It seems I have been neglecting this little project for quite awhile now. But not to worry, for I am back; yet none of you seemed concerned enough to brink up my absence. Oh well, I will continue to scream into the darkness and preach to the wall.
My intention is to come at this blog with a renewed energy and post more often and about more varied things, so expect a few rambling posts.
With this first post, I will return to my tried and true method of trying to share with you music that speaks volumes to me and really moves me on multiple levels.
This song is "I Believe In You" by Bob Dylan, released off of his 1979 Slow Train Coming album. This album is one in a series of albums during Bob's "born-again Christian" phase where he focused on gospel-rock albums. At first it was hard for me to get into these albums, but one day this song just hit me and I've been struck by it ever since. One of my favorite types of songs are the ones where the musician can be singing to either God or a girl; there's just something utterly fascinating in that duality to me.
Lyrics Property of Bob Dylan
They ask me how I feel
And if my love is real
And how I know I'll make it through
And they, they look at me and frown
They'd like to drive me from this town
They don't want me around
'Cause I believe in you.
They show me to the door
They say don't come back no more
'Cause I don't be like they'd like me to
And I, I walk out on my own
A thousand miles from home
But I don't feel alone
'Cause I believe in you.
I believe in you even through the tears and the laughter
I believe in you even though we be apart
I believe in you even on the morning after
Oh, when the dawn is nearing
Oh, when the night is disappearing
Oh, this feeling is still here in my heart.
Don't let me drift too far
Keep me where you are
Where I will always be renewed
And that which you've given me today
Is worth more than I could pay
And no matter what they say
I believe in you.
I believe in you when winter turn to summer
I believe in you when white turn to black
I believe in you even though I be outnumbered
Oh, though the earth may shake me
Oh, though my friends forsake me
Oh, even that couldn't make me go back.
Don't let me change my heart
Keep me set apart
From all the plans they do pursue
And I, I don't mind the pain
Don't mind the driving rain
I know I will sustain
'Cause I believe in you.
And if my love is real
And how I know I'll make it through
And they, they look at me and frown
They'd like to drive me from this town
They don't want me around
'Cause I believe in you.
They show me to the door
They say don't come back no more
'Cause I don't be like they'd like me to
And I, I walk out on my own
A thousand miles from home
But I don't feel alone
'Cause I believe in you.
I believe in you even through the tears and the laughter
I believe in you even though we be apart
I believe in you even on the morning after
Oh, when the dawn is nearing
Oh, when the night is disappearing
Oh, this feeling is still here in my heart.
Don't let me drift too far
Keep me where you are
Where I will always be renewed
And that which you've given me today
Is worth more than I could pay
And no matter what they say
I believe in you.
I believe in you when winter turn to summer
I believe in you when white turn to black
I believe in you even though I be outnumbered
Oh, though the earth may shake me
Oh, though my friends forsake me
Oh, even that couldn't make me go back.
Don't let me change my heart
Keep me set apart
From all the plans they do pursue
And I, I don't mind the pain
Don't mind the driving rain
I know I will sustain
'Cause I believe in you.
I love the sound of pain in his voice, the sound of pure emotion rolling from his heart and cracking his voice. If you don't appreciate the true beauty of his voice, please try to because you are missing out on something.
Verse I: This is the skeptical verse, where the he is among people who are skeptical of his love. It can be taken that these people don't believe he really loves the woman he loves and she is someone that they don't like, so they don't like him due to his faith in her. Or it could be that they don't believe in God and the fact that he truly loves God, makes them uncomfortable and they want him gone so they don't have to deal with their doubts and misgivings. Overall, both sides of it are easily applicable to God or girl.
Verse II: The feeling of because you love someone and that someone loves you back, allows you to always have a smile on your face and that someone in your heart no matter the oppression and hate you may suffer. This verse is easier applied to God, where because he won't conform to their non-belief, they hate him and want him gone. He does leave but his faith keeps him strong and unwavering, very similar to the way a pure love in a woman can keep a man up on his feet through the worst (i.e. many a soldier in many a war).
Chorus I: Applied to God: Even though he isn't physical with God, he is still spiritually near God and no matter how much time passes this nearness will never decrease, but only increase.
Applied to Girl: He doesn't quit loving her even though she can cause him pain, even through the good and bad, even though they aren't near each other, even though the day wears on. His love doesn't waver.
Verse III: This is his prayer. He doesn't want God/girl to allow him to stray from them no matter the temptation to. Their presence always makes him feel brand new and like a better person. All that God/girl has given to him (Love and the resulting change for the better) he can never given them back an equal amount. He feels they have overwhelmed him and he will be in their debt, but a good type of being in their debt.
Chorus II: No matter how much time has passed or how terrible things may get his faith won't shatter. Your friends can forsake you for dating a girl they don't approve of, or your friends can forsake you for having a total relationship with God when they aren't as sure as you. Either scenario, he doesn't care what they think and his love/faith will not be broken.
Verse IV: He doesn't want God/her to ever allow his heart to change back to the way it was before he discovered his love for God/her. I love the last lines " I don't mind the pain/ don't mind the driving rain/ I know I will sustain/ cause I believe in you." This is crux of it all. His love is so strong that pain doesn't factor into the equation and no matter how much misery the world can pile on top of him, his faith in either God or her will not end.
In summary, the song is about how he can suffer through any type of pain, misery, ridicule, or persecution because he has an unbreakable faith in either God or a girl. I guess which one it is really depends upon your believes and your background. I'm able to see both in my mind. You sing this song to both God and wife. Is not the true love of woman a way to replicate God's love for man? Is not one of the most noblest things to purely love one of his creations? My elegance is fleeting at the moment, but still things to ponder.
As always, feel free to comment and I strongly encourage you to do so. I need some form of feedback. Comment on here, on Facebook, or by text message, I don't really care; I would just like your opinion. That is rather an request on my behalf if you know me.
Well until next time, and I do plan on that being soon, Auf Wiedersehen.
