(The Big Issue)
Bob Dylan has once again consented to be interviewed by Bill Flanagan, this time to promote his new charity album, Christmas In The Heart. You can read the interview here.
In keeping with the charitable aspect of this release, the printed interview will be distributed by The North American Street Newspaper Association in the United States, and The Big Issue in the United Kingdom.
Dylan's management has also recruited the"Web Sheriff" to remove unauthorized Dylan material from the Internet so that more attention can be focused on getting money to charities such as Feeding America, World Food Programme, and Crisis.
There are many fascinating aspects to Flanagan's interview. When Dylan speaks, he often raises as many questions as he answers. He's been known to tell tall tales, baffle and berate interviewers, and mislead in order to protect his privacy. He can also be insightful, intelligent, knowledgeable, and humorous. Just like his songs, it's fun to read between the lines, and look behind the mask.
Some observations :
Dylan included the rarely used introduction to "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)" because " I figured the guy who wrote it put it in there deliberately. It definitely creates tension, predicts what you are about to hear." But then but then left out another part, because, " Sometimes things just fall away. We probably recorded the song, got the feel right and moved on. Most likely we didn’t even listen back. Just moved on to something else. I don’t think that’s something I would have noticed anyway."
When Flanagan asks, "I don’t want to put you on the spot, but you sure deliver that song like a true believer," Dylan vaguely replies, " Well, I am a true believer," which, of course, can be interpreted in a number of ways.
As for music reviewers, Dylan says, "Critics like that are on the outside looking in. They are definitely not fans or the audience that I play to. They would have no gut level understanding of me and my work, what I can and can’t do – the scope of it all. Even at this point in time they still don’t know what to make of me."
My favorite quote is the last one. Dylan grew up in a Jewish household in Minnesota. Flanagan asks, "I know we’re out of time but I have to ask, what’s the best Christmas gift you ever got?" Dylan replies, "Let me think… oh yeah, I think it was a sled." Did he actually get a sled for Christmas as a child ? Was there a Christmas tree in the Zimmerman family room? Maybe he got a sled for Chanukah ? Or is this a sly reference to "Citizen Kane" ?
Here's a video by Brave Combo. Dylan claims their take on "Must Be Santa" influenced his version :
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Comments
Funny, I thought of Citizen Kane when I read that, too!
When Flanagan asks, "I don’t want to put you on the spot, but you sure deliver that song like a true believer," Dylan vaguely replies, " Well, I am a true believer," which, of course, can be interpreted in a number of ways.
How many ways? 'Well, I am a true believer', in relation to a Christmas song and album sounds pretty clear to me.
Just don't get that "Well I'm a true beliver" can be "vaguely" and can be interpreted in a number of ways. This remark was on the song "O'Little Town Of Bethlehem", and how can he had put it more clear?
Dylan still sings his gospel songs on his consert(also in the last one 19.november). Don't you belive Dylan stands for his own lyrics/words, or does that just apply to his gospelsongs. I don't think you belive that songs like "Blowing in the wind and Masters of War is songs without meaning for him?
All the best
Kenneth
Dylan's response to that question is as plain as day-he's a true believer in Jesus.Couldn't be more direct.
Look, I'm not "claiming" Dylan, and I'm not particularly religious. But it's also as clear what's going on here. Hedonistic secularists, and Christ hating Jews (who dominate the media) CLEARLY can't stand the fact that Bob Dylan loves the Goyem God, who they CLEARLY despise, and regularly defile in the media. (See Larry David and Seinfeld mocking Christianity by psting on a image of Jesus-all a big laugh to them)
...and by the way....I wouldn't even waste my pizz on scum like those aforementioned "comedians."
What Bob doesn't mention is that the Brave Combo version of Hey Jude is sung by his old mate, Tiny Tim.
Dylan says in one of his recent songs, Thunder on the Mountain, "I already confessed, no need to confess again".. Yes what do the Christians, Jews, Muslims, Jains, Buddists, Syncretists,atheists and Taoists want??? Dylan told the world he loved JESUS CHRIST. He told us all for many years, and yes...Dylan still sings of Jesus Christ.
The Lubavitch in many ways live closer to the way of Jesus Christ than some self proclaiming Christians.
Jesus CHRIST was a Jew. So was the Blessed Virgin Mother. So were many of the people at the crucifixion... Have patience folks. Dylan will be buried a Jew...who confessed to the world that Jesus Christ is the promised Chosen One for all the world.
In the meantime, ask Arch Angel Michael, Rafael, and Gabriel along with Seraphim, Cheraphim, Dominions, Angels, Principalities and Powers and the cloud of witnesses to join in prayer for the salvation of souls.
1 Billion abortions every 20 years. When will Bono sing about that? When will u or I.
Confess Tr
I think Dylan meant he is a "true believer" in the Christmas, not necessarily in Christ's divinity. That said, I don't think there's any doubt that Dylan is a "true believer" in the religious sense as well. However, I think it's unlikely that he strictly adheres to either Judaism or Christianity exclusively. Keeping in mind that the Torah and Old Testaments are largely the same document (in a different order), and that "God" is the same figure in both religions, I suspect Dylan simply doesn't care about the differences. The extremists in both religions would chafe at that, I'm sure, but Dylan has always been a heart-of-the-matter guy. That he is capable of reconciling (or just ignoring) the conflicts between the two paradigms, instead extracting the important elements of each, should come as no shock to anyone who has listened to his music. After all...Christ was a Jew. And Christians still read for the Old Testament. I suspect it It baffles Mr. Dylan, that people make it so hard....
I think, with all respect to Sok here-DYLAN COULDN'T HAVE BEEN MORE HONEST AND DIRECT WITH HIS ANSWER. The question was about Christmas and Christianity. At that moment, he stated that HE WAS A TRUE BELIEVER IN JESUS, THE NATIVITY,CHRISTMAS, THE CHRISTMAS STORY, THE WISE MEN, ETC.,ETC...THERE IS NO WIGGLE ROOM HERE...IN THIS MOMENT IN TIME HE'S PROCLAIMED HIS CHRISTIANITY...CAN'T YOU LET THAT REST???? All I can say is....some people are forced to be antisemetic...they have no other choice...
My God people.... He just told you in plain english.
I guess this is what the Word meant when it said for those who have EARS to hear! Bob Dylan is a Jew who believes in The Messiah Jesus Christ. Let it go already. I am reading some really bizarre comments on here from both sides. Wheew!
In light of the fact that people who only 'listen for free' generally wouldn't buy the record if that was the only way to hear it, one has to wonder how many meals for the hungry were sacrificed so web sheriff could be paid to inundate fan sites and insult fans with their snarky message. It pretty much wrecked the whole idea spreading some holiday cheer for me, by basically saying, "Merry Christmas, and thanks for not stealing for once : )"
Dylan could say, "I am a Christian, I believe in Jesus," and some would say to him, "No you aren't-you don't believe in Jesus becasue we don't want you to believe in Jesus."
Dyaln said he's a true believer in response to a question about his performance of a religious Christmas song, but I guess peoplw will believe what they want to no matter what he says.
In 2007 when Dylan privately attended Yom Kippur services in Atlanta Rolling Stone Rock & Roll daily ran the headline "Bob Dylan Reaffirms His Place in the Tribe" with the opening sentence "Sorry, Christians: It’s looking less and less likely that Bob Dylan is going to swing back to his born-again phase." A video of him performing at a Chabad benefit in 1991 accompanied the article.
In 2009 Dylan publicly calls himself a true believer and Rolling Stone runs the headline "Bob Dylan on “Christmas” Memories, Appreciating Hip-Hop" with no mention of his direct answer. Where's the recent video of Gonna Change My Way of Thinking?
Whats up with that?
Why does this interview need to be "analyzed"? No wonder Bob seems to dislike the media! From what I've read, it seemed pretty straightforward. Stop trying, Christians, Jews, Athiests and whoever else, to mold Bob into what YOU want him to be!!! He's a human being, and human beings are pretty complex. Bob doesn't owe his spiritual feelings to you me or anyone!!
Dylan vaguely replies ???
I thought the interview was great. However, there is a bit too much analysis here...you make it sound like Bob sang the 'intro' for the Christmas Song, but purposefully left out another part.
The part Bob 'left out' was the word "goodies" from "lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh." And Bob pretty much says it was an accident that they didn't bother to go back and fix.
Don't make a mountain out of a molehill
I am fascinated by the "true believer" remark, but I don't think it goes so far as to say, "I believe in Christ". He has stated to another interviewer that he believes in no orthodox religion, if the quotation is correct. I have heard people who so want him to return to Judaism make claims that he returned to their faith in the eighties, and yet there are interviews and statements made by him that contradict this (for example his introduction to In the Garden on the Hard to Handle video); a similar case can be made against his following of the Christian faith, at least in the orthodox sense (his attending Jewish festivals, the song Neighborhood Bully, his use of "Jesus" in arguably the profane sense in at least one recent interview). I think he can't really be pinned down on faith anymore, and I'm sure he knows that calling himself a believer is tantalizing, but it's not clear cut enough for me.
And just a quick further point: think about Flannagan's question. What if Bob had answered, "Well, I don't really literally believe in what I'm singing," or "Well, I believe in the music, that's all". Then he would have been pinning himself down. The way I see it, this is a typical Dylan response in many ways, because it suggests but does not really make anything explicit. Some would argue that were Dylan really a follower of Christ, in the sense that he was back in the late seventies and early eighties, he would have no qualms about declaring himself as so. It is one thing to cease preaching, it is quite another to no longer at least declare your faith.
Good to see Zimmy reaffirming his Christian faith.
Have you heard the album? He sings Christ is born in Bethlehem. Non-believers have a hard time uttering the word Christ.
Great to hear him sing in Latin. Great to hear him sing, Gonna Change My Way of Thinking. Great to hear him sing about the "wise men following the star." Please know there are many of the approximate 14 million Jewish people on the planet who have publicly accepted Jesus Christ and proclaim His name. There are also many Jewish people who secretly pray to Jesus Christ. Read the Josh McDowell book, Evidence That Demands a Verdict. There are also many Jewish people who live holy lives and have not yet accepted Christ. That will happen later.
Remember in the last billionth of a second of a persons life, Jesus Christ can be his own apostle and reach out to a soul.
Check out the message of the Divine Mercy/Sister Faustina.
People get ready...there is a Slow Train Coming, faith is the key, just get on board.
Analyze what?
The definition of words?
"To those who have ears, let them hear."
"One day I'll stand beside my King."
~From Thunder on the Mountain
You SURE DELIVER - THAT SONG - like a TRUE BELIEVER? What song? Oh Little Town Of Bethlehem! What makes that city special in the world's history? Only one reason, only one person, predicted by Micah the Jewish Prophet in (ch5:vs2): "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me ONE who will be RULER OVER ISRAEL, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times." exactly the same person Bob has been singing about for decades and now once again devoted an entire album too and believe me that person is NOT Santa Claus, because he only rules one night a year and is not that old, not from before the time of Micah at least, he's only 183 years old, he said on TV yesterday here in Nice, France. Jesus' origins though born in the flesh only some 2000 years ago in Bethlehem, originated from my longer ago, from before the days of the Garden of Eden when God said (Genesis 1:26) "Let US make man in OUR image" Vague? No Way! Not to me!!!
I think that when discussing things like religion, especially for this song writer, you have to put into perspective of what other similar writers have already said and done, such as Blake, Whitman, Rimbaud, Eliot, Dante, etc. One of the contradictions is one can believe in a similar idea of what many religions represent, but at the same time to shun any of these specific organizations for all their baggage that comes with them.
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