Lyrics Analyses - What did they mean?

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Comment by James P. Royle on March 1, 2011 at 8:24am

Hmmm? I think I mostly agree with you Michael, but Karen has a good point too. How to tell literal from interpretive or impressionistic. I remember reading Tarantula in the early 70s. and wondering what this guy was on that I couldn't find!LOL And I remember seeing Dylan interviewed and he repeated a couple times, "What do you want from me." Does everything I do or say have to mean something special or mysterious." I remember feeling a little bit of sympathy for him. What if some of it is just poetry, simple rhyme? That's not what I ever wanted to believe at that time, wanting to believe in Sister Bluebird, Starship Troopers, that there was a Stairway. I think after a time, Dylan may have even become disgusted with what and how his lyrics and music were received and or interpreted. I hope I'm on the right track here Michael?

Comment by Michael S. Jackson on February 23, 2011 at 8:15am

Exactly. It seems like we can spend a lot of time wondering what the reference to "trees" means - only to find out he really meant trees!

Comment by Karen Davis on February 22, 2011 at 7:01pm

The tough thing Dylan is that sometimes he wrote symbolically, and sometimes he didn't;  it's hard to tell which is which. As a singer, I approach all but the most clear, literal Dylan as impressionistic.

Comment by Michael S. Jackson on February 12, 2011 at 2:11pm

I hope folks show an interest in this group. I am a song writer and have spent a lot of time researching and pondering over lyrics. Many times lyrics reflect society and have huge historical meanings.

However, there are a lot of opinions out there and books making claims that sometimes are just not factual. For example, the Beatles authorized only one biography but there are lots of Beatles books out there. You have to be careful who you read.

Even so, I thought it might be fun to analyze lyrics and get several points of view on a variety of songs.

I know a little bit about Beatles lyrics and have written a book, not necessarily on their lyrics, but on the events and people inspiring their lyrics.

I will begin this discussion with one of the most enigmatic writers of our time: Robert Zimmerman, aka, Bob Dylan.

I hope you saw the words and music to, "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere" in the January 2011 issue of AG. I don't know about you, but I really like these songs that usually appear on pp14. I also like the little tidbits of information, like how this song was recorded by the Byrds and Roger messed up the words and how Dylan got back at him later on when Dylan recorded it.

First - what the devil is this song about? I can only guess that it's about America in the late 60s (1967 is the authored date). However, some of the words really don't seem to fit within that presumption.

"Clouds so swift, rain won't lift; Gate won't close, railings froze;

Get your mind off wintertime; You ain't goin' nowhere"

Maybe this alludes to dark times in America? The Viet Nam war was going on; we didn't have a lot of trust in our political figures; maybe the mention of the gate and railings mean there seems to be no way to stop it - no way out. Finally, could the words about wintertime mean you just have to weather the storm 'cuz you ain't goin' nowhere? Maybe wintertime stands for nuclear war (the fallout is sometimes called wintertime)? Maybe he's saying not to worry about it; there's nothing you can do so just screw it and take drugs (see chorus).

How about the chorus:

"Whoo-ee, ride me high; tomorrow's the day my bride's gonna come

Oh, oh, are we gonna fly; down in the easy chair"

Maybe a bit of Americana reference to the old West and being controlled by someone who rides you high (as cowboys do with wild horses to control their bucking)? I don't know what he means by his bride, but flying in the easy chair is most likely a reference to drugs - giving up.

The second verse, regardng letters, mornings, money, and tents look to me like references to the war in SE Asia. The same with the 3rd verse: buy me a flute and a gun that shoots... Not sure what tailgates means but substitutes could be a reference to rich boys and politician's boys magically getting out of serving in the war. Sort of like how John Fogarty in his song, "Fortunate Son (or is it One?). He wrote specifically of Al Gore and his Senator father getting Al out of the draft so he didn't have to serve.

Maybe strapping yourself to a tree with roots is a reference to war protesters?

I don't know what the %#@* to think about Genghis Khan not being able to supply his kings with sleep. Could it be symbolic for president Johnson and his generals in the war? I think maybe the last line about climbing that hill "...no matter how steep, when we get up to it" is a reference to ending the war at any cost and moving on as a society.

So what do ya'll think? I know I picked a heck of a lyricist to start with. As John Lennon once said about his song, "I am the Walrus"... "Dylan gets away with murder sometimes; I just decided I can write this crap too."

Please - I am not saying Dylan wrote crap. But he did write some strange stuff and took huge license with his lyrics.

I'd be very interested to hear what you have to say. Thanks - m

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