column of air

 

♫♫ ♪

'Twas in another lifetime, one of toil and blood

When blackness was a virtue, and the road was full of mud

I came in from the wilderness, a creature void of form

"Come in," she said, "I'll give you -- shelter from the storm"

And if I pass this way again, you can rest assured

I'll always do my best for her, on that I give my word

In a world of steel-eyed death and men - who are fighting to be warm

"Come in," she said, "I'll give you -- shelter from the storm"

Not a word was spoke between us, there was little risk involved

Everything up to that point had been left unresolved

Try imagining a place where it's always safe and warm

"Come in," she said, "I'll give you -- shelter from the storm"

I was burned out from exhaustion, buried in the hail

Poisoned in the bushes - an' blown out on the trail

Hunted like a crocodile, ravaged in the corn

"Come in," she said, "I'll give you -- shelter from the storm"

Suddenly I turned around and she was standin' there

With silver bracelets on her wrists - and flowers in her hair

She walked up to me so gracefully and took my crown of thorns

"Come in," she said, "I'll give you -- shelter from the storm"

Now there's a wall between us, somethin' there's been lost

I took too much for granted, I got my signals crossed

Just to think that it all began on a long-forgotten morn

"Come in," she said, "I'll give you -- shelter from the storm"

Well, the deputy walks on hard nails - and the preacher rides a mount

But nothing really matters much, it's doom alone that counts

And the one-eyed undertaker, he blows a futile horn

"Come in," she said, "I'll give you -- shelter from the storm"

I've heard newborn babies wailin' like a mournin' dove

And old men with broken teeth - stranded without love

Do I understand your question, man, is it hopeless and forlorn?

"Come in," she said, "I'll give you -- shelter from the storm"

In a little hilltop village, they gambled for my clothes

I bargained for salvation an' they gave me a lethal dose

I offered up my innocence and got repaid with scorn

"Come in," she said, "I'll give you -- shelter from the storm"

Well, I'm livin' in a foreign country - but I'm bound to cross the line

Beauty walks a razor's edge, someday I'll make it mine

If I could only turn back the clock to when God and her were born

"Come in," she said, "I'll give you -- shelter from the storm"

________________________________

{"Shelter from the Storm" - written by Bob Dylan.  Album:  Blood on the Tracks, 1975.

Copyright 1974 by Ram's Horn Music; renewed 2002 by Ram's Horn Music}

-30-