What you don’t know Bob Dylan? He’s only been in music for like 55 years. I took a class on him once. He was Robert Zimmerman at birth.
Oh, Uncle Robert
Yes and his 1979’s offering “Slow Train Coming” showed a very different side than his previous 18 records. Fans grew to love the standoffish and arrogant, yet inspirational young Dylan in the 60s, then grew tired of his seemingly less motivated music as the decade wore on. The 70s saw many incarnations of Dylan, each with varying degrees of success. His three year gap of not putting out a record from 1970 to 1973 was the largest he’d had at that point. He was a machine. Then in 1979, everything changed.
Bob Dylan, writer of songs about drugs and sex, former Jew, released a Christian Rock album.
One song particularly is dripping with in Christian spirit. That of course is the aptly named “Precious Angel”. Along with the other eight songs on the album, PA was deemed by some to be canting or sanctimonious. Critics and fans thought maybe Dylan was being disingenuous. The state of his life at this time would give credence to the sudden religious views.
Dylan had been lost for a long time personally. He had to deal with addictions to drugs and alcohol, he had to deal with numerous non-functioning relationships, and was dealing with the destruction of one of his lasting relationships. His marriage was in shambles, and he was left without purpose. According to personal accounts, he said he was feeling fine throughout the tour in 1978, but he started to deteriorate. The catalyst for his new faith was thrown on stage at a show in San Diego, California. It was a silver cross, he picked up and carried with him to the next show. At the next show, he says he felt bad, but when he looked at the cross, he felt better. After that next show in Tucson, Arizona, Bob Dylan believed he had a vision. The Savior, Jesus Christ appeared to him. Dylan even went as far as to not play the other songs in his cannon, as he said he would not use anything the Lord did not give him. Though I believe this adds to the long list of happenings proving Bob Dylan to be an impressionable and malleable man, a change occurred in him that drastically changed his music.
He kind of looks like the guy who usually writes these. Take that BLAKE!
All this build up and back story leads to the song “Precious Angel”; the second track on the album, behind his first hit in years, “Gotta Serve Somebody.” This song brings out the angry side of Christian Dylan. He condemns people that do not believe in these things, that he just recently started believing himself. Lines like, “ Ya either got faith or ya got unbelief and there ain’t neutral ground,” and his accusations are very scolding for such a devout man. A woman speaking of other religions is reprimanded for not mentioning Jesus and his friends that say “well all is well” are told that they will not be taken when God bring the apocalypse. They will remain under the darkness unable to die. The other standards of Christian music are present as well, being blinded until God showed him the light, how weak he was prior to his enlightenment, and how he was unable to make it without this faith.
Bob Dylan is a very complex (read as gullible) man. He does seem genuine though so I almost have to believe his new (in 1978) beliefs and take him at face value. Regardless of his intentions, this song is very powerful and can be used as an inspiration for Christians. It can also be used as ammunition by people who don’t like the scare tactics used to convert. One looking for faith can take Bob Dylan’s account and music and perhaps turn their lives in a positive direction, and themselves one day may become a “precious angel.” I’d talk about the other songs but honestly the first two are the only ones I’ve heard anyone mention at all. Dylan fans please be gentle in your scorn, Bob would want you to forgive me.
