By Larry Fyffe
Let him kiss me with kisses of his mouth For thy love it better than wine Because of the savour of thy good ointments Thy name is as ointment poured forth Therefore do the virgins love thee (Song of Solomon 1: 2,3)
Seems singer/songwriter Bob Dylan is no fan of Bible-translator Saint Jerome who turns the carnal aspects of Old Testament “Solomon’s Song” above into an overwhelming spiritual love felt by fasting virgins who are sick with love for the New Testament Jesus; His hallowed words objectified by sweet-tasting sensuous foods:
Stay me with flagons Comfort me with apples For I am sick of love (Solomons Song 2:5)
Devilish Dylan turns the virgin back into the lusty lady who seeks out the King who already has many ‘wives’, and a gold mine to boot; he shoves the image down Peter and Jerome’s throats:
You can being it to St. Peter You can bring it to Jermone (Bob Dylan: My Own Version Of You)
In the Holy Bible, puzzled Peter (with a couple of other disciples) gets invited by Jesus to join Him in a mountain climb to meet His Heavenly Father:
My feet are so tired My brain is so wIred And the clouds are weeping (Bob Dylan: Love Sick)
Meets the Almighty God of Thunder Peter does:
While he yet speak Behold a bright cloud overshadowed them And behold a voice out of the cloud, which said "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased Hear ye him" (Matthew 17: 5)
Akin to Jerome’s virgins, Peter-Bob is so dumbfounded that he wants to stay put:
Just don't know what to do I'd give anything to Be withyou (Bob Dylan: Love Sick)
Peter’s told to go back down the mountain with Jesus, and not to say anything until after crucifixion and resurrection.
A bit later Jesus says to Peter, and other disciples:
Whosoever therefore shall humble himself As this little child The same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:4)
Words alluded to in the song lyrics below:
I spoke like a child You destroyed me with a smile While I was sleeping (Bob Dylan: Love Sick)
In his song, the overwhelmed narrator does not mention the gender of whom he’s trying to forget:
I'm sick of love I wish I never met you I'm sick of love I'm trying to forget you (Bob Dylan: Love Sick)
He who speaks with a doubled-edged tongue, not forgetting TS Eliot, WH Auden, and Carl Jung’s shadow kingdom.
Jerome translates faithful Mary Magdalene’s name as “Mary of the Tower”; she witnesses the hanging, the crucifixion of Christ:
I see lovers in the meadow .... I watch them 'til they're gone And they leave me hanging on To a shadow (Bob Dylan: Love Sick)
* can bring, not being