A common man marvels at uncommon things. A wise man marvels at the commonplace. CONFUCIUS

Tuesday 22 December 2009

Countdown To Christmas (1): Redemption/Rebirth

Like many I had difficulty with Bob during his evangelizing, born-again period, but there's no doubting the power of this song...

Bob Dylan: When He Returns

The iron hand it ain't no match for the iron rod,
The strongest wall will crumble and fall to a mighty God.
For all those who have eyes and all those who have ears
It is only He who can reduce me to tears.
Don't you cry and don't you die and don't you burn
For like a thief in the night, He'll replace wrong with right
When He returns.

Truth is an arrow and the gate is narrow that it passes through,
He unleashed His power at an unknown hour that no one knew.
How long can I listen to the lies of prejudice?
How long can I stay drunk on fear out in the wilderness?
Can I cast it aside, all this loyalty and this pride?
Will I ever learn that there'll be no peace, that the war won't cease
Until He returns?

Surrender your crown on this blood-stained ground, take off your mask,
He sees your deeds, He knows your needs even before you ask.
How long can you falsify and deny what is real?
How long can you hate yourself for the weakness you conceal?
Of every earthly plan that be known to man, He is unconcerned,
He's got plans of His own to set up His throne
When He returns.

3 comments:

am said...

"How long can I stay drunk on fear out in the wilderness?"

So many phrases from that song and so many images from Pasolini's film have stayed with me over the years. It's a revelation to witness them as one in that video. Thanks so much for this post.

The Solitary Walker said...

Remember commenting that the faces in the 1st video I posted (of Paul Brady) reminded you of a Pasolini film, am? Well, here, nearly at the end of the Countdown, are the faces from an actual Pasolini film. Rather neat, that.

am said...

Yes indeed!