Blind Willie Mctell
Seen the arrow on the doorpost Saying, This land is condemned All the way from New Orleans To Jerusalem. The song starts out like many a blues tune, with a picture or two of despair.In this last verse of the song Dylan illustrates again what his enduring message has been since Slow Train in '79', that the world is corrupt to the core. God is in heaven, we all want to be there, or for there to be a heavenly peace here, but power and greed and curruptible seed is all that there is. Dylan laments the condition of the world here and also laments the loss of Blind Willie McTell who could sing about it like no other.
An arrow with a note attached is the picture Dylan uses to tell his listener that he's seen the world from New Orleans to Jerusalem and recognizes that it is all condemned. I traveled through East Texas Where many martyrs fell And I know no one can sing the blues Like Blind Willie McTell Martyrs may refer to slaves killed in Texas. Or even southern boys fighting for the confederate cause. Both are mentioned later in the song. This comment was made by [email protected].
"Growing up in Texas, it was inculcated in us that the war for independence against Mexico took place in east Texas, at the time the only settled part of the state. We had many martyrs fall at places like the Alamo and Goliad, and they are held in reverence to this day."
Well, I heard the hoot owl singing As they were taking down the tents The stars above the barren trees Were his only audience Them charcoal gypsy maidens Can strut their feathers well But nobody can sing the blues Like Blind Willie McTell Blind Willie McTell adjusted well to his handicap and actually travelled to far and distant parts following carnivals, circuses, and medicine shows during the first half of the century. More Information On Willie McTell See them big plantations burning Hear the cracking of the whips Smell that sweet magnolia blooming (And) see the ghosts of slavery ships I can hear them tribes a-moaning (and) hear the undertakers bell nobody can sing the blues Like Blind Willie McTell Dylan's strength is often how he can evoke images with his words. Here he contrasts the beauty and the tragedy of the south with the ghosts of it's greatest evil, slavery. Theres a woman by the river With some fine young handsome man Hes dressed up like a squire Bootlegged whiskey in his hand Theres a chain gang on the highway I can hear them rebels yell And I know no one can sing the blues Like Blind Willie McTell Well, God is in heaven And we all want whats his But power and greed and corruptible seed Seem to be all that there is Im gazing out the window Of the St. James Hotel And I know no one can sing the blues Like Blind Willie McTell
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