’Twas in another lifetime, one of toil and blood
When blackness was a virtue and the road was full of mud
I came in from the wilderness, a creature void of form
“Come in,” she said, “I’ll give you shelter from the storm”

And if I pass this way again, you can rest assured
I’ll always do my best for her, on that I give my word
In a world of steel-eyed death, and men who are fighting to be warm
“Come in,” she said, “I’ll give you shelter from the storm”

“Shelter From The Storm”  is among Dylan’s finest songs and there many fantastic live versions available.

Here are 10.

The best one is off course:

Hughes Stadium
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, Colorado
23 May 1976

–

 

Civic Center
Lakeland, Florida
18 April 1976

–

Pavillon de Paris
Paris, France
6 July 1978

Suddenly I turned around and she was standin’ there
With silver bracelets on her wrists and flowers in her hair
She walked up to me so gracefully and took my crown of thorns
“Come in,” she said, “I’ll give you shelter from the storm”

Now there’s a wall between us, somethin’ there’s been lost
I took too much for granted, got my signals crossed
Just to think that it all began on a long-forgotten morn
“Come in,” she said, “I’ll give you shelter from the storm”

Panathenaíkos Stadio
Athens, Greece
28 June 1989

–

Zirkus Krone
München, Germany
21 June 1991

Well, the deputy walks on hard nails and the preacher rides a mount
But nothing really matters much, it’s doom alone that counts
And the one-eyed undertaker, he blows a futile horn
“Come in,” she said, “I’ll give you shelter from the storm”

I’ve heard newborn babies wailin’ like a mournin’ dove
And old men with broken teeth stranded without love
Do I understand your question, man, is it hopeless and forlorn?
“Come in,” she said, “I’ll give you shelter from the storm”

–

Kongresový sál
Palác kultury
Prague, Czech Republic
11 March 1995

In a little hilltop village, they gambled for my clothes
I bargained for salvation an’ they gave me a lethal dose
I offered up my innocence and got repaid with scorn
“Come in,” she said, “I’ll give you shelter from the storm”

Well, I’m livin’ in a foreign country but I’m bound to cross the line
Beauty walks a razor’s edge, someday I’ll make it mine
If I could only turn back the clock to when God and her were born
“Come in,” she said, “I’ll give you shelter from the storm”

The Theater
Madison Square Garden
New York City, New York
21 January 1998

–

First Union Center
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
15 November 2002

–

Trädgårdsföreningen
Gothenburg, Sweden
15 July 2014

–

Piazza Grande
Locarno, Switzerland
15 July 2015

–

Check out:

• Bob Dylan: 10 live versions of “Visions of Johanna” (Videos & audios)
• Bob Dylan: You’re A Big Girl Now, 11 Great live versions

-Egil