Expecting Rain

Which Side of Shot of Love?


I've recently grown to appreciate the difference in attending to one side of a record, versus popping in a long CD that i pass in and out of attention with. and many dylan albums seem to be structured around these segments. so, i'm starting a poll series about preferred sides on vinyl. i'm not really centering on the value of any one song over the other, but rather how each side flows and stands coherently.

how could any sensible person vote for "Trouble"? That may be Dylan's worst song ever.

i am having the hardest time with this one, so far, compared to any of the other surveys....

trouble is great - i love a good 'riff' song. the murmurings/precursers for everything is broken lurk in there...

but dear Lord, i have to choose between Lenny Bruce and Every Grain of Sand? it is an unkind world.

Because it's followed by one of his best.

This is a tough, tough choice. I like 3 of the songs on Side 1, and I really only like "Every Grain of Sand" on Side 2. But still "Every Grain of Sand" is an absolutely phenomenal and the best song on the album by a million miles. I probably gotta go with Side 2, just for that one song. I do enjoy singing "Property of Jesus" with the lyrics changed to fit my life.

"You're the Property of Jesus, he saved You to the bone.
I've got something better, I Got a Heart of Stone"

The songs a lot of fun for me when I sing it that way

My rewritten atheist version of "Property of Jesus"

Go Ahead and Talk about me, Because I make you doubt
Because I have denied myself, The God you can't live without. Pray for me behind my back, because my Mother does to. Remind me of what you think I should be when I come walking through.

You're the property of Jesus, He saved you to the bone. I've got Something better, I Got a Heart of Stone.

Stop your conversation, when I pass you on the street.
Hope I fall down on my face, boy didn't God show me.
Because I can't be exploited by religion anymore.
Because I can't be lured in to the Church through it's front door.

You're the property of Jesus, He saved you to the bone.
I've got Something better, I Got a Heart of Stone.

When the God that's keeping You in line, doesn't even make me jump. Say I'm hard of hearing, say that I'm a chump. Say I'm out of step with reality, as you try to test my nerve. Because I don't fall on my knees for the fairy man you serve.

You're the Property of Jesus, He saved you to the bone.
I've Got Something better, I Got a Heart of Stone.

I can laugh at your salvation, I can play Olympic games.
I bet that when I rest at last, I'll go back from where I came. Well you sure got quite a story, but I take all in stride. I have been taught that stuff all of my life too, but I've figured out they all lied.

You're the Property of Jesus, He saved you to the bone.
I've got something better, I Got a Heart of Stone.

there's one more verse in the song I had to skip, because I couldn't think of how to rewrite it.

I like "Every Grain of Sand"; definitely the best song of this album. However, I don't really care about the rest. Hence, my vote goes to side 2.

Another well balanced album... this one could have easily been titled Another Side of Bob Dylan, Volume II... I went with side one only because I find Trouble to be a little weak. Every Grain of Sand nearly makes up for it... but not quite.

Incidentally, I can't think of any album titled Shot of Love that I like more than this one. Its head's and tails above the rest.

Who else has an album called Shot of Love UP?