Roddy,
Here's another take on the line: "Renegade priests and treacherous young witches
Were handing out the flowers that I'd given to you."
I've always seen this as a Dylan self-reference--that is, other (lesser) artists are recording, releasing, and profiting from his songs (the Byrds, Cher, even Hendrix...although Dylan seemed to appreciate that one). A clever image (flowers substituting for songs).
Speaking of Hendrix, the same sentiment is expressed in Watchtower--"Businessmen they drink my wine, plowmen dig my earth" -- you write my contracts, profit off my records, analyze my lyrics and record/imitate my songs...
Roddy, Here's another take on the line: "Renegade priests and treacherous young witches Were handing out the flowers that I'd given to you."
I've always seen this as a Dylan self-reference--that is, other (lesser) artists are recording, releasing, and profiting from his songs (the Byrds, Cher, even Hendrix...although Dylan seemed to appreciate that one). A clever image (flowers substituting for songs).
Speaking of Hendrix, the same sentiment is expressed in Watchtower--"Businessmen they drink my wine, plowmen dig my earth" -- you write my contracts, profit off my records, analyze my lyrics and record/imitate my songs...