I married Isis on the fifth day of May
But I could not hold on to her very long
So I cut off my hair and I rode straight away
For the wild unknown country where I could not go wrong
One of his strongest performances on video….
Forum de Montréal
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
4 December 1975
- Bob Dylan (vocal, guitar)
- Bob Neuwirth (guitar)
- Scarlet Rivera (violin)
- T-bone J. Henry Burnett (guitar)
- Roger McGuinn (guitar)
- Steven Soles (guitar)
- Mick Ronson (guitar)
- David Mansfield (steel guitar, violin, mandolin ,dobro)
- Rob Stoner (bass, vocals)
- Howie Wyeth (piano, drums)
- Luther Rix (drums, percussion)
Ronee Blakley (vocal)
I came to a high place of darkness and light
The dividing line ran through the center of town
I hitched up my pony to a post on the right
Went in to a laundry to wash my clothes downA man in the corner approached me for a match
I knew right away he was not ordinary
He said, “Are you lookin’ for somethin’ easy to catch?”
I said, “I got no money.” He said, “That ain’t necessary”We set out that night for the cold in the North
I gave him my blanket, he gave me his word
I said, “Where are we goin’?” He said we’d be back by the fourth
I said, “That’s the best news that I’ve ever heard”I was thinkin’ about turquoise, I was thinkin’ about gold
I was thinkin’ about diamonds and the world’s biggest necklace
As we rode through the canyons, through the devilish cold
I was thinkin’ about Isis, how she thought I was so recklessHow she told me that one day we would meet up again
And things would be different the next time we wed
If I only could hang on and just be her friend
I still can’t remember all the best things she saidWe came to the pyramids all embedded in ice
He said, “There’s a body I’m tryin’ to find
If I carry it out it’ll bring a good price”
’Twas then that I knew what he had on his mindThe wind it was howlin’ and the snow was outrageous
We chopped through the night and we chopped through the dawn
When he died I was hopin’ that it wasn’t contagious
But I made up my mind that I had to go onI broke into the tomb, but the casket was empty
There was no jewels, no nothin’, I felt I’d been had
When I saw that my partner was just bein’ friendly
When I took up his offer I must-a been madI picked up his body and I dragged him inside
Threw him down in the hole and I put back the cover
I said a quick prayer and I felt satisfied
Then I rode back to find Isis just to tell her I love herShe was there in the meadow where the creek used to rise
Blinded by sleep and in need of a bed
I came in from the East with the sun in my eyes
I cursed her one time then I rode on aheadShe said, “Where ya been?” I said, “No place special”
She said, “You look different.” I said, “Well, not quite”
She said, “You been gone.” I said, “That’s only natural”
She said, “You gonna stay?” I said, “Yeah, I jes might”Isis, oh, Isis, you mystical child
What drives me to you is what drives me insane
I still can remember the way that you smiled
On the fifth day of May in the drizzlin’ rain
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-Egil
I was fortunate to be there that night ,with great seats too in the cavernous montreal forum……what a change from 1974 when I saw him in montreal with the band……..I think the herbal remedies he took, help him drive that 75 ‘show
Thanks Leggy for explaining the story behind the on stage comment. When I hear that from now On I’ll be thinking of Cohen.
This might be the most powerful live performance by Dylan ever–no small thing. In my opinion, superlatives fall short in describing it. I love the way he would introduce it on the Rolling Thunder Revue tour with “This is a song about marriage–it’s called ‘Isis.'” Being married to the same woman for more than 26 years, I’m still plumbing this song’s (and performance’s) depths.
As an aside, there’s a section of Ratso Sloman’s “On the Road with Bob Dylan” where Dylan goes to visit Leonard Cohen prior to the concert at his rundown place in Old Montreal, and asks him to come to the show. Funny stuff – “This is for Leonard, if he’s still here”.
This is jaw droppingly good!!! after bob,everything else is small!! huge thanks for posting this!
Simply awesome!