Monday Music: License to Kill (Bob Dylan)

Last week Bob Dylan turned 75 (May 24). Here is a video of one of several powerful songs from his 1981 album Infidels. I find it especially poignant on this Memorial Day, hoping that as we honor those who have fought for our country, we will also listen to "a woman on my block who just sits there in a cold chill saying, 'Who's gonna take away, his license to kill?'"

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Monday Music: Sweetheart Like You

                          "They say that patriotism is the last refuge to which a scoundrel clings;

                           Steal a little and they throw you in jail, steal a lot and they make you king"

                                                                                                            ~ Bob Dylan

From one of Dylan's best albums, Infidels. The recorded track here is much better than the visual, which to me distracts from the captivating lyrics and the superb instrumentation. I'm always grateful, however, to have a good recording of Bob Dylan available since Sony, which owns much of Dylan's music, is notorious for removing videos with his music.

Monday Music: I and I

Here is one of Dylan's most remarkable pieces. It is a haunting and mythic look into the realm of self awareness -- one of his more psychologically probing songs. It comes from his 1983 recording, Infidels.

I and I

By Bob Dylan

Been so long since a strange woman has slept in my bed
Look how sweet she sleeps, how free must be her dreams
In another lifetime she must have owned the world, or been faithfully wed
To some righteous king who wrote psalms beside moonlit streams

I and I
In creation where one’s nature neither honors nor forgives
I and I
One says to the other, no man sees my face and lives

Think I’ll go out and go for a walk
Not much happenin’ here, nothin’ ever does
Besides, if she wakes up now, she’ll just want me to talk
I got nothin’ to say, ’specially about whatever was

I and I
In creation where one’s nature neither honors nor forgives
I and I
One says to the other, no man sees my face and lives

Took an untrodden path once, where the swift don’t win the race
It goes to the worthy, who can divide the word of truth
Took a stranger to teach me, to look into justice’s beautiful face
And to see an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth

I and I
In creation where one’s nature neither honors nor forgives
I and I

One says to the other, no man sees my face and lives

Outside of two men on a train platform there’s nobody in sight
They’re waiting for spring to come, smoking down the track
The world could come to an end tonight, but that’s all right
She should still be there sleepin’ when I get back

I and I
In creation where one’s nature neither honors nor forgives
I and I

One says to the other, no man sees my face and lives

Noontime, and I’m still pushin’ myself along the road, the darkest part
Into the narrow lanes, I can’t stumble or stay put
Someone else is speakin’ with my mouth, but I’m listening only to my heart
I’ve made shoes for everyone, even you, while I still go barefoot

I and I
In creation where one’s nature neither honors nor forgives
I and I
One says to the other, no man sees my face and lives

Copyright © 1983 by Special Rider Music

Jokerman

Half way through last week's postings, I was referring to them in my thoughts as "the 70 faces of Torah" series. I thought I'd follow up with some words from "Rabbi" Bob Dylan. "Jokerman" is from his Infidels album, one of Dylan's best albums in my opinion. He is tapping into some deep images and symbols here. Is he speaking as poet or prophet? Is he being playful of serious? Or would you say it is "all the above?"