Expecting Rain

I was thinking about the ending to Dylan's Christian albums. "When He Returns" closes Slow Train Coming in such an amazing way as did "Every Grain of Sand" with Shot of Love. I always thought that Saved has the worst or at lease least appropriate final song of any of his albums. I think that "Saving Grace" as a closer would have helped the album immensely. Still though, where it is it's a great song too. I was just wondering what everyone thought of these three songs and which ones you think are the best. I think they work beautfully as a trilogy of songs.

saved is my favorite
album of all time
i say bob dylan
gave his permission
2 be used by god

the holy spirit came knocking
and bob dylan let him in
it was an AMAZING act
of bravery
he must have SUCH balls
i thought
maybe he is nuts
or maybe he made a choice
2 open the door wide
and receive the spirit

it just struck me
as an awesome event
of its time
and the monumental power
bob dylan was exhibiting.

his humble nature
in the light of god
was inspiring 2 me
or maybe
he was just chasing p*ssy

in any event
i gained permanent respect
and love 4 him
at this time
4 his ability
2 stay focused

NowhereMan...I don't agree with one aspect of your post....I don't believe there was a "Trilogy" of religious albums from Dylan...I wouldn't include Shot of Love in that group...as it was certainly a much more secular album. Yes, it had a few songs....that you could call religious....but not even close to the vein of Saved or Slow Train...and even the so called religious songs on Shot....didn't "preach" like the other two.

SSB...just curious...Why in the world do you write like that? Or maybe a better question would be 'Why" would you write like that?

I'm pretty sure Dylan's never had much of a problem getting laid.


Anyways... I think you're right that 'Saving Grace' would have been a better closer than 'Are You Ready?', although I agree with wineman's point that Shot of Love isn't an evangelical album. I still consider the three albums to be a triology, though.

i pretty much agree with nowhere man on that one,

and ssb that is a strange way to write, trying to be poetical or something? or at least stand out?

this is the way
it comes out sorryyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

and i meant bob dylan could have
been touched by jesus christ
or he could have gone along
with the whole she-bang
2 get near a woman he lusts 4

duhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

His "religious" albums start with John Wesley Harding, don't they?

Gave his permission to whom? To God? Read some Theology, girl, if you're going to profess a particular belief-system. Not even Bob would endorse the statement you make above. I hope not, anyway!

sigh

eddie ediie eddie
god is not found in books

and yes bob dylan said YES
2 god
our father in heaven
sent the holy spirit
2 knock on his door,
and bob opened the door
up WIDE, said come on in!

he exhibited obedience
2 the law
many r called
few r chosen

bob dylan was not
chosen by god
bob dylan is the only
son of god
the messiah
as was foretold by
zachariah

begotten not made
bob dylan came to earth
to save mankind,
specifically with
the song 'wiggle waggle'

this
makes me sad

this
makes me angry

Just what is it about Christian ideology that makes ordinary people think and say the most appallingly stupid things? The pain and suffering of life? The false comfort of infantile delusion?

All of Dylan's albums and music have spiritual content, but his overtly religous music is very weak, with few exceptions. He just doesn't sing gospel very well, despite the trappings. Sincere he may be, but he should have given all those songs to Mavis Staples.

And resisted the temptation to join her. Have you heard their duet? Shocking.

Maybe some of Saved is straigtforward gospel, but i think with much of Slow Train Coming he created a unique gospel, r and b, rock hybrid sound that is very unique and quite satisfying if you've been saved by the blood of the lamb.

I think to fully get an album like Saved you have to understand where Bob was coming from and what he was trying to say. I think putting "Are You Ready?" in the last spot was an attempt to make a point. It's what Bob was getting at the whole record, but bluntly proclaims. Of course, I think it's one of the weaker songs, and Saving Grace, would have indeed left the album on a better note. Actually it would have been a pretty awesome ending. It's probably unfair to judge the "Are You Ready?" against the other closers from the Christian Trilogy. "When He Returns" is probably in my top five Dylan songs. For me it's the message as much as the music. It's probably Bob's best attempt to put what he felt as the truth out there in a way that was truly beautiful. And of course "Every Grain" is pretty good too.

and yeah, it really isn't a christian trilogy but a christian pair, shot of love really isn't any more godly than Infidels, plus Down in the Groove and Under the Red Sky also have goddy songs.

Yeah, your right. Shot of Love is definitely a departure for Dylan. It was kind of his first attempt to mix his spirituality with the mundane, and I don't think it worked all to well.

i think of heart of mine and every grain of sand are all time classics. though with heart of mine, the greatness is more in the music than the lyrics, so it often gets overlooked by the dylan scholars

I think if a second masterpiece is on Shot of Love, it is "In The Summertime".

I also think that "Property of Jesus" is a good song that usually gets discounted because of it shamelessly goofy lyrics. I don't think it's a great song by any means, but it's different from anything else Dylan has done, and it entertains me.

Correct...there was no trilogy...as Shot of Love, was for the most part, a return to secular music...although In the Summertime...as a possible masterpiece..is a MAJOR strech..IMO..And ..I think Slow Train, Gospel or whatever...had some terrific music on it..great band...Saved..I thought, despite a few good songs...was truly mediocre...and understanding where Bob was coming from, doesn't improve the record...understanding what he was attempting to get across...is not the criteria for a good album...I think, music and lyrics dictate that.....

I never said that understanding where Dylan was coming from made the album any better. I only meant, that if you don't put yourself in that perspective it's hard to understand the record at all.

And I don't think In The Summertime is a masterpiece. I just think it's the second best song on the record, and far more enjoyable than Heart of Mine.

Sorry...I misunderstood your post..I probably didn't read it thoroughly. I do like Heart of Mine, more than Summertime...but it's not to say it is a better song...just a personal preference...my friend.

Yeah, I think with an album like Shot Of Love, the songs are either really endearing or downright annoying, and preferences are going to be all over the place so it's hard to rate the album.

Like Dylan said in that one interview with that one lady; the album comes out of nowhere and isn't an extension of anything, so it's hard to judge it. It's just what Dylan thought sounded cool at the time.

Yeah..it didn't seem connected to anything...Dylan was probably in a very awkward phase at that time...half born again...or half...not born again. I liked the melody for Summertime....but found the lyrics lame..With Heart of Mine...I found the lyrics to be ok...the delivery fantastic...and something in the melody...gets my attention...There was a live version on one of the bootleg series (I think it was part of the series)....that's fantastic....considerably better than the album version...