The decision to record my latest single, a cover of the Bob Dylan classic “Shelter from the Storm” came about rather unexpectedly. It started as a casual conversation during lunch with my producer Billy Smiley pondering Dylan’s phrasing and word choices on many of his well-known works. The discussion turned to our personal album and song favorites eventually leading to a rather spontaneous decision that we were going to cover one of his songs! For me there really was no question which song to cover; Shelter from the Storm has always ranked as one of my favorites.

The song’s meaning has been analyzed and speculated for as long as Dylan has been playing it. Theories generally follow a few basic themes falling on the spectrum between religious imagery to references of Dylan’s personal relationship and divorce from wife Sarah. There’s enough Biblical reference to scripture that many concede religion informed at least some of the lyrics. It is worth noting this song was released on the “Blood on the Tracks” album a couple short years before Dylan’s public conversion to Christianity. For me this song is the story of creation and salvation. It has two (arguably three) main characters, mankind, Jesus, and Lady Wisdom.  

The song’s narrator begins by recalling the start of a journey. There are several references to an environment absent of basic life. Darkness, mud, being void of form. Nothingness, then…something. And it is here we are introduced to the woman in the story who offers one simple invitation with each refrain, Come In and take shelter from the “storm,” the wilderness, all that is not safe. But, into where?” And who exactly is “she?” I believe the woman is the personification of God’s wisdom. Wisdom is personified throughout the bible as being female and “she” was present with God in the beginning which Dylan later references further along in the song. God’s wisdom informed the creation of beauty in the world and informs mankind on how to escape from the “storm” or destruction we have been given domain over all the while seeking to control, corrupt and ultimately destroy it. 

Without providing a cross-reference of each verse to biblical scripture, I’ll simply say I find enough references to stand up to at least a good debate! Everything from being “poisoned in the bushes” to “old men with broken teeth” and “newborn babies whaling” can be found mentioned in the Old Testament. Perhaps nowhere are the religious references more apparent and universally agreed upon though then when Dylan’s narrator speaks of them “gambling for his clothes,” “taking his crown of thorns,” “bargaining for salvation,” etc. So, who is the narrator…Jesus? I think Dylan’s display of songwriting brilliance and understanding of not only scripture, but the fundamentals of the Christian faith are on full display here. Yes, the narrator speaking in first person is Jesus…AND he is us, mankind. Jesus can provide both perspectives and Dylan captures it beautifully giving both of those perspectives an interchangeable voice in the first person. 

I think Dylan understands Jesus took on our sins for us and literally became sin. I believe Dylan recognizes the divine nature of God in the form of mankind provides his narrator with a very unique perspective of seeing the world through a multi-faceted lens. Never has Dylan’s songwriting ability and understanding of the Christian faith been more solidified for me than in this song and particularly these closing verses. The narrator is taking blame for all the imperfections in this world we see the main character confronting. Jesus doesn’t need saving, we do. So, we see the narrator with all his imperfections looking at the world through the eyes of a savior. Dylan recognizes “there is a wall between us.” The wall is sin and the “us” is mankind and God coupled with the beautiful woman representing God’s wisdom. 

The narrator recognizes he is indeed living in a foreign country as the story comes to its conclusion. That foreign country is the broken world we will one day leave when we return to our native homeland in Heaven. This broken world is however still God’s creation and Dylan recognizes there is beauty in it even as mankind seeks and finds ways to destroy it. I think he captures that dissonance perfectly when he talks about beauty “walking a razor’s edge” while knowing someday he (speaking from the perspective of Jesus) will again “make it mine.” Perhaps this is why in the second verse Dylan admits upfront, we screwed up and if he (speaking from the perspective of fallen man) ever finds himself “back this way again” in the Garden of Even, he’ll listen to Lady Wisdom and “always do his best for her” by leaving the damned forbidden fruit alone! 

I’ll concede, these are just my thoughts and my personal interpretation. Until Dylan himself lets us know, all we can do is speculate. But isn’t that what art is supposed to do, make us analyze, question, take notice, and appreciate the world around us? Perhaps it’s true that you will always find what you’re looking for if you follow your heart. I’m trying really hard to keep God on my heart these days so maybe that’s why I find God in the middle of a Dylan song written several decades ago. I can’t help but believe Dylan had God on his heart when he wrote this song and I like to think I did too when I heard it. Thanks be to God and Bob Dylan. Peace y’all.