The “Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands” is a song by Bob Dylan from his 1966 album “Blonde on Blonde.” It’s a lengthy and enigmatic song that spans over 11 minutes, making it one of Dylan’s most epic compositions.
The song is characterized by its intricate and poetic lyrics, filled with rich and surreal imagery. While the exact meaning of the song remains open to interpretation, it is often seen as a love song or a poetic expression of deep affection and longing. The “Sad-Eyed Lady” is a central figure in the song, and her portrayal is characterized by a sense of mystery and melancholy.
However, there are several theories and suggestions about who she might represent:
- Sara Lownds: One common theory is that the song is dedicated to Sara Lownds, whom Bob Dylan married in November 1965, shortly before recording “Blonde on Blonde.” The “Lowlands” in the title could be a reference to her last name. Sara was a significant presence in Dylan’s life during this period, and many of the songs on “Blonde on Blonde” are believed to be influenced by their relationship.
- Muse or Symbol: Some interpretations view the “Sad-Eyed Lady” as a symbolic or mythic figure. She might represent the muse that inspires creativity or a more abstract embodiment of love, longing, or the human experience.
- Composite Character: It’s possible that the “Sad-Eyed Lady” is not meant to represent a specific person but rather a composite character drawing from various experiences, emotions, and encounters in Dylan’s life.
- Stream of Consciousness: Bob Dylan was known for his stream-of-consciousness songwriting style during the mid-1960s, and the lyrics of this song, in particular, are quite abstract and open to interpretation. It’s possible that the song’s narrative is intentionally cryptic, allowing listeners to project their own interpretations onto it.
What is Song About?
The song “Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands” by Bob Dylan is a complex and enigmatic work that has been interpreted in many different ways. The song is 11 minutes long and is divided into four verses, each of which is followed by a chorus. The lyrics are full of vivid imagery and symbolism, and the song has been interpreted as a love song, a religious allegory, and a meditation on the nature of reality.
One possible interpretation of the song is that it is a love song to Dylan’s then-wife, Sara Lownds. The song is full of references to beauty, mystery, and love, and the lyrics suggest that the singer is deeply in love with the woman he is addressing. The line “my warehouse eyes, my Arabian drums” has been interpreted as a reference to Sara’s eyes, which Dylan has described as being “like the gates of heaven”.
Another possible interpretation of the song is that it is a religious allegory. The song contains many references to religious imagery, such as the line “where the sad-eyed prophet says that no man comes”. The song has been interpreted as a meditation on the nature of faith and the search for meaning in life.
Lyrics
With your mercury mouth in the missionary times
And your eyes like smoke and your prayers like rhymes
And your silver cross and your voice like chimes
Oh, who do they think could bury you?
With your pockets well-protected at last
And your streetcar visions which you place on the grass
And your flesh like silk and your face like glass
Who could they get to carry you?
Sad-eyed lady of the lowlands
Where the sad-eyed prophet says that no man comes
My warehouse eyes, my Arabian drums
Should I put them by your gate, or sad-eyed lady, should I wait?
With your sheets like metal and your belt like lace
And your deck of cards missing the jack and the ace
And your basement clothes and your hollow face
Who among them did think he could outguess you?
With your silhouette when the sunlight dims
Into your eyes where the moonlight swims
And your matchbook songs and your gypsy hymns
Who among them would try to impress you?
Sad-eyed lady of the lowlands
Where the sad-eyed prophet says that no man comes
My warehouse eyes, my Arabian drums
Should I put them by your gate, or sad-eyed lady, should I wait?
The kings of Tyrus, with their convict list
Are waiting in line for their geranium kiss
And you wouldn’t know it would have happened like this
But who among them really wants just to kiss you?
With your childhood flames on your midnight rug
And your Spanish manners and your mother’s drugs
And your cowboy mouth and your curfew plugs
Who among them do you think could resist you?
Sad-eyed lady of the lowlands
Where the sad-eyed prophet says that no man comes
My warehouse eyes, my Arabian drums
Should I leave them by your gate, or sad-eyed lady, should I wait?
Oh, the farmers and the businessmen, they all did decide
To show you where the dead angels are that they used to hide
But why did they pick you to sympathize with their side?
How could they ever mistake you?
They wished you’d accepted the blame for the farm
But with the sea at your feet and the phony false alarm
And with the child of the hoodlum wrapped up in your arms
How could they ever have persuaded you?
Sad-eyed lady of the lowlands
Where the sad-eyed prophet says that no man’s come
My warehouse eyes, my Arabian drums
Should I leave them by your gate, or sad-eyed lady, should I wait?
With your sheet metal memory of Cannery Row
And your magazine husband who one day just had to go
And your gentleness now, which you just can’t help but show
Who among them do you think would employ you?
Now you stand with your thief, you’re on his parole
With your holy medallion in your fingertips now enfold
And your saintlike face and your ghostlike soul
Who among them could ever think he could destroy you?
Sad-eyed lady of the lowlands
Where the sad-eyed prophet says that no man comes
My warehouse eyes, my Arabian drums
Should I leave them by your gate, or sad-eyed lady, should I wait?
CANSU DEMİR
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