205. Rock Goes The Gospel - Bob Dylan "Like A Rolling Stone"

This was the only song on the album produced by Tom Wilson, who produced Dylan's second album, The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan. Wilson had been a Jazz producer and was brought in to replace John Hammond. Wilson invited keyboard player Al Kooper to the session, and Al produced the famous organ riff that drove the song. This was the last song Wilson worked on with Dylan, as Bob Johnston took over production duties. The title is not a reference to The Rolling Stones. It is taken from the phrase "A rolling stone gathers no moss." Dylan got the idea from the Hank Williams song "Lost Highway," which contains the line, "I'm a rolling stone, I'm alone and lost." Dylan based the lyrics on a short story he had written about a debutante who becomes a loner when she falls out of high society. The lyrics that made it into the song are only a small part of what was in the story. This runs 6:13. It was a big breakthrough when this got radio play and became a hit, since many stations refused to play songs much longer than 3 minutes. It was also rare for a song with so many lyrics to do well commercially.

It is rumored that this was written about one-time debutante Edie Sedgwick, who was part of artist Andy Warhol's crowd. She was the subject of an emotional tug-of-war between the Dylan camp and the Warhol camp.  According to this theory, the song includes some fanged, accusatory lines about Warhol and the way he mistreated the girl:

Ain't it hard when you discover that
He really wasn't where it's at
After he took from you everything he could steal

"Poor Little Rich Girl" Sedgwick is viewed by many as the tragic victim of a long succession of abusive figures. After escaping home and heading to New York, she ran into Warhol, who soon began to use her as his starlet. When her 15 minutes had come to an end, Warhol moved on. Sedgwick and Dylan had a brief affair shortly before the musician married Sarah Lownds, and many say that this Dylan song was written about her. It should be noted that there is absolutely nothing beyond circumstantial evidence to support this idea, but the myth is so widely known that it's taken on a life of its own and is therefore recognizable on its own terms. This made Bob Dylan an unlikely inspiration for Jimi Hendrix, who before hearing this considered himself only a guitarist and not a singer. After hearing this, he saw that it didn't take a conventional voice to sing Rock and Roll. Hendrix often played "Like A Rolling Stone," including a performance at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival. Hendrix and Dylan met only once, but Jimi had a knack for bringing out the emotions in Dylan's songs: he also did a very successful cover of "All Along The Watchtower."

Once upon a time you dressed so fine
You threw the bums a dime in your prime, didn't you ?
People'd call, say, "Beware doll, you're bound to fall."
You thought they were all kiddin' you
You used to laugh about
Everybody that was hangin' out
Now you don't talk so loud
Now you don't seem so proud
About having to be scrounging for your next meal.

How does it feel?
How does it feel
To be without a home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone ?

You've gone to the finest school all right, Miss Lonely
But you know you only used to get juiced in it
And nobody's ever taught you how to live out on the street
And now you're gonna have to get used to it
You said you'd never compromise
With the mystery tramp, but now you realize
He's not selling any alibis
As you stare into the vacuum of his eyes
And say do you want to make a deal?

How does it feel?
How does it feel
To be on your own
With no direction home
A complete unknown
Like a rolling stone ?

You never turned around to see the frowns on the jugglers and the clowns
When they all come down and did tricks for you
You never understood that it ain't no good
You shouldn't let other people get your kicks for you
You used to ride on the chrome horse with your diplomat
Who carried on his shoulder a Siamese cat
Ain't it hard when you discover that
He really wasn't where it's at
After he took from you everything he could steal.

How does it feel?
How does it feel
To be on your own
With no direction home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone ?

Princess on the steeple and all the pretty people
They're all drinkin', thinkin' that they got it made
Exchanging all precious gifts
But you'd better take your diamond ring, you'd better pawn it babe
You used to be so amused
At Napoleon in rags and the language that he used
Go to him now, he calls you, you can't refuse
When you ain't got nothing, you got nothing to lose
You're invisible now, you got no secrets to conceal.

How does it feel
How does it feel
To be on your own
With no direction home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone ?

"Like a rolling stone" is written about a woman who used to be great, a woman of substance and now because of the mistakes she has made she is on her own in life, becuase of the descisions of the heart she has made she has no direction in life and no way home. In the devotional passage this morning we will once gain turn to Lukes gospel and chapter 15. This is as you remember the story of the prodigal who has much in common with the woman in "Like a rolling stone" The song could have been writen as a reflection on that passage. The prodigal was a man of substance a "Some-one" who was reduced to being a "No-one?" The decisions in life brought him to a dark place where it seemed their would be no return.

We will begin unfolding the meaning of this parable at verse 12, in which the younger son asks his father for his share of his estate, which would have been half of what his older brother would receive; in other words, 1/3 for the younger, 2/3 for the older. Though it was perfectly within his rights to ask, it was not a loving thing to do, as it implied that he wished his father dead. Instead of rebuking his son, the father patiently grants him his request. This is a picture of God letting a person go his own way. We all possess this foolish ambition to be independent, which is at the root of the a person persisting in their own ways. We find here a reflection on departure and distance from God. This is a state of constant discontent. This son learned the hard way that rebellion leads to a life of dissatisfaction and disappointment. He also learned that the most valuable things in life are the things you cannot buy or replace.

In verse 13 we read that he travels to a distant country. It is evident from his previous actions that he had already made that journey in his heart, and the physical departure was a display of his willful disobedience to all the goodness his father had offered. In the process, he squanders all his father had worked so hard for on selfish, shallow fulfillment, losing everything. His financial disaster is followed by a natural disaster in the form of a famine, which he failed to plan for. At this point he sells himself into physical slavery to a Gentile and finds himself feeding pigs, a detestable job. Needless to say, he must have been incredibly desperate at that point to willingly enter into such a dark position. And what an irony that his choices led him to a position in which he had no choice but to work, and for a stranger at that, doing the very things he refused to do for his father. To top it off, he apparently was paid so little that he longed to eat the pig’s food. Just when he must have thought life could not get any worse, he couldn’t even find mercy among the people. Apparently, once his wealth was gone, so were his friends. The text clearly says, “No one gave him anything” (vs. 16). Even these unclean animals seemed to be better off than he was at this point. This is a picture of the outcome of detachment from God. It is a picture of what making wrong choices really does in a person’s life when he rejects all that is good. The grass on the other side always promises more than it gives, takes you further than you wanted to go, and leaves you worse off than you were before.

The son begins to reflect on his condition and realises that even his father's servants had it better than he. His painful circumstances help him to see his father in a new light and bring him hope. This is reflection of the person when he/she discovers the destitute condition of his life.. It is a realisation that, apart from God, there is no hope. This is when a person“comes to his senses” and longs to return to the state of fellowship which was lost. The son devises a plan of action. Though at a quick glance it may seem that he may not be truly repentant, but rather motivated by his hunger, a more thorough study of the text gives new insights. He is willing to give up his rights as his father’s son and take on the position of his servant. We can only speculate on this point, but he may even have been willing to repay what he had lost. Regardless of the motivation, it demonstrates a true humility and true repentance, not based on what he said but on what he was willing to do and eventually acted upon. He realises he had no right to claim a blessing upon return to his father’s household, nor does he have anything to offer, except a life of service, in repentance of his previous actions. With that, he is prepared to fall at his father’s feet and hope for forgiveness and mercy.

Jesus portrays the father as waiting for his son, perhaps daily searching the distant road, hoping for his appearance. The father notices him while he was still a long way off. The father’s compassion assumes some knowledge of the son’s pitiful state, possibly from reports sent home. During that time it was not the custom of men to run, yet the father runs to greet his son (vs.20). Why would he break convention for this wayward child who had sinned against him? The obvious answer is because he loved him and was eager to show him that love and restore the relationship. When the father reaches his son, not only does he throw his arms around him, but he also greets him with a kiss of love. He is so filled with joy at his son’s return that he doesn’t even let him finish his confession. Nor does he question or lecture him; instead, he unconditionally forgives him and accepts him back into fellowship. The father running to his son, greeting him with a kiss and ordering the celebration is a picture of how God feels towards any who have a turn around.. God greatly loves us, patiently waits for us to come home so he can show us His great mercy.

This prodigal son was satisfied to return home as a slave, but to his surprise and delight is restored back into the full privilege of being his father’s son. He had been transformed from a state of destitution to complete restoration. That is what God's grace does. Not only are we forgiven, but we receive a spirit of sonship as His children, heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, of His incomparable riches. The father then orders the servants to bring the best robe, no doubt one of his own (a sign of dignity and honour, proof of the prodigal’s acceptance back into the family), a ring for the son's hand (a sign of authority and sonship) and sandals for his feet (a sign of not being a servant, as servants did not wear shoes—or, for that matter, rings or expensive clothing, vs.22). A fattened calf is prepared, and a party is held. Fatted calves in those times were saved for special occasions such as the Day of Atonement. This was not just any party; it was a rare and complete celebration. Had the boy been dealt with according to the Law, there would have been a funeral, not a celebration. “The Lord does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him.” Instead of condemnation, there is rejoicing for a son who had been dead but now is alive, who once was lost but now is found.

Dylan's song "Like a rolling stone" highlights some of what we discover in this passage. In the song the woman positions herself with people of take advantage of her. The song also charts the downfall from a position of honour to a position of poverty of heart. the song charts the story of a woman who is lost. Unlike the Dylan song the scripture passage shows a way out of this darkness. God's grace is waiting to receive and welcome home those who are lost. God's grace is given to those who are not perfect but those who are dark and deep in circumstances out of their control, grace for the complete unknowns.

Here is a cover of "Like A Rolling Stone" John Cougar Mellencamp which was recorded live at Madison Square Garden.at the Live 30th Anniversary. In my humble opinion one of the greatest attemps at a Dylan cover.