Carl Posted June 23, 2007 Report Share Posted June 23, 2007 Not that there's ever a clear meaning with Bob Dylan lyrics, but any idea what's going on in his song "I Shall Be Released," which was recorded by the band in 1968?: They say ev'rything can be replaced, Yet ev'ry distance is not near. So I remember ev'ry face Of ev'ry man who put me here. I see my light come shining From the west unto the east. Any day now, any day now, I shall be released. They say ev'ry man needs protection, They say ev'ry man must fall. Yet I swear I see my reflection Some place so high above this wall. I see my light come shining From the west unto the east. Any day now, any day now, I shall be released. Standing next to me in this lonely crowd, Is a man who swears he's not to blame. All day long I hear him shout so loud, Crying out that he was framed. I see my light come shining From the west unto the east. Any day now, any day now, I shall be released. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
logan01 Posted June 24, 2007 Report Share Posted June 24, 2007 I always thought it was either an anti death penalty composition or a metaphoric attempt at his looking forward to being released from Hell on Earth. Considering the time - frame, I think it was the first. I really like The Band's cover. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_Laurie_ Posted June 24, 2007 Report Share Posted June 24, 2007 Nice song..I wasn't sure if I knew it...then logan mentioned The Band's cover...and knew right away....I'm not exactly sure what he's talking about either, the metaphoric attempt sounds like that might be right.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucky Posted June 24, 2007 Report Share Posted June 24, 2007 I've always heard the death penalty theory also, that it's speaking of a man awaiting the "release" from the hell of being an innocent man wrongly imprisoned, that death will bring. There is a very solemn, religious hymnal quality about it, that is represented by the reference to "my light come shining from the west unto the east". That is an apocalyptic reference. However, I pulled out Robert Shelton's biography "No Direction Home" and he gives the song a different meaning. After Dylan's motorcycle accident in 1966, when he was 25, he retreated from the spotlight. This was after he had suffered great disappointment at the reception his European and American tour dates brought. He'd been boo'd offstage, called a traitor, and seen attendance drop at some of his concert dates. Dylan was seriously injured in the accident, and Shelton states Dylan withdrew not only to recuperate, but to spend the time in self reflection, and with his family. He goes further, saying that the song represents Dylan's search for personal salvation. To me this makes sense, with the song later becoming the anti-death penalty anthem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edna Posted June 24, 2007 Report Share Posted June 24, 2007 However, I pulled out Robert Shelton's biography "No Direction Home" and he gives the song a different meaning. After Dylan's motorcycle accident in 1966, when he was 25, he retreated from the spotlight. This was after he had suffered great disappointment at the reception his European and American tour dates brought. He'd been boo'd offstage, called a traitor, and seen attendance drop at some of his concert dates. Dylan was seriously injured in the accident, and Shelton states Dylan withdrew not only to recuperate, but to spend the time in self reflection, and with his family. He goes further, saying that the song represents Dylan's search for personal salvation. I agree with this. I also read that it´s a song about the personal liberation of any man. He´s becoming religious. And I love this song, it´s one of my Top Dylan songs... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Joe Posted June 24, 2007 Report Share Posted June 24, 2007 Ditto, bravo and bo bo dee oh! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl Posted June 28, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 28, 2007 You guys are good. We'll have the Songfacts for this one in our next update. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucky Posted June 28, 2007 Report Share Posted June 28, 2007 It's what comes of hanging around here so long. You either know it, or you know how to find it!Thanks, Carl. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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