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EDLIS: Dylan and Christianity Agency
William C. Parr
bill@billparr.org
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Last revised - 12/29/2000
(Warning -- long!!!)
Some thoughts on questions about Dylan, regarding whether "He
is still a Christian":
Is he still a Christian?
Lots of folks would argue against. Some would agree that he is.
My sense is that, for many, their answer reveals more about their
preconceptions and biases than about Dylan.
My answer, based on the lyrics of his songs over the last roughly
20 years (since the end of the 1979 - 1981 period), as well as
his comments during concerts, and his song choice, is:
Yes. Clearly.
Has he "matured" and mellowed a little, yes.
So, why do I believe he's still a Christian?
1) He consistently makes comments at concerts like, on May 7,
1994 at Chattanooga (I was there, with my son Aaron),
"Everybody has a hero. Here's a song about my hero...."
And then follows up with "In the Garden." Who else is
that song about?! And, if he has "put the 1979 - 1981 period
behind him" and is embarrassed about it, for what conceivable
reason would he ever even think of referring to Jesus in public
as "my hero?" If he has reverted to Judaism and forsaken
Christianity, such behavior makes no sense at all.
2) His songs still reflect the sensibility of 1979 - 1981.
For instance:
What was it you wanted? from Oh Mercy --- Please listen to this
carefully. The song appears to be written from a variety of perspectives.
(Reminiscent of Tangled up in Blue) Including: Jesus speaking
to Judas. Paul Williams referred to mainstream rock journalism's
reaction and commentary on this song as evidence that it is the
lowest form of literature. I agree. Nobody seemed to even notice
that it had anything to do with Jesus and Judas.
A listen to all of Oh Mercy would only expand on this impression.
Man in the Long Black Coat! The imagery brings the Bible (as well
as Nathaniel Hawthorne) to mind, and also Blind Willie McTell
(and look at Blind Willie McTell's history!) and the Mississippi
Sheiks (look at theirs!).
Infidels --- Listen to Jokerman. Who is Jokerman? Try and find
an answer to this question which makes sense outside of a Christian
mindset. I haven't ever succeeded.
Under the Red Sky --- Listen to the album. The clear sense I have
is that of someone who is a committed Christian, not in the business
of "evangelism" in the narrow sense of the word but
instead simply speaking from his (His) point of view. Under the
Red Sky -- the song -- is particularly telling, but listen to
the rest of the album/CD also.
Down in the Groove --- Beats me. This album seems to be largely
neutral to me. The Grateful Dead clearly influenced this one.
Who knows? In any event, not one of his stronger efforts. (But
this isn't a set of album reviews. . .)
On October 14, 1995 -- I had the privilege of seeing (together
with my 14 year old son, Aaron) Dylan in Biloxi. Would that I
could have seen him in Thibodeaux the next night! Or more of the
series. There, the clearly most animated and committed song was
"In the Garden." I was directly in front of the stage
for this one. I don't know how anybody could fail to see the passion
in this one --- the vocals, the guitar solos, . . . If he had
decided that 1979 - 1981 was an aberration, or temporary insanity,
he could and presumably would neglect to sing songs from that
period. Instead, I see him, frequently, singing songs from that
period. With special emphasis, and often commenting as noted above
re the May 1994 Chattanooga show cited earlier.
In summary: Dylan has always been "elusive." He told
us all, in 1979, where he stood. (Give me an email message if
you want more on his statements during this period . . .) He hasn't
formally told us he has changed his mind. (Showed up with the
Lubavitchers, yes. Showed up at a concert or two a little pickled,
yes (apparently)... But, however, . . . ) He continues to send
signals to us that his commitment is real. I agree with Paul Williams'
assessment (See "What Happened," by Paul Williams) that
this commitment is for good, and unlikely to change.
3) His concrete statements, even in the '90s:
You may find of interest the following snippet from an interview
of Dylan in Budapest in 1991:
BD: I believe in everything the Bible says.
Q: Do you read the Bible a lot?
BD: Yes.
Q: All the time?
BD: Always.
Q: Which are your favorite books in the Bible?
BD: Leviticus and Deuteronomy
Q: What do you think about the Apocalypse?
BD: It will not be by water, but by fire next time. It's what
is written.
Q: Which version of the Bible do you read?
BD: The King James Version.
Source: C. Williams, bob dylan in his own words, London: Omnibux
Press,
1993. p. 85. (I don't have this source, but am citing it from
On the
Tracks, Fall 1994 issue, page 44.)
And, during the Fall 1995 tour, Dylan's comments during a telephone
interview (published, among other places, in Isis, Issue 63, pages
33 - 35):
Question: Is America better or worse than, say, in the days of
'The Times They Are A-Changin'?
Dylan: I see pictures of the '50s, the '60s, and the '70s and
I see there was a difference. But I don't think the human mind
can comprehent the past and the future. They are both just illusions
that can manipulate you into thinking there's some kind of change.
But after you've been around awhile, they both seem unnatural.
It seems like we're going in a straight line, but then you start
seeing things that you haven't seen before. Haven't you experienced
that? It seems we're going around in circles.
Question: When you look ahead now, do you still see a Slow Train
Coming?
Dylan: When I look ahead now, it's picked up quite a bit of speed.
In fact, it's going like a freight train now.
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Flames away. Express your opinions. But please, please, substantiate
opinions in terms of:
1) Dylan's lyrics
2) Dylan's actions
3) Dylan's statements
and not in terms of someone's wishes or beliefs about what Dylan
thinks or believes. I'd like to hear about both things which support
my argument, and any counterarguments.
I'd recommend a reading of "Dylan: What Happened," by
Paul Williams. Then, a careful listen (make that at least two!)
to "Under the Red Sky." That should settle all outstanding
issues. If not, take a pass through "Oh Mercy" again.
A more recent source you may find helpful is "Restless Pilgrim,"
by Scott M. Marshall and Marcia Ford.
Dylan has never been shy about signaling any sharp turns in his
thinking. Such as between 1966 and subsequent work. Such as between
October 1978 and later. Why would he suddenly become shy?
I'll close this already lengthy note with some words from Paul
Williams, from his book "Dylan - What Happened," written
shortly after the 1979 Warfield concerts:
"Another possibility, of course, is that Dylan will change
again, will wander from the arms of Christ and go on to the next
thing. I don't really expect this change to happen - I think he's
made a lifetime commitment - but the man has a lot of courage,
and if he felt he had to do it, or if he couldn't find Christ
in his heart any more, I guess he'd move on. In which case he'd
probably find himself having to deal with angry fans more crazed
and more dangerous than any he's confronted before. Embracing
Christ is a controversial move for Dylan to have made; rejecting
Him could be catastrophic.
And no doubt Dylan realized this before he made his commitment;
he's nothing if not paranoid; we may assume he knew he was walking
through a one-way door, and that he considered his decision very
carefully indeed.
And then he went ahead and did it anyway." (page 121 - 122)
A good related reference is a news story about a speech by
Kenn Gulliksen. Find that
link here.
Feel free to correspond if you have further questions.
Bill Parr
EDLIS Dylan & Christianity Agency
bill@billparr.org
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