Walkin' in the Mystic Garden

BB NOTE: We've been hearing about the 1980 Gospel Dylan concerts for quite a while (but since much of the Dylan commentators would rather just forget those years, it's not been easy to either get an objective view on those concerts or to understand how his writing in those years fit into his entire lexicon. There are more articles and books now being written on the topic, but it isn't easy! Thanks to YouTube (and the amazing renkflv) we are able to see the concerts for ourselves (though they are still rare). One of the aspects of those Gospel concerts is that Dylan would talk to the audience about issues of faith. We've been suspecting that he was in the same sort of "revival" as we knew in California (1974-1975) or that Bono has talked about during those same years and this video shows that to be the case. With the events of today, it is sort of interesting to see it again. Not a bad idea to keep any eye on things up North, anyway. We must remember where the weapons are still pointed, even now. But let's not put on the tinfoil hats over that, quite yet.

Still, as we were watching this video (see below), we remembered a song off of Dylan's latest album. He often ends with a powerful "closing" track, and this one is the closing track of Modern Times. The lyrics are now up at BobDylan.com and we include those as well. It's rather fascinating to juxtaposed this 1980's conversation with the audience from the stage in Toronto (what is it about Toronto, anyway?) and the closing song (hymn?) of Modern Times.

LATER: Zowie! Check this Reflection out at A Word on the Word- well, what do you think, Friends? In the old days, Dylan just said it. But who listened? Not many (Bono, maybe, and a host of Vineyard worship leaders). Looks like he's still writing the stuff - only now its integrated into his art. From Preaching to Poetry.





As I walked out tonight in the mystic garden
The wounded flowers were dangling from the vines
I was passing by yon cool and crystal fountain
Someone hit me from behind

Ain't talkin', just walkin'
Through this weary world of woe
Heart burnin', still yearnin'
No one on earth would ever know

They say prayer has the power to help
So pray from the mother
In the human heart an evil spirit can dwell
I'm trying to love my neighbor and do good unto others
But oh, mother, things ain't going well

Ain't talkin', just walkin'
I'll burn that bridge before you can cross
Heart burnin', still yearnin'
They'll be no mercy for you once you've lost

Now I'm all worn down by weepin'
My eyes are filled with tears, my lips are dry
If I catch my opponents ever sleepin'
I'll just slaughter them where they lie

Ain't talkin', just walkin'
Through the world mysterious and vague
Heart burnin', still yearnin'
Walking through the cities of the plague

The whole world is filled with speculation
The whole wide world which people say is round
They will tear your mind away from contemplation
They will jump on your misfortune when you're down

Ain't talkin', just walkin'
Eatin' hog eyed grease in hog eyed town
Heart burnin' – still yearnin'
Someday you'll be glad to have me around

They will crush you with wealth and power
Every waking moment you could crack
I'll make the most of one last extra hour
I'll avenge my father's death then I'll step back

Ain't talkin', just walkin'
Hand me down my walkin' cane
Heart burnin', still yearnin'
Got to get you out of my miserable brain

All my loyal and much loved companions
They approve of me and share my code
I practice a faith that's been long abandoned
Ain't no altars on this long and lonesome road

Ain't talkin', just walkin'
My mule is sick, my horse is blind
Heart burnin', still yearnin'
Thinkin' ‘bout that gal I left behind

It's bright in the heavens and the wheels are flying
Fame and honor never seem to fade
The fire's gone out but the light is never dying
Who says I can't get heavenly aid?

Ain't talkin', just walkin'
Carrying a dead man's shield
Heart burnin', still yearnin'
Walkin' with a toothache in my heel

The suffering is unending
Every nook and cranny has it's tears
I'm not playing, I'm not pretending
I'm not nursing any superfluous fears

Ain't talkin', just walkin'
Walkin' ever since the other night
Heart burnin', still yearnin'
Walkin' ‘til I'm clean out of sight

As I walked out in the mystic garden
On a hot summer day, hot summer lawn
Excuse me, ma'am I beg your pardon
There's no one here, the gardener is gone

Ain't talkin', just walkin'
Up the road around the bend
Heart burnin', still yearnin'
In the last outback, at the world's end

B. Dylan 2006

Or - as the Prayer Book says, Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.

AFTER-THOUGHT: Here's a very good article, written in 2003 from Cross Rhythms (UK), that explores more recent albums and songs of Dylan, focusing on biblical themes, as well as commentary on "celebrity conversions" and what Dylan has been writing about through the 1990s ending with Time Out of Mind (a phrase we found used in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, interestingly enough). It makes for very good reading.