couldn't agree more. Not Dark Yet is The song for me as another birthday approaches. But I heard a song not long ago that I didn't even realize was a Dylan song. It's Death is not the End sung by Carl Broemel (sp). In the first verse, it was a bit too sacherine for me. I thought Death is not the End? Jeez, I hope he's wrong! But in the end, the words did affect me: "And all that you held sacred Falls down and does not mend Just remember that death is not the end Not the end, not the end Just remember that death is not the end When you're standing on the crossroads That you cannot comprehend Just remember that death is not the end And all your dreams have vanished And you don't know what's up the bend Just remember that death is not the end Not the end, not the end"

[@CalicoSilver]

Yeah, that song is on his much-maligned "Down in the Groove" album, an album that I really enjoy even while acknowledging it is not a masterpiece. Tony, I hope death is not the end. I don't know why, really, because after only 62 years of life I pretty much have an empty "bucket list" now. I can't imagine being around here for another 20 or so years, much less an eternity in some kind of next life. But perhaps my imagination is just too limited to grasp these kinds of things. Anyway, I have hope.....not so much a faith but a hope. I believe in a God because I can't fathom that there is merely nothingness in this endless universe (externally physical and inwardly "spiritual" (whatever that means)) that is outside the limits of my so-obviously limited mind. But IF there is nothing but death and we just end up being past-tense and nothing else, I try to use that possibility to prompt me to be better to every living thing around me here and now because they, for whatever reason, are sharing this very time with me and everyone else here now, so for that reason alone we should be vastly better people and better caretakers of each other, and appreciate that we are sharing this little period of time together. Cheers! Jeff

[@Slothrop67]

@@CalicoSilver For me, it's impossible to be an atheist. It's a fool's errand. As a scientist, you'd be the first to know that energy can't be made, yet.... But, I think we've all already experienced death before we were ever born. And I was good for the first eternity that I experienced. I don't see why the next eternity would be any different and I am absolutely good with that. But Jeff, if you are like me, you've lost faith in almost all people and institutions. We are savages. If you've never visited Auchwitz in person (well, I was going to say that I recommend it but in a way I don't). I came out a different person. To this day, it's impossible for me to describe the effect. My brother was in tears an leaned over to me and said "Every child should have to walk through here. Every school must teach every evil that happened." But in my shock I said that it can't be taught that way. I think that there may be some stories too horrible to tell. I'm glad that I went but I can't say that it made me a better person. I think I'm actually angrier and more cynical at any form of authority. Yeah, I'm ready for the 2nd half of eternity. Maybe you can help me with this, was it Dickinson that said "we are a second's flame between two eternities of darkness." Actually, that doesn't sound like something Dickenson would say. Maybe it was Whitman. I'm a huge fan of Christopher Hitchens. It all started when I was paging through a book of essays and stopped on one with a title so shocking that I had to laugh. It was called "Mother Theresa - Hell's Angel." I read the essay and was forever hooked! A man that will point out the despicably ignorant evil of someone like Mother Theresa ... well that's my man!

[@CalicoSilver]

@@Slothrop67 When I taught college chemistry, I'd often ask my students, "and what is the driving force behind this?" (where "this" referred to pretty much anything we happened to be talking about, whether acid-base, ox-reduction, electrical potential, WHATEVER....) and they always knew that I'd say the answer was "thermodynamics" (my favorite topic in science, btw). And then, on occasion, I'd follow up with "and what is the driving force behind thermodynamics?" and they couldn't answer. Nor can anyone else. So I'd answer my own question for them by pointing upward to imply God. Yes, I too think of pre-birth "eternity" whenever discomfort rises in me regarding a post-death "eternity". Like you said, I was completely fine with the former and will be fine with the latter. Bottom line for me is that, IMO, I (this guy typing now) did not exist before I was born - perhaps the "soul" within me did, but not the earthly conscious body - so perhaps my "soul" will continue on in whatever capacity as before. Whatever. Tony, you are right: I have lost respect and faith in humanity. We are sheep who, if kept fed and entertained, will literally allow evil people to destroy everything around us for their own gain. We'll sit in front of our TVs and computers and stereos day after day, year after year, while everything we value and hold dear (from the most trivial to the most profound) is destroyed around us, so long as we are fed and entertained. We walk right into the hell that awaits us. I truly believe that we get exactly what we deserve. Perhaps this is the way God views us too, and perhaps this is why he seems to have abandoned us (or at least me). Because we are getting exactly what we deserve. I also enjoy Hitchens, yes. I'm not an atheist but I enjoy his clever way of trying (mostly unsuccessfully because humans are sheep) to challenge our thinking. Jeff

[@happyhippythevinylguy]

Great video my friend!! Every grain of sand is a deep song kind of cuts me to the Bone you know what I mean, definitely not one I want to sit around drinking too..lol but is one of my favorite songs by him.

[@CalicoSilver]

It is a song I took a while getting to know, for sure. But it is like a powerful hymn. I love it too, Rod. Thanks! Jeff

[@happyhippythevinylguy]

not dark yet is another song about Bob Dylan that I really like.. in my opinion it's hard to say what Bob Dylan was thinking when he wrote that song You can't second guess somebody.. but to me it definitely sounds like he's been reflective on what's going on in the world. ✌️🎸❤️

[@CalicoSilver]

Yeah it is never probably a good idea to "analyze" the songs of others, but I enjoy it and do it anyway, knowing that the thumbs-down's and unsub's always result, ESPECIALLY if I bring up anything relating to faith, which apparently really bothers people. Haha! Anyway, that whole Time Out Of Mind album is pretty heavy stuff.

[@happyhippythevinylguy]

@@CalicoSilver ✌️

[@mariog4707]

Hi Jeff - very interesting, it never crossed my mind how linked their sentiments were. I used to love Every Grain Of Sand but now find it a bit “twee” and far too hymn like to be a comfortable listen. Not Dark Yet is grim to read as a lyric but Bobs delivery is superb so the overall feel of it as a song is very neutral and matter of fact, like he’s saying “This is life and this is what happens, don’t worry about it”. When The Deal Goes Down is the most deceiving of the three. The waltz time signature and the production present it as a sort of “swing ballad” and it’s so musical I doubt most people pick up on the lyric. Well done you for pulling them together.

[@CalicoSilver]

Hi Mario. I don't think I've ever thought of the word "twee" when describing a Dylan song, haha! Not even "Wiggle Wiggle", hahaha! But yeah, Every Grain of Sand is indeed like a hymn, I agree - but I love hymns. (why is there an 'n' in 'hymn', anyway, haha). When The Deal Goes Down is an example of Bob stealing an old Bing Crosby song (if memory serves), and example of where I focus on the lyrics and not the music. Thanks for your comments. Jeff

[@maggiebryan2355]

Three great songs he once said in a interview if you want know anything about me listern to my songs now he could be just saying that but you could be right they might be some of him in them

[@CalicoSilver]

Yes I think there must be at least some biographically-derived inspiration to Dylan's songs.

[@wimpiethebunny2941]

Calicao i need to ponder this some more.This echos i was so much older than, am younger than that now. Seems like he was kicked off desolation row for a spell.Put to the test, more lessons to learn? Drudgery of a empty, bottomless soul, got no future got no passed.The shadow is falling, darkness is decending on my soul . Depression, a lifetime of lies and progagana . Divorce, losing the true meanings of life, loved ones, the things that you can touch and feel. Darkness at the break of noon, the hand made blade the childs baloon, eclipes both the sun and moon to understand you know to soon there is no sense in trying. Mans license to kill, who's gonna take it away. Sorry Calico, carried away again.Hope Bob doesn't read this.

[@CalicoSilver]

Great comment! I think you nailed it perfectly!