Oh Sister
Bob Dylan/Emmylou Harris Lyrics
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You should not treat me like a stranger
Our Father would not like the way that you act
And you must realize the danger
Oh, sister, am I not a brother to you
And one deserving of affection
And is our purpose not the same on this earth
We grew up together
From the cradle to the grave
We died and were reborn
And then mysteriously saved
Oh, sister, when I come to knock on your door
Don't turn away, you'll create sorrow
Time is an ocean but it ends at the shore
You may not see me tomorrow
The song "Oh Sister" by Bob Dylan is a touching and thought-provoking piece that delves deep into the complexities of familial relationships. The first stanza of the song reveals the singer's desire for acceptance from his sister. He asks her not to treat him like a stranger when he comes to lie in her arms. He believes that their Father wouldn't approve of her cold behavior towards him, and she must realize the danger in it. He wishes to be treated with affection and care since they are siblings and shares the same purpose on this earth - to love and follow God's direction.
In the second stanza, Dylan sings about their relationship from a young age, growing up together and facing death and rebirth. The singer tells his sister that she shouldn't turn him away if he comes to her door as it would create sorrow. He compares time to an ocean that ends at the shore, and that she might not see him tomorrow. These lines inspire feelings of the brevity of life, and how it is essential to cherish and nurture our relationships while we still have time.
In summary, "Oh Sister" is a plea from a brother to his sister, asking her to treat him with the love and respect he deserves as her kin. He highlights the importance of familial bonds and acknowledges the impermanence of life, urging her to embrace their relationship fully.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, sister, when I come to lie in your arms
When I seek comfort and solace in your embrace,
You should not treat me like a stranger
Please do not act as if we are not related or close,
Our Father would not like the way that you act
God would not approve of your behavior towards me,
And you must realize the danger
You should be aware of the potential harm
Oh, sister, am I not a brother to you
Aren't we bonded as siblings,
And one deserving of affection
And don't I deserve your love and support,
And is our purpose not the same on this earth
Don't we have the same purpose in life,
To love and follow his direction
which is to love one another and follow God's teachings.
We grew up together
We were raised side by side,
From the cradle to the grave
Since our birth until our eventual death,
We died and were reborn
We also went through drastic changes in life and perspective,
And then mysteriously saved
Only to be saved from unknown dangers or challenges.
Oh, sister, when I come to knock on your door
If I come to you seeking help or support,
Don't turn away, you'll create sorrow
Please do not turn me away and cause either of us pain,
Time is an ocean but it ends at the shore
Time may feel vast, but it all comes to an eventual end,
You may not see me tomorrow
And we do not know what the future holds, we may never see each other again.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bob Dylan, Jacques Levy
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind