by Larry Fyffe
No, Bob Dylan did not convert to the Islamic religion, but he’s apparently been influenced by the albeit western translations (ie, Fitzgerald/Khayyam) of the mystic writings of Persian inner-looking poets who fear not death nor the metaphor:
The lyrics below might be described as wtitten by a Zoroastrian “Sufi” poet:
Out of your love the fire of youth will rise In the chest, visions of the soul rise If you are going to kill me, kill me, it is alright When a friend kills, a new life will rise (Mawlana Rumi: Out Of Your Love ~ translated)
Take what you can gather from coincidence – the above flow-of-life message is not that unlike the one darkly delivered in following song lyrics:
Ramona, come closer Shut softly your watery eyes The pangs of your sadness Shall pass as your senses will rise (Bob Dylan: To Ramona)
Clear it be though that the eastern mystic poet of yore values the spiritual ‘light’ carried by the transcendental power of music, and words:
Oh music is the meat of all who love Music uplifts the soul to realms above The ashes glow, the latent fires increase We listen, and are fed with joy and peace (Mawlana Rumi: Remembered Music ~ translated)
A similar theme depicted, upbeat and earth-bound, in the music and lyrics below:
The meat you cook for me is bloody rare It's more than flesh and blood can bear ... Take the saddle off your horse And give yourself a chair (Helena Springs: More Than Flesh And Blood Can Bear ~ Dylan/Springs)
Again, that regenerative motif proffered beneath:
Don't let me drift to far Keep me where you are Where I will always be renewed And that what you've given me today Is worth more than I can pay (Bob Dylan: I believe in you)
Below, angst-ridden Rumian thoughts tread through the song lyrics:
When I awoke the Dire Wolf, six hundred pounds of sin Was grinning at my window, all I said was come on in Don't murder me, I beg of you, don't murder me (Grateful Dead: Dire Wolf ~ Hunter/Garcia)
In case you missed it: Songs about Dylan
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Remind those that tell you otherwise
That love comes to you of its own accord
And the yearning of it
Cannot be learned in school
(Rumi: There’s A Candle In Your Heart ~ translated)
Time regards a pretty face like time regards a fool
You drive off in your Cadillac, and leave me with the mule
In order to keep up to you, I must go back to school
(Springs: More Than Flesh And Blood Can Bear~ Dylan/Springs)