’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”Not a word was spoke between us, there was little risk involved
Everything up to that point had been left unresolved
Try imagining a place where it’s always safe and warm
“Come in,” she said, “I’ll give you shelter from the storm”
Great version where our man misses the first sentence in verse three… and the starts of the last verse (details below the video).
The Theater
Madison Square Garden
New York City, New York
21 January 1998
- Bob Dylan (vocal & guitar)
- Bucky Baxter (pedal steel guitar & electric slide guitar)
- Larry Campbell (guitar)
- Tony Garnier (bass)
- David Kemper (drums & percussion)
Now misses on the next verse starting again with:
Not a word was spoke between us, …she was standin’ there…
Then he’s back on track with:
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”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”
Misses again.. but just keeps playing.. (not singing) a little time-out.. and then final verse:
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”
-Egil
SFTS is one of those songs which was interpreted by Dylan in the most different ways. I like the 1995 versions a lot, where he played the tune in different variations as a dialogue of two different voices, mostly rhythm guitar against the slide. The SFTS version in Locarno 2015 for instance (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TVrWi342ZE) does strip the song of all instrumental characteristics and performs it like a psalm. Other versions especially the ones which use the slide guitar as leading instrument demonstrate its lyrical and musical depth. It can be understood as a love song, a religious psalm-like prayer, a song about the overcoming of emotional pain and in completely different other ways.
Lyrically it is despite its clear and simple language one of his most mysterious pieces.
“Try imagining a place where it’s always safe and warm…”
Yes, try it.
Where’s my fav verse: I was burnt out from exhaustion , stormed out by the hail . Poisoned in the bushes , blazed out in the trail.
Hunted like a crocodile , stepped on in the corn
… Certainly my memory may not be perfect; but I notice when it’s gone. To give Bob his dues he is a pro all the way and can fill in with chords, or juggle the words ; which he does often to give another version. But how does he not make a false note , incredible!
I’m with you on that Miss Nancy!