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Jokerman (Words and Music by Bob Dylan)1983 Special Rider Music
Standing on the waters casting your bread While the eyes of the idol with the iron head are glowing. Distant ships sailing into the mist, You were born with a snake in both of your fists while a hurricane was blowing. Freedom just around the corner for you But with the truth so far off, what good will it do?
Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune, Bird fly high by the light of the moon, Oh, oh, oh, Jokerman.
So swiftly the sun sets in the sky, You rise up and say goodbye to no one. Fools rush in where angels fear to tread, Both of their futures, so full of dread, you don't show one.
Shedding off one more layer of skin, Keeping one step ahead of the persecutor within.
Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune, Bird fly high by the light of the moon, Oh, oh, oh, Jokerman.
You're a man of the mountains, you can walk on the clouds, Manipulator of crowds, you're a dream twister. You're going to Sodom and Gomorrah But what do you care? Ain't nobody there would want to marry your sister. Friend to the martyr, a friend to the woman of shame, You look into the fiery furnace, see the rich man without any name.
Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune, Bird fly high by the light of the moon, Oh, oh, oh, Jokerman.
Well, the Book of Leviticus and Deuteronomy, The law of the jungle and the sea are your only teachers. In the smoke of the twilight on a milk-white steed, Michelangelo indeed could've carved out your features. Resting in the fields, far from the turbulent space, Half asleep near the stars with a small dog licking your face.
Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune, Bird fly high by the light of the moon, Oh, oh, oh, Jokerman.
Well, the rifleman's stalking the sick and the lame, Preacherman seeks the same, who'll get there first is uncertain. Nightsticks and water cannons, tear gas, padlocks, Molotov cocktails and rocks behind every curtain, False-hearted judges dying in the webs that they spin, Only a matter of time 'til night comes steppin' in.
Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune, Bird fly high by the light of the moon, Oh, oh, oh, Jokerman.
It's a shadowy world, skies are slippery gray, A woman just gave birth to a prince today and dressed him in scarlet. He'll put the priest in his pocket, put the blade to the heat, Take the motherless children off the street And place them at the feet of a harlot.
Oh, Jokerman, you know what he wants, Oh, Jokerman, you don't show any response.
Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune, Bird fly high by the light of the moon, Oh, oh, oh, Jokerman.
I admit to being a Dylan-obsessive. This is, I think, my favorite song. And it is as cryptic as anything he ever wrote, with nearly every line referencing scripture.
Dylan's religion, like his persona, is hidden behind veils. Jews and Christians alike claim him as their own: that's an accomplishment right there.
Sure, Dylan himself may be the Jokerman. But maybe this enigmatic character is all of us. In this person is the ironic duplicity of all humanity sold under sin. There is also the apocalyptic sensitivity here that stalks the Dylan catalog like the four horsemen.
Finally, this man who is a joke could be a portrait of the Beast or "Antichrist" of Revelation. He takes motherless children off the street and places them at the feet of the harlot of Babylon. He may be the prince the woman just gave birth to.
Whatever Dylan was writing about here, he doesn't reveal it to anyone. But the biblical imagery is superb, disturbing, and dark. And the music was magical as well on the album Infidels: the always gorgeous finger-picked guitar work of Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits.
The above provided URL takes you to discussions of Dylan's biblical leanings from many points-of-view.
3 comments:
Hello... well I like the look of your blog!!! It is always interesting to have something to "find" ... like hidden meanings, I can see why you like this song...
I got to be honest. I see little biblical correlation. Maybe real vaguely there is some. Like most of Dylan's stuff it rhymes real good but and makes some sense. Hey Mister Tambourine man Play your song for me. In the jingle jangle boredom I'll come follow you. Take me for a trip upon your magic swirling ship. all my senses have been stripped and my hands can't feel to grip I 'm waiting to go wandering. Hmm!!! Maybe there is somethin thar?
I have a book about Dylan's poetry called "Visions of Sin." It analyzes his stuff, which is often very cryptic. There is no question anymore as to his influence.
The URL on that blog might interest you, it is dozens of sites dealing with Dylan's gospel stuff.
I learned to love poetry back in the hippy days, and it did come out in the music more than it does now or before. Most hip-hop poetry is pretty shabby, kind of like profanity in rhyme.
We did have some good wordsmiths like Paul Simon, Leonard Cohen, Jim Morrison, Lou Reed. Music doesn't have to have great lyrics, but it does add a dimension I think. Maybe most people don't need it.
I still think one of the greatest troubador poets was Christian fundamentalist Michael Card. He wrote El Shaddai, for instance. He was top notch. But nobody touches Dylan in that respect. And who can match that voice? Maybe Neil Young.
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