Sunday, July 12, 2015

Moonlight

It's pretty tonight.
Man meets woman in moonlight.
They cross the river.

"Moonlight" is another combination of elegy to the day and the seasons and the defiance of an old man who still has something to offer the world, not to mention a woman. It's an old-style pop song that appeared on the 2001 album "Love and Theft." Here are the events as depicted in the song:

1. Seasons turnin', heart yearnin' for the song of the bird. Won't you meet me out in the moonlight alone?
2. Dusky light, orchids, poppies, black-eyed Susan. Earth/sky like flesh/bone.
3. Air thick/heavy on levy. Geese in the countryside. 
4. "Well, I’m preachin’ peace and harmony
The blessings of tranquility
Yet I know when the time is right to strike
I’ll take you cross the river dear
You’ve no need to linger here."
I know the kinds of things you like." I have wondered if this is supposed to be some reference to a murder ballad, but the tone of the song is sweet enough that I would prefer to think that they're literally crossing a river and not crossying the river Styx.
5. Clouds turnin' red, leaves falling. Branch shadows on stone.
6. Cypress trees, "masquerades of birds and bees" (haha). Petals and wind.
7. Moss and mystic glow, purple blossom, Bob's tears. "It takes a thief to catch a thief." "For whom does the bell toll for, love? It tolls for you and me." Maybe it IS a murder ballad...
8. Pulse beat, hills and yellow fields with twisted, groaning oaks.



1 comment:

  1. Hello there Robert, Thank you for posting this analysis of a song from Bob Dylan's Music Box http://thebobdylanproject.com/Song/id/418/Moonlight Come and join us inside and listen to every song composed, recorded or performed by Bob Dylan, plus all the great covers streaming on YouTube, Spotify, Deezer and SoundCloud.

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