Meaning of Bob Dylan's "Shelter from the Storm" Illustrated

Preliminary look at the meaning of Bob Dylan's "Shelter from the Storm" The central argument presented is that Jesus is the One who is making the invitation to come in. He is the One providing shelter from the storm. This invitation is similar to the one He makes in Mathew 11: 28 "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden. and I will give you rest." Notes: "they gambled for my clothes" and "Preacher rides a mount," are considered and compared to John 19: 23-24 and Mathew 21: 1-7. One of the main propositions starts at 2:10 The Deputy, the Preacher and the one-eyed undertaker all describe Jesus. The Deputy walks on hard nails is a metaphor for Jesus and for the nail through his feet to the cross. Preacher rides a mount literally stands for Jesus' riding into Jerusalem on the donkey. (Mathew 21: 1-7) The 1st correction is part of the video and starts at 10:00. That correction scrutinizes the meaning of "But nothing really matters much it's doom alone that counts" and how that line could be understood as sarcasm. "The deputy walks on hard nails and the preacher rides a mount." These things that Jesus did matter a great deal to those who value salvation. A look at the last verse and how it could be viewed: Well, I'm living in a foreign country but I'm bound to cross the line (Man speaking) Beauty walks a razor's edge, someday I'll make it mine (Jesus speaking) If I could only turn back the clock to when God and Her were born (Man speaking) "Come in," she said, "I'll give you shelter from the storm" (Man or narrator speaking, quoting Jesus) Preliminary translation: "I'm living in foreign country but I'm bound to cross the line" may stand for a man speaking to Jesus, likening his time on earth to that of living in a foreign country. The man voices his concerns about passing into the afterlife by acknowledging that he's bound to cross the line. Now (In theory) Jesus replies: "Beauty walks a razor's, edge, someday I'll make it mine" The razor's edge may be the refer to edge between salvation and damnation On an intuitive level the next part, "someday I'll make it mine" seems like Jesus' reassurance to the man and may have something to do with John 6: 39. "And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing but should raise it up again at the last day." in other words, "Someday I'll make it mine" Further elaboration on this last verse from Dylan's Shelter from the Storm: So, what is meant by Beauty in this context? Beauty walks a razor's edge. Beauty in this context suggests that Jesus holds the man in some kind of esteem. Beauty referring to some attribute of the man. Jesus is saying the man walks a razor's edge between salvation and damnation. He says someday he'll make the man His own. similar to saying he will provide shelter from the storm "If I could only turn back the clock to when God and Her were born" Notice that God and "her" or God and Jesus are on the same level. Please click on the end screen entitled "Well I'm Living in a Foreign Country but I'm Bound to Cross the Line:" Revisiting Bob Dylan's Lyrics for the video that focuses on this last verse Comments, questions, requests or invitations please email [email protected] Other videos on Song Lyrics and their meaning: Sweetheart Like You, Bob Dylan Hotel California, The Eagles, Illustrated Meaning, part 1 and part 2 American Pie, Don Mcclean Blinded by the Light, Bruce Springsteen Whiter Shade of Pale, Procol Harum She' Not There, The Zombies Highway 61 Revisited, Bob Dylan Queen Jane Approximately, Bob Dylan Go Your own Way, Fleetwood Mac Video effects by Mark and Suzanne.