Bob Dylan’s Upcoming Tour Of The Planets: Saturn (Part II)

By Larry Fyffe

Bob Dylan announces upcoming tour of the planets

Though we know that the concerts of singer/songwriter/musician Bob Dylan that were planned for the planet Saturn have been cancelled due to slow ticket sales, the editors at the Untold Dylan offices here in New York City have the set lists of the songs that were to be performed on the upcoming Planet Tour by Dylan and his Band.

Also, note that it has been decided by Dylan’s management team that no concerts will be held on the pseudo-planet Pluto (claimed by some to be named after a Disney cartoon that features a dog); nor on the planet Uranus (pronounced like “your anus”) because of a contract dispute with the advertisers over some awkward wording that was to be used in the promotion of the interplanetary tour.

Anyway, according to poet and mythologist Robert Graves, in regards to ancient Greek/Roman mythology, Cronus (Saturn) gets overthrown by his son Zeus (Jupiter) who castrates his father; Cronus’ testicles and semen fall into the sea, and daughter Aphrodite (Venus) is born on a half-shell from out of that foam.

An Egyptian myth is comparatively similar – the offspring of Father Earth and Mother Sky, Seth castrates his brother Osiris who is married to their sister; Isis is able to retrieve her husband’s testicles, and gives birth to son Horus.

While capped in the cone head-dress of Osiris, Dylan had planned to lead off the concerts on Saturn with:

We came to the pyramids all embedded in ice
He said, “There’s a body I’m trying to find
If I carry it out, it’ll bring a good price”
‘Twas then that I knew what he had on his mind
(Bob Dylan, et al: Isis)

Poet Robert Graves’ mysticism is rooted in Gnosticism. He authors ‘The White Goddess’, and his female cousin – Olivia – founds ‘The Fellowship Of Isis’:

Can God with Dinae sport and kiss
Or God with rebel demons fight
Making a proof as Jove or Dis
Force, essence, knowledge, that or this
Of Godhead infinite?
(Robert Graves: Knowledge Of God)

According to ancient Geek/Roman mythology, Dinae and Jupiter (Jove) produce Perseus who slays the Medussa with the help of Minerva’s shield; Dis (Pluto) is the mythological god of the Underworld.

Bob Dylan pays tribute to the Great Goddess (She of the sky be linked to Isis of the fiery sun, and to Isis’ brother/husband Osiris of the dark underworld) – in contrast to the orthodox Judeo-Christian God Who lacks a female companion:

You’re the one that reaches me
You’re the one that I admire
Every time we meet together
My soul feels like it’s on fire
(Bob Dylan: Nobody ‘Cept You)

Especially in the arts, as time passes, the daughter from Cronus’ seaform – the motherly Venus – ; as well as the virgin mother of Jesus – Mary – both become associated with Isis:

You strayed into my arms
And there you stayed
Temporarily lost at sea
The Madonna was yours for free
Yes, the girl on the half-shell
Would keep you unharmed
(Joan Baez: Diamonds And Rust)

In the following song verse, Bob Dylan takes on the persona of Jove attacking Cronus. The persona lashes out at money-grubbing evangelists who just pretend to be Christians:

I’ve been through hell, what did it prove
You bastard! I’m supposed to respect you?
I’ll give you justice, I’ll fatten you purse
Show me your moral virtue first
Hear me holler, hear me moan
I pay in blood, but not my own
(Bob Dylan: Pay In Blood)

A bit of ironic diction – “I’ll fatten your purse” translates to, ” I’ll give you a good swift kick in the testicles.”

See also: Bob Dylan And Robert Graves: The Great White Wonder

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