By Larry Fyffe
PreRomantic, ‘inward transcendentalist’ poet William Blake, diverges from Emanual Swedenborg’s rational-cum-mystical neoPlatonic religious outlook, and contends that within each and every human mind lies the Imagination (it creates dreams, art, mythologies, and visions); the poet takes the New Testament Lamb of God as a symbol for the the Imagination – in contrast to the fearful, and materialistc Tiger God of the Old Testament.
Blake addresses a rather Gnostic-like question to the ‘demiurgic’ Tiger about the Absolute One, the supreme Creator of the Universe:
Did he smile his work to see Did he who made the Lamb make thee? Tyger, Tyger, burning bright In the forests of the night
(William Blake: The Tyger)
And again in:
And was the holy Lamb of God On England's pleasant pastures seen? .... And was Jerusalem builded here Among these dark Satanic mills? Bring me my bow of burning gold Bring me my arrows of desire Bring me my spear; O clouds unfold! Bring me my chariots of fire!
(William Blake: Jerusalem)
Influenced by the poetry of Blake, the heavy metal band ‘Black Sabbath’ pictures modern man’s Imagination being held down by established social and economic institutions, personified as Satan who rebels against the anti-materialistic teachings of light-inspired Jesus, and sets up dark mills for labourers to work in:
Big black shape with eyes of fire Telling people their desire Satan sitting there, he's smiling Watch those flames get higher and higher No, no, no, please God help me!... Is this the end, my friend Satan's coming 'round the bend People running 'cause they're scared
(Black Sabbath: Black Sabbath)
Singer/songwriter Bob Dylan envisions the black shape of a figurative train comin’ slowly around the bend. Dylan does not provide the reader or listener with a clear vision. Like Blake, he fogs things up – seems like the engineer is Christ, but could it be Satan?:
Man's ego is inflated, his laws are outdated, they don't apply no more You can't rely no more to be standin' around waitin' In the home of the brave, Jefferson turnin' over in his grave Fools glorifying themselves, trying to manipulate Satan And there's a slow train comin' up around the bend
(Bob Dylan: Slow Train)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ijh42sc6P4E
Dylan brings it all back home to old time rocknroll:
I don't care about economy, I don't care about astronomy But it sure do bother me to see my loved ones turned into puppets
(Bob Dylan: Slow Train)
Alluding to the following song lyrics:
You get 'A' in Biology You get 'A' in Psychology .... But when you go out with me Baby, you get 'D', D' in Love
(Cliff Richard: D in Love)
Bob Dylan also pays tribute to Henry Rollins whose punk band ‘Black Flag’ is heavily influenced by the words and music of ‘Black Sabbath’. As pointed out by others, Rollins’ novels are referenced by Dylan in the following song lyrics:
I see people in the park, forgettin' their troubles and woes They're drinkin' and dancin', wearin' bright coloured clothes All the young men with the young women lookin' so good Well, I'd trade places with'em in a minute, if I could I'm crossin' the street to get away from a mangy dog Talkin' to myself in a monologue I think what I need might be a full-length leather coat Someone just asked me if I'm registered to vote
(Bob Dylan: Highlands)
To wit:
I would have traded places with the guy in a second
(Henry Rollins: High Adventures In The Great Outdoors)
And:
He comes up to me and says, "Are you registered to vote?" I say, "Hell, no"
(Henry Rollins: Art To Choke Hearts)
You see, Lucifer and the Tiger can be creatively turned around into a symbol of strength that stands up against established authorities and moralities:
We walked along by the old canal A little consfused, I remember well And stopped into a strange hotel With a neon burning bright He felt the heat of the night Hit him like a freight train
(Bob Dylan: Simple Twist Of Fate)
* Bob Dylan: Highland)