Torah References:
Oh God said to Abraham, “Kill me a son”
Abe says, “Man, you must be puttin’ me on”
God say, “No.” Abe say, “What?”
God say, “You can do what you want Abe, but
The next time you see me comin’ you better run:
Well Abe says, “Where do you want this killing’ done?”
God says, “Out on Highway 61.”
— From “Highway 61 Revisited” on the album, “Highway 61 Revisited” (1965)
Someone showed me a picture and I just laughed
Dignity never been photographed
I went into the red, went into the black
In the valley of dry bone dreams
…Sometimes I wonder what it’s gonna take
To find dignity
— From “Dignity” on the album, “Under the Red Sky” (1991)
Reference to Jewish Liturgy:
May God bless and keep you always
May your wishes all come true
May you always do for others
And let others do for you….
— From “Forever Young” on the album, “Planet Waves” (1973)
Christian Reference:
I was blinded by the devil
Born already ruined
Stone-cold dead
As I stepped out of the womb
By His grace I have been touched
By His word I have been healed
By His hand I’ve been delivered
By His spirit I’ve been sealed
— From “Saved” (with Tim Drummond) on the album, “Saved” (1980)
Allusions to Jesus:
You’re a man of the mountains, you can walk on the clouds
Manipulator of crowds, you’re a dream twister
You’re going to Sodom and Gomorrah
But what do you care?
Ain’t nobody there would want to marry your sister
Friend to the martyr, a friend to the woman of shame
You look into the fiery furnace, see the rich man without any name
— From “Jokerman” on the album, “Infidels” (1983)
Pro-Israel, Pro-Jewish Reference:
The neighborhood bully been driven out of every land
He’s wandered the earth an exiled man
Seen his family scattered, his people hounded and torn
He’s always on trial for just being born
He’s the neighborhood bully
— From “Neighborhood Bully” on the album, “Infidels” (1983)
On Social Justice:
Come you masters of war
You that build all the guns
You that build the death planes
You that build the big bombs
You that hide behind walls
You that hide behind desks
I just want you to know
I can see through your masks
— From “Masters of War” on the album, “The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan” (1963)
On Faith in God:
Father of grain, Father of wheat
Father of cold and Father of heat
Father of air and Father of trees
Who dwells in our hearts and our memories
Father of minutes, Father of days
Father of whom we most solemnly praise
— From “Father of Night” on the album, “New Morning” (1970)
Source: “Bob Dylan Lyrics 1962-2001” (Simon & Schuster, 2004)
