Dylan started his musical odyssey in 1959 when he began playing in Dinkytown, Minneapolis while attending the University of Minnesota. Shortly after starting to play he changed his stage name to Bob Dylan, after being influenced by the poetry of Dylan Thomas before legally changing his name in 1962.
Much of his best known work is from the 1960s, when he became an informal documentarian and reluctant figurehead of American unrest, promoted by Joan Baez. Some of his songs, such as "Blowin' in the Wind" and "The Times They Are A-Changin'", became anthems of the anti-war and civil rights movements, with Joan Baez and Dylan singing together at the March on Washington in 1963. However he later became disenchanted with the civil liberty protest scene, feeling that he had been used by them.
His album Bringing It All Back Home marked a move away from the folk scene and a move towards rock and roll and Dylan began to consciously distance himself from his early association with civil rights. He also started to become irritated when being interviewed, often given facetious or irreverent answers to questions. Bringing It All Back Home was a controversial album as it the first on which he played electric guitar. This was seen by some of his fans as a betrayal of this folk roots, with some saying that it obscured his meaningful and poetic lyrics.
The second half of the 1960s was marked by a string of well received releases, with his song "Like a Rolling Stone", released in July of 1965, later being named "The Greatest Song of All Time" by Rolling Stone magazine in 2004, placing #1 in a list of 500 titles. It also marked the formation of Dylan's backing band The Hawks (who would later call themselves simply The Band). Dylan embarked on a world tour of Australia and Europe in 1966, during which he seemed to be under a lot of strain and pressure by both his fans, the music press and his own promoters. Dylan himself admitted that he began taking drugs seriously whilst on this tour, and found it immensely hard work. On returning to New York he crashed his motorbike, sustaining serious injuries in the process, and went into a period of withdrawal while he recuperated. During the late 1960s, Dylan again changed stylistic tradition, moving away from the psychedelic culture of the time. It was then that he recorded All Along the Watchtower, perhaps more famously recorded by Jimi Hendrix.
The 1970s were a period during which Dylan was more sporadic in his output, releasing some poorly received LPs. He rarely appeared in person until 1974, when he began touring again with his backing band The Band. He also wrote one of his most extensively covered songs, Knockin' On Heaven's Door, as well as what is now recognised as one of his best albums Blood On The Tracks. Towards the end of the 1970s, Dylan discovered Christ, and released some albums of gospel music. He started to talk to the crowd about his faith during his performances, and wouldn't play any of his early work, which alienated some of his previous fans.
Dylan today still remains an influential and popular artist; despite a period of little note between 1980-2000, his 2006 album Modern Times reached the US chart at #1, as did his 2009 album Together Through Life, in the US, Britain, France and several other countries. His 2012 album Tempest was also critically acclaimed. Since 1988, Dylan has been on the so-called Never Ending Tour, during which his performances have provoked controversy, with some critics claiming that his lyrics have become incomprehensible, an experience which is not helped by his tendency to change his set-list and vocals almost every performance.
Bob Dylan's strong influence over the past few years is becoming even more prominent amongst a growing group of younger emerging artists such as George Ellias and Devendra Banhart. Dylan's early lyrics incorporated politics, social commentary, philosophy and literary influences, defying existing pop music conventions and appealing widely to the counterculture of the time. While expanding and personalizing musical styles, Dylan has shown steadfast devotion to traditions of American song, from folk and country/blues to rock and roll and rockabilly, to Gaelic balladry, even jazz, swing and Broadway.
Dylan performs with the guitar, keyboard and harmonica. Backed by a changing lineup of musicians, he has toured steadily since the late 1980s. He has also recently performed alongside other iconic artists, such as Paul Simon, Joni Mitchell, Tom Petty and Eric Clapton. Although his contributions as a performer and recording artist have been central to his career, his songwriting is generally held as his highest accomplishment.
Nobel Prize for Literature (2016) - On October 13, 2016, Dylan was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature for “for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition”. The prestigious award has been given annually since 1901 and previous Nobel Laureates for Literature include Harold Pinter and Samuel Beckett. Here is the speech written by Dylan, although unable to attend:
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/10/arts/bob-dylan-nobel-prize-acceptance-speech.html?_r=0
No Time To Think
Bob Dylan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who sleep-walks through your dreams into walls.
You're a soldier of mercy, you're cold and you curse,
"He who cannot be trusted must fall."
Loneliness, tenderness, high society, notoriety.
You fight for the throne and you travel alone
Unknown as you slowly sink
In the Federal City you been blown and shown pity,
In secret, for pieces of change.
The empress attracts you but oppression distracts you
And it makes you feel violent and strange.
Memory, ecstasy, tyranny, hypocrisy
Betrayed by a kiss on a cool night of bliss
In the valley of the missing link
And you have no time to think.
Judges will haunt you, the country priestess will want you
Her worst is better than best.
I've seen all these decoys through a set of deep turquoise eyes
And I feel so depressed.
China doll, alcohol, duality, mortality.
Mercury rules you and destiny fools you
Like the plague, with a dangerous wink
And there's no time to think.
Your conscience betrayed you when some tyrant waylaid you
Where the lion lies down with the lamb.
I'd have paid off the traitor and killed him much later
But that's just the way that I am.
Paradise, sacrifice, mortality, reality.
But the magician is quicker and his game
Is much thicker than blood and blacker than ink
And there's no time to think.
Anger and jealousy's all that he sells us,
He's content when you're under his thumb.
Madmen oppose him, but your kindness throws him
To survive it you play deaf and dumb.
Equality, liberty, humility, simplicity.
You glance through the mirror and there's eyes staring clear
At the back of your head as you drink
And there's no time to think.
Warlords of sorrow and queens of tomorrow
Will offer their heads for a prayer.
You can't find no salvation, you have no expectations
Anytime, anyplace, anywhere.
Mercury, gravity, nobility, humility.
You know you can't keep her and the water gets deeper
That is leading you onto the brink
But there's no time to think.
You've murdered your vanity, buried your sanity
For pleasure you must now resist.
Lovers obey you but they cannot sway you
They're not even sure you exist.
Socialism, hypnotism, patriotism, materialism.
Fools making laws for the breaking of jaws
And the sound of the keys as they clink
But there's no time to think.
The bridge that you travel on goes to the Babylon girl
With the rose in her hair.
Starlight in the East and you're finally released
You're stranded but with nothing to share.
Loyalty, unity, epitome, rigidity.
You turn around for one real last glimpse of Camille
'Neath the moon shinin' bloody and pink
And there's no time to think.
Bullets can harm you and death can disarm you
But no, you will not be deceived.
Stripped of all virtue as you crawl through the dirt,
You can give but you cannot receive.
No time to choose when the truth must die,
No time to lose or say goodbye,
No time to prepare for the victim that's there,
No time to suffer or blink
And no time to think.
The lyrics of the song "No Time To Think" by Bob Dylan express a sense of confusion and hopelessness. The song describes an individual who is constantly fighting for power and position in society, but at the same time is plagued by personal demons such as loneliness, tenderness, and mortality. The themes of tyranny, hypocrisy, and betrayal are explored throughout the song, highlighting the complex political and social environment of the time.
The lyrics also touch on the idea of self-sabotage, with the singer sacrificing his sanity and vanity for pleasure. He seems to be aware of the consequences of his actions and accepts his fate, but there is still a sense of unease and desperation.
Overall, the song portrays a sense of resigned acceptance to the harsh realities of life, with the individual constantly struggling to keep up with the demands of society and his own inner turmoil.
Line by Line Meaning
In death, you face life with a child and a wife
Even in death, you are forced to confront the realities of life, such as being responsible for your loved ones who depend on you.
Who sleep-walks through your dreams into walls.
Your family may not understand you or the struggles you face, leading to feelings of isolation and disconnect.
You're a soldier of mercy, you're cold and you curse,
You try to do good and help others, but the reality of the situation makes you jaded and embittered.
"He who cannot be trusted must fall."
You believe in taking justice into your own hands and taking down those who are not trustworthy.
Loneliness, tenderness, high society, notoriety.
Your emotions and experiences range from feelings of intense loneliness and vulnerability to being a part of high society and having a reputation for being infamous.
You fight for the throne and you travel alone
You strive for power and success but at the same time, you are alone in your struggles.
Unknown as you slowly sink
You are slipping into obscurity as you struggle with your own demons.
And there's no time to think.
You are so preoccupied with trying to stay afloat that you can't stop to contemplate your situation.
In the Federal City you been blown and shown pity,
You have been taken advantage of and shown mercy in a place of power and authority.
In secret, for pieces of change.
You have done unsavory things in exchange for small amounts of money.
The empress attracts you but oppression distracts you
You are drawn to those in power but at the same time, the oppression you see around you distracts you from your own desires.
And it makes you feel violent and strange.
Your feelings of anger towards the situation you find yourself in makes you feel like a stranger to yourself.
Memory, ecstasy, tyranny, hypocrisy
You are haunted by memories of the past and the things you have experienced, both good and bad. You are also confronted by the tyranny and hypocrisy of those in power.
Betrayed by a kiss on a cool night of bliss
A moment of pleasure and connection is overshadowed by betrayal.
In the valley of the missing link
You feel like you are lost and disconnected from others, unable to find common ground with those around you.
And you have no time to think.
Your life is so chaotic that you can't seem to find the time or space to reflect on it.
Judges will haunt you, the country priestess will want you
You will be held accountable for your actions by those who have power over you, and others may desire you in ways that are not necessarily beneficial for you.
Her worst is better than best.
Even at her worst, this woman is still better than anyone else who has crossed your path.
I've seen all these decoys through a set of deep turquoise eyes
You have witnessed people's true motives and intentions through your own observations and experiences.
And I feel so depressed.
Despite your efforts, you are unable to find joy or fulfillment in your life, and instead feel weighed down by negativity.
China doll, alcohol, duality, mortality.
You are confronted with the fragility and duality of life, which can lead to dangerous behaviors and reliance on substance abuse for escape.
Mercury rules you and destiny fools you
You are unable to control your own fate and are at the mercy of forces beyond your understanding.
Like the plague, with a dangerous wink
Danger can seemingly arise out of nowhere, with harmful consequences that are difficult to anticipate or prevent.
Your conscience betrayed you when some tyrant waylaid you
You are still grappling with a sense of betrayal you experienced at the hands of someone in power.
Where the lion lies down with the lamb.
You long for a world where enemies can put aside their differences and coexist peacefully, even though such a world may seem impossible to achieve.
I'd have paid off the traitor and killed him much later
If given the chance, you would go to great lengths in order to exact revenge on someone who has wronged you.
But that's just the way that I am.
Despite everything, you are committed to being true to yourself and your values, even if it means acting impulsively or irresponsibly at times.
Paradise, sacrifice, mortality, reality.
You are confronted with the stark realities of life, including the need for sacrifice and the inevitability of death.
But the magician is quicker and his game
People with power and charisma are able to outmaneuver you in ways that leave you feeling powerless.
Is much thicker than blood and blacker than ink
The manipulation and deception of those in power run deeper than any familial relationship or personal loyalty.
Anger and jealousy's all that he sells us,
People in power use negative emotions like anger and jealousy to further their own agendas at the expense of others.
He's content when you're under his thumb.
Those in power are happy when they have control over you, and will use any means necessary to maintain that control.
Madmen oppose him, but your kindness throws him
Even though you may sympathize with those who oppose those in power, your kindness may actually hinder their efforts to achieve change.
To survive it you play deaf and dumb.
In order to get by in a corrupt and oppressive system, you may have to pretend not to see or hear certain things, even if it feels like a betrayal of your own values.
Equality, liberty, humility, simplicity.
You hold certain values and ideals, such as equality, liberty, humility, and simplicity, that may seem incompatible with the world you find yourself in.
You glance through the mirror and there's eyes staring clear
When you reflect on yourself and your life, you are met with a sense of clarity that is both uncomfortable and illuminating.
At the back of your head as you drink
Even when you are trying to escape or lose yourself in something, the realities of your situation follow you and cannot be ignored.
Warlords of sorrow and queens of tomorrow
Those who hold power and influence are often driven by their own desires for control, even if it means other people suffer as a result.
Will offer their heads for a prayer.
People in positions of power and influence are often willing to give up their own power, or even their lives, in exchange for favors or prayers.
You can't find no salvation, you have no expectations
Despite your search for meaning or purpose, you are unable to find a sense of salvation or fulfillment, and are left with a feeling of hopelessness.
Anytime, anyplace, anywhere.
These feelings of futility and despair seem to follow you no matter where you go or what you do.
Mercury, gravity, nobility, humility.
You are faced with the forces of the universe, both strong and subtle, as well as the conflicting emotions of pride and humility.
You know you can't keep her and the water gets deeper
Despite your desires, you know that you cannot maintain your current situation and the difficulties you face are only intensifying.
That is leading you onto the brink
You feel like you are being pushed to the brink of your own limits, and that something must give before you reach a breaking point.
But there's no time to think.
Despite how dire your situation may seem, there is no time or space for reflection or contemplation.
You've murdered your vanity, buried your sanity
You have had to make sacrifices and let go of certain aspects of yourself in order to survive in a harsh and unforgiving world.
For pleasure you must now resist.
Even though you may be tempted by pleasure or desire, you know that indulging in them will only lead to your downfall.
Lovers obey you but they cannot sway you
Even those who love you or look up to you are unable to persuade you to act against your own principles or beliefs.
They're not even sure you exist.
Despite the impact you may have on others, you feel like you are invisible or misunderstood by those around you.
Socialism, hypnotism, patriotism, materialism.
You are bombarded by differing values and ideologies, including socialism, hypnotism, patriotism, and materialism, that can cause internal conflict and confusion.
Fools making laws for the breaking of jaws
Those who create and enforce laws may not understand the true impact of their actions on the lives of ordinary people.
And the sound of the keys as they clink
The harsh sound of metal against metal represents the oppressive nature of the system you find yourself in.
The bridge that you travel on goes to the Babylon girl
The path you are on leads to danger and temptation, personified by the Babylon girl from ancient mythology.
With the rose in her hair.
Despite the danger, there is an allure and beauty to the situation you find yourself in.
Starlight in the East and you're finally released
You are freed from the burdens and constraints that have weighed you down, and find hope in the starlight to guide you towards a better future.
You're stranded but with nothing to share.
Despite feeling liberated, you are left without any clear direction or sense of purpose in your newfound freedom.
Loyalty, unity, epitome, rigidity.
You strive for ideals of loyalty, unity, and rigidity, but find that these ideals can be difficult to achieve in the real world.
You turn around for one real last glimpse of Camille
You take one final look at something, or someone, that has been a significant part of your life before moving on to something new.
'Neath the moon shinin' bloody and pink
This moment is illuminated by the moon, which seems to have taken on ominous and ominous qualities.
Bullets can harm you and death can disarm you
You are vulnerable to physical harm and death, but even in the face of these dangers you remain determined to face them head-on.
But no, you will not be deceived.
Despite the risks, you are determined to stand up to those who would deceive or manipulate you.
Stripped of all virtue as you crawl through the dirt,
You feel like you have lost your moral compass and are reduced to crawling through the dirt of your own existence.
You can give but you cannot receive.
Despite your willingness to give to others, you are unable to find fulfillment or help from those around you.
No time to choose when the truth must die,
You are forced to make difficult decisions without much time or space to think them through.
No time to lose or say goodbye,
You are in a situation where you must move quickly and be prepared for sudden changes, without the luxury of saying goodbye to those you leave behind.
No time to prepare for the victim that's there,
You must be ready to confront any challenge or danger, even those you may not have anticipated or planned for.
No time to suffer or blink
You must be resilient and strong, in order to withstand the difficulties and hardships that come your way.
And no time to think.
Ultimately, you must do what you can to survive in the moment, even if it means setting aside reflection or contemplation.
Lyrics © BOB DYLAN MUSIC CO
Written by: BOB DYLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@oleggorky906
I think that the narrator of the story is contemplating offing his wife.
They’ve both had affairs but he can’t forgive her for hers, even though he is aware of his hypocrisy, his pride is hurting him too much. That’s why he’s examining that long list of adjectives! Consider:
“Memory, ecstasy, tyranny, hypocrisy, betrayed by a kiss on a cool night of bliss in the valley of the missing link and you have no time to think.”
The verse that hints at the murderous intentions is this one:
”Equality, liberty, humility, simplicity. You glance through the mirror and there's eyes staring clear at the back of your head as you drink and there's no time to think.”
it’s a chilling tale ... brilliantly told. Only Dylan could have pulled off this Edgar Allen Poe style delivery with a few shades of Dostoyevsky thrown in for good measure, as well as the Biblical reference to Christ being betrayed by a kiss, that delves into the darkest recesses of the human psyche.
@arthurshepherd8757
Lyrics
In death, you face life with a child and a wife
Who sleep-walks through your dreams into walls.
You're a soldier of mercy, you're cold and you curse,
"He who cannot be trusted must fall."
Loneliness, tenderness, high society, notoriety.
You fight for the throne and you travel alone
Unknown as you slowly sink
And there's no time to think.
In the Federal City you been blown and shown pity,
In secret, for pieces of change.
The empress attracts you but oppression distracts you
And it makes you feel violent and strange.
Memory, ecstasy, tyranny, hypocrisy
Betrayed by a kiss on a cool night of bliss
In the valley of the missing link
And you have no time to think.
Judges will haunt you, the country priestess will want you
Her worst is better than best.
I've seen all these decoys through a set of deep turquoise eyes
And I feel so depressed.
China doll, alcohol, duality, mortality.
Mercury rules you and destiny fools you
Like the plague, with a dangerous wink
And there's no time to think.
Your conscience betrayed you when some tyrant waylaid you
Where the lion lies down with the lamb.
I'd have paid off the traitor and killed him much later
But that's just the way that I am.
Paradise, sacrifice, mortality, reality.
But the magician is quicker and his game
Is much thicker than blood and blacker than ink
And there's no time to think.
Anger and jealousy's all that he sells us,
He's content when you're under his thumb.
Madmen oppose him, but your kindness throws him
To survive it you play deaf and dumb.
Equality, liberty, humility, simplicity.
You glance through the mirror and there's eyes staring clear
At the back of your head as you drink
And there's no time to think.
Warlords of sorrow and queens of tomorrow
Will offer their heads for a prayer.
You can't find no salvation, you have no expectations
Anytime, anyplace, anywhere.
Mercury, gravity, nobility, humility.
You know you can't keep her and the water gets deeper
That is leading you onto the brink
But there's no time to think.
You've murdered your vanity, buried your sanity
For pleasure you must now resist.
Lovers obey you but they cannot sway you
They're not even sure you exist.
Socialism, hypnotism, patriotism, materialism.
Fools making laws for the breaking of jaws
And the sound of the keys as they clink
But there's no time to think.
The bridge that you travel on goes to the Babylon girl
With the rose in her hair.
Starlight in the East and you're finally released
You're stranded but with nothing to share.
Loyalty, unity, epitome, rigidity.
You turn around for one real last glimpse of Camille
'Neath the moon shinin' bloody and pink
And there's no time to think.
Bullets can harm you and death can disarm you
But no, you will not be deceived.
Stripped of all virtue as you crawl through the dirt,
You can give but you cannot receive.
No time to choose when the truth must die,
No time to lose or say goodbye,
No time to prepare for the victim that's there,
No time to suffer or blink
And no time to think.
@oleggorky906
I believe it’s speaking about a man who is considering murdering his wife because she has cheated on him. But he’s flexing back and forth: much later after the verse you quoted, he says:
“Fools making laws for the breaking of jaws/And the sound of the keys as they clink/But there’s no time to think.”
I take that as he’s just been released from prison after violently assaulting her paramour.
Although he’s also cheated his pride has been wounded and he can’t forgive and he can’t escape his hypocrisy and he knows it. After that bit about the mirror there’s a bit later on: “You know you can’t keep her and the water gets deeper/That is leading you onto the brink/But there’s no time to think.”
Heck, I could go on. But it’s there in the lyrics. Here is a man on the verge of murdering his wife. The constant charge that “There’s no time to think” indicates that he’s being driven by a strong impulse which he is either unable to, or not willing to, fight. And the irony is that indeed, now is the time to think.
@the-bottom-of-a-black-hole-.
“We are eachothers”
Tomorrow is finally new, Yesterday is a coward swimming in pools of shame.
Pride lay before you, so tell it “no thank you”
It’ll soon be bound to then leave.
The map once in skies lay in twinkling eyes,
Pray your lovers demise never see the night moon, the light of swoon, the might of doom.
Say what was in your mind, may it only be kind, may it leave peace and and find you unlost.
Tell me how much did it cost, is it you in there under that rust? Have no, gave no, give no, no hive, no reason, treason, no home.
Roll lonesome on down the road.
,dan’
@abhishek-euphony-and-euphoria
In death, you face life with a child and a wife
Who sleep-walks through your dreams into walls.
You're a soldier of mercy, you're cold and you curse,
"He who cannot be trusted must fall."
Loneliness, tenderness, high society, notoriety.
You fight for the throne and you travel alone
Unknown as you slowly sink
And there's no time to think.
In the Federal City you been blown and shown pity,
In secret, for pieces of change.
The empress attracts you but oppression distracts you
And it makes you feel violent and strange.
Memory, ecstasy, tyranny, hypocrisy
Betrayed by a kiss on a cool night of bliss
In the valley of the missing link
And you have no time to think.
Judges will haunt you, the country priestess will want you
Her worst is better than best.
I've seen all these decoys through a set of deep turquoise eyes
And I feel so depressed.
China doll, alcohol, duality, mortality.
Mercury rules you and destiny fools you
Like the plague, with a dangerous wink
And there's no time to think.
Your conscience betrayed you when some tyrant waylaid you
Where the lion lies down with the lamb.
I'd have paid off the traitor and killed him much later
But that's just the way that I am.
Paradise, sacrifice, mortality, reality.
But the magician is quicker and his game
Is much thicker than blood and blacker than ink
And there's no time to think.
Anger and jealousy's all that he sells us,
He's content when you're under his thumb.
Madmen oppose him, but your kindness throws him
To survive it you play deaf and dumb.
Equality, liberty, humility, simplicity.
You glance through the mirror and there's eyes staring clear
At the back of your head as you drink
And there's no time to think.
Warlords of sorrow and queens of tomorrow
Will offer their heads for a prayer.
You can't find no salvation, you have no expectations
Anytime, anyplace, anywhere.
Mercury, gravity, nobility, humility.
You know you can't keep her and the water gets deeper
That is leading you onto the brink
But there's no time to think.
You've murdered your vanity, buried your sanity
For pleasure you must now resist.
Lovers obey you but they cannot sway you
They're not even sure you exist.
Socialism, hypnotism, patriotism, materialism.
Fools making laws for the breaking of jaws
And the sound of the keys as they clink
But there's no time to think.
The bridge that you travel on goes to the Babylon girl
With the rose in her hair.
Starlight in the East and you're finally released
You're stranded but with nothing to share.
Loyalty, unity, epitome, rigidity.
You turn around for one real last glimpse of Camille
'Neath the moon shinin' bloody and pink
And there's no time to think.
Bullets can harm you and death can disarm you
But no, you will not be deceived.
Stripped of all virtue as you crawl through the dirt,
You can give but you cannot receive.
No time to choose when the truth must die,
No time to lose or say goodbye,
No time to prepare for the victim that's there,
No time to suffer or blink
And no time to think.
@robotubetwob
One of the saddest songs about forced transition.
No time to choose when the truth must die,
No time to lose or say goodbye,
No time to prepare for the victim that's there,
No time to suffer or blink
And no time to think.
The victim is obviously Dylan himself. This is a less abstract Senor.
@juancamacho5746
In death, you face life with a child and a wife
Who sleep-walks through your dreams into walls.
You're a soldier of mercy, you're cold and you curse,
"He who cannot be trusted must fall."
Loneliness, tenderness, high society, notoriety.
You fight for the throne and you travel alone
Unknown as you slowly sink
And there's no time to think.
🎵🎶
In the Federal City you been blown and shown pity,
In secret, for pieces of change.
The empress attracts you but oppression distracts you
And it makes you feel violent and strange.
Memory, ecstasy, tyranny, hypocrisy
Betrayed by a kiss on a cool night of bliss
In the valley of the missing link
And you have no time to think.
🎵🎶
Judges will haunt you, the country priestess will want you
Her worst is better than best.
I've seen all these decoys through a set of deep turquoise eyes
And I feel so depressed.
China doll, alcohol, duality, mortality.
Mercury rules you and destiny fools you
Like the plague, with a dangerous wink
And there's no time to think.
🎵🎶
Your conscience betrayed you when some tyrant waylaid you
Where the lion lies down with the lamb.
I'd have paid off the traitor and killed him much later
But that's just the way that I am.
Paradise, sacrifice, mortality, reality.
But the magician is quicker and his game
Is much thicker than blood and blacker than ink
And there's no time to think.
🎵🎶
Anger and jealousy's all that he sells us,
He's content when you're under his thumb.
Madmen oppose him, but your kindness throws him
To survive it you play deaf and dumb.
Equality, liberty, humility, simplicity.
You glance through the mirror and there's eyes staring clear
At the back of your head as you drink
And there's no time to think.
🎵🎶
Warlords of sorrow and queens of tomorrow
Will offer their heads for a prayer.
You can't find no salvation, you have no expectations
Anytime, anyplace, anywhere.
Mercury, gravity, nobility, humility.
You know you can't keep her and the water gets deeper
That is leading you onto the brink
But there's no time to think.
🎵🎶
You've murdered your vanity, buried your sanity
For pleasure you must now resist.
Lovers obey you but they cannot sway you
They're not even sure you exist.
Socialism, hypnotism, patriotism, materialism.
Fools making laws for the breaking of jaws
And the sound of the keys as they clink
But there's no time to think.
🎵🎶
The bridge that you travel on goes to the Babylon girl
With the rose in her hair.
Starlight in the East and you're finally released
You're stranded but with nothing to share.
Loyalty, unity, epitome, rigidity.
You turn around for one real last glimpse of Camille
'Neath the moon shinin' bloody and pink
And there's no time to think.
🎵🎶
Bullets can harm you and death can disarm you
But no, you will not be deceived.
Stripped of all virtue as you crawl through the dirt,
You can give but you cannot receive.
No time to choose when the truth must die,
No time to lose or say goodbye,
No time to prepare for the victim that's there,
No time to suffer or blink
And no time to think.
@maryseery7824
Is this not arguably Dylan's best album? The sheer genius in his rhyme to tell a story. Amazingly brilliant! A true poet. Nobel Prize and Medal of Freedom's well deserved. He's a national treasure in my view.
@nates.249
It's my favorite Dylan album personally. It would be interesting to take a poll of Dylan fans to assess favorite albums of his etc.
@Ad-Ac
For me it's still Another Side. And it comes from someone whose favorite Dylan era is after 2000s... But you can't beat Another Side. You simply can't.
@maryseery7824
@Profiledek Another Side is another great one. Most of them are great. I think Street Legal has story songs that demonstrate his poetic maturity.
@shashankhrishikesh1573
first time I'm listening to this album. I don't know what to do like honestly what
@BurmaShane
An international treasure.
@donmakowichuk9905
What a songwriter! There is really nobody close.
@antonyirvine9338
Heartily agree.
@RocketKirchner
haha .
@Stingray834
I agree 100%