Post by sparacus on Aug 6, 2014 18:17:36 GMT
"As I Went Out One Morning" is Dylan's comment on the attitude of the hardcore folkies to him going electric, abandoning overt protest songs and the 1966 tour.
As I went out one morning
To breathe the air around Tom Paine’s
These opening lines refer to the start of Dylan's career on the Greenwich Village folk scene. Tom Paine represents freedom and justice, which the folk movement aspired to.
I spied the fairest damsel
That ever did walk in chains
Dylan uses the damsel in chains to represent the folk movement and its dreams of freedom.
I offer’d her my hand
She took me by the arm
I knew that very instant
She meant to do me harm
Dylan helped the folk movement at first, "I offer'd her my hand" however the movement grabbed him by the arm and tried to constrain him and make him their spokesman. He knew this would harm his career and his creative need to diversify his songwriting.
“Depart from me this moment”
I told her with my voice
Said she, “But I don’t wish to”
Said I, “But you have no choice”
“I beg you, sir,” she pleaded
From the corners of her mouth
“I will secretly accept you
And together we’ll fly south”
Dylan tries to shake off the folk protest image however it doesn't want to go. Rather the folk movement wanted to 'fly south' with Dylan, a metaphor for keeping his career down rather than up.
Just then Tom Paine, himself
Came running from across the field
Shouting at this lovely girl
And commanding her to yield
However freedom, symbolized by Tom Paine, intervenes and tells the girl (folk movement) to leave Dylan alone.
And as she was letting go her grip
Up Tom Paine did run,
“I’m sorry, sir,” he said to me
“I’m sorry for what she’s done”
Here Dylan suggests that true freedom (Tom Paine) would not approve of the folk movement trying to constrain Dylan from doing what he wants.
As I went out one morning
To breathe the air around Tom Paine’s
These opening lines refer to the start of Dylan's career on the Greenwich Village folk scene. Tom Paine represents freedom and justice, which the folk movement aspired to.
I spied the fairest damsel
That ever did walk in chains
Dylan uses the damsel in chains to represent the folk movement and its dreams of freedom.
I offer’d her my hand
She took me by the arm
I knew that very instant
She meant to do me harm
Dylan helped the folk movement at first, "I offer'd her my hand" however the movement grabbed him by the arm and tried to constrain him and make him their spokesman. He knew this would harm his career and his creative need to diversify his songwriting.
“Depart from me this moment”
I told her with my voice
Said she, “But I don’t wish to”
Said I, “But you have no choice”
“I beg you, sir,” she pleaded
From the corners of her mouth
“I will secretly accept you
And together we’ll fly south”
Dylan tries to shake off the folk protest image however it doesn't want to go. Rather the folk movement wanted to 'fly south' with Dylan, a metaphor for keeping his career down rather than up.
Just then Tom Paine, himself
Came running from across the field
Shouting at this lovely girl
And commanding her to yield
However freedom, symbolized by Tom Paine, intervenes and tells the girl (folk movement) to leave Dylan alone.
And as she was letting go her grip
Up Tom Paine did run,
“I’m sorry, sir,” he said to me
“I’m sorry for what she’s done”
Here Dylan suggests that true freedom (Tom Paine) would not approve of the folk movement trying to constrain Dylan from doing what he wants.
