Well, I wish I was sure what this song means, I suppose it comes down to what it means to me. I disagree with those who think it means only that religion is bad and secular human endeavors are all that matter. However, they have some points.
First, I think there is considerable war imagery and the fact that human conflict causes distortion of the truth and There is also dismay at the fact it threatens human extinction, but seemingly God could care less or doesn't exist (with a crushing (?) but meaningless blow no sound ever comes from the Gates of Eden.) But I suppose that one could see it another way, although these "cowboys" claim to be "angel" there is no evidence presented that God is really behind all these wars........
To support this latter view, the next verse contains sound, sound that isn't appreciated - probably not even by the dogs, since they are distracted making sounds all their own. Fairly funny imagery, "shoeless" is, of course, an allusion to the saying about a man having no feet (the soldier I suppose here). People ignore the truth about war, even the soldiers who are maimed by it the wounded bury their heads in sand, and their compatriots and supporters (dogs of war) largely ignore their suffering, instead focusing on the enemy, who, just like them are moving toward death and judgement.
I love the image of all these phonies that sit "side saddle" on the Golden calf. They can't embrace anything fully - not their false religious claim of salvation nor the material manifestation of it (golden calf). What is really amazing is how many people can take them seriously, God, however, is laughing at their absurdity.
Human beings are so greedy, but they won't be able to take it with them, now will they? but, me, I try to harmonize with songs the lonesome sparrow sings.
You know what else is weird? Rich and middle-class people with good jobs complain about all the bad things all the "bad" people do while they are busy screwing their secretaries or relieveing little old ladies of the burden of their life savings or all sorts of things that are at least as bad as anything the "bad" people do. If people lived the way God intended them to, well, things would be a whole lot better.
" paupers change possessions
Each one wishing for what the other has got
And the princess and the prince
Discuss what's real and what is not"
Materialist really gain nothing of value in this life. Others, think they can find the answer to what really matters, but it is all just so much sophistry and solpsism. But
"It doesn't matter inside the Gates of Eden"
This is the criticism that the irreligious can't take. It is the will of God that matters. They can think they are better than the grubby materialist, but this is simple the same old sin in a different manifestation. Pride is just greed/lust on another level. The fundamental sin is narcissism - to believe that our will and desires as individuals are paramount.
You know, people do all sorts of things - sleep or even die, instead of busying themselves with the task that God has given them.
Now, the hard part. "there are no words
But these to tell what's true"
I suppose those words are clear to the concrete Christian. They would be "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself."
But, that isn't what Dylan has in mind. However, I think what he has in mind explains those words. Dylan means that you and everything you love is going to die, after it decays and become perverted, etc.... Whether you are a prince, a princess, a black madonna, a grey suit, a compassionless soldier whose lost both his legs and all his friends.....This is the fundamental truth. All you have is thread that human life creates - other people. They are either your hell or your salvation.
The choice is up to you. You are wholly, totally free.
Well, I wish I was sure what this song means, I suppose it comes down to what it means to me. I disagree with those who think it means only that religion is bad and secular human endeavors are all that matter. However, they have some points. First, I think there is considerable war imagery and the fact that human conflict causes distortion of the truth and There is also dismay at the fact it threatens human extinction, but seemingly God could care less or doesn't exist (with a crushing (?) but meaningless blow no sound ever comes from the Gates of Eden.) But I suppose that one could see it another way, although these "cowboys" claim to be "angel" there is no evidence presented that God is really behind all these wars........ To support this latter view, the next verse contains sound, sound that isn't appreciated - probably not even by the dogs, since they are distracted making sounds all their own. Fairly funny imagery, "shoeless" is, of course, an allusion to the saying about a man having no feet (the soldier I suppose here). People ignore the truth about war, even the soldiers who are maimed by it the wounded bury their heads in sand, and their compatriots and supporters (dogs of war) largely ignore their suffering, instead focusing on the enemy, who, just like them are moving toward death and judgement. I love the image of all these phonies that sit "side saddle" on the Golden calf. They can't embrace anything fully - not their false religious claim of salvation nor the material manifestation of it (golden calf). What is really amazing is how many people can take them seriously, God, however, is laughing at their absurdity. Human beings are so greedy, but they won't be able to take it with them, now will they? but, me, I try to harmonize with songs the lonesome sparrow sings. You know what else is weird? Rich and middle-class people with good jobs complain about all the bad things all the "bad" people do while they are busy screwing their secretaries or relieveing little old ladies of the burden of their life savings or all sorts of things that are at least as bad as anything the "bad" people do. If people lived the way God intended them to, well, things would be a whole lot better.
" paupers change possessions Each one wishing for what the other has got And the princess and the prince Discuss what's real and what is not"
Materialist really gain nothing of value in this life. Others, think they can find the answer to what really matters, but it is all just so much sophistry and solpsism. But
"It doesn't matter inside the Gates of Eden"
This is the criticism that the irreligious can't take. It is the will of God that matters. They can think they are better than the grubby materialist, but this is simple the same old sin in a different manifestation. Pride is just greed/lust on another level. The fundamental sin is narcissism - to believe that our will and desires as individuals are paramount. You know, people do all sorts of things - sleep or even die, instead of busying themselves with the task that God has given them. Now, the hard part. "there are no words But these to tell what's true" I suppose those words are clear to the concrete Christian. They would be "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself." But, that isn't what Dylan has in mind. However, I think what he has in mind explains those words. Dylan means that you and everything you love is going to die, after it decays and become perverted, etc.... Whether you are a prince, a princess, a black madonna, a grey suit, a compassionless soldier whose lost both his legs and all his friends.....This is the fundamental truth. All you have is thread that human life creates - other people. They are either your hell or your salvation. The choice is up to you. You are wholly, totally free.