I was surprised that this song wasn't even listed on this website, so I added it. Undoubtedly, "Gates of Eden" is one of Bob's deepest and most poetic songs, one that I couldn't begin to comprehend until I really focused when I listened to it.
My take on this song is that it's a reflection of all the problems in the world when Bob wrote it, especially the threat of nuclear war. For instance, a good part of the first verse could describe a nuclear explosion, and the "all and all can only fall with a crashing but meaningless blow" line definitely points to, in a tragic way, the idea that the end of the world is imminent and will ultimately be for nothing.
Dylan concludes every verse with a contrast between his world and the perfection of Eden. In a way, it seems like he's sad that, according to the Biblical creation story, man ever "ate the apple" and was forced to leave Eden in the process. We would've been much better off there.
I might go verse-by-verse into this song later. There are some that I still don't understand (like "The motorcycle black madonna"), but I have an interpretation for most of it.
Overall, this is a sad but beautiful song. Though it's filled with great imagery, the last three simple, direct lines (At times I think...) are my favorite.
I was surprised that this song wasn't even listed on this website, so I added it. Undoubtedly, "Gates of Eden" is one of Bob's deepest and most poetic songs, one that I couldn't begin to comprehend until I really focused when I listened to it.
My take on this song is that it's a reflection of all the problems in the world when Bob wrote it, especially the threat of nuclear war. For instance, a good part of the first verse could describe a nuclear explosion, and the "all and all can only fall with a crashing but meaningless blow" line definitely points to, in a tragic way, the idea that the end of the world is imminent and will ultimately be for nothing.
Dylan concludes every verse with a contrast between his world and the perfection of Eden. In a way, it seems like he's sad that, according to the Biblical creation story, man ever "ate the apple" and was forced to leave Eden in the process. We would've been much better off there.
I might go verse-by-verse into this song later. There are some that I still don't understand (like "The motorcycle black madonna"), but I have an interpretation for most of it.
Overall, this is a sad but beautiful song. Though it's filled with great imagery, the last three simple, direct lines (At times I think...) are my favorite.