Property of Jesus

Tease the Jesus freak.

Go ahead, but keep in mind:

His name is Dylan.

I've said it many times before: I'm not a Christian, and I'm not particularly interested in people urging me to convert. That said, I do love some of Bob Dylan's Christian music. "Property of Jesus" is among the more sour-toned songs that the seemingly eternally persecuted Dylan wrote about his faith, and this one finds him about as defensive as he ever got about the whole thing. That said, the song absolutely rocks, and the lyrics are sharp and smart and, I think, something that many of us could relate to for the less popular paths that we might have chosen. The band is awake and involved, and though the performance shambles around a bit, the spirit is there and that makes it a rousing listen.

Chorus:

"He's the property of Jesus

Resent him to the bone

You've got something better

You've got a heart of stone."

Verses:

- Is that how you get your kicks? Laughing and talking behind the back of the Christian? Reminding him of what he was like before he was reborn?

- You see him coming and stop talking. You hope he'll stumble because he's no longer hooked into your system of values and rewards. He's not to be bribed or bought.

- A whip keeps you in line so you resent it when you see that it doesn't apply to him. He pays no tribute and you say he's out of touch with reality.

- You say he's a loser with no common sense, and because he doesn't take advantage of others to enrich his net worth. You say he has no style because he doesn't entertain you like you expect him to do.

- You think that you'll be OK when you die, but don't be so sure. "What happened to the real you, you've been captured but by whom?"