AIN'T NO MAN RIGHTEOUS
(No Not One)

(Words and Music by Bob Dylan)
 1981 Special Rider Music

When a man he serves the Lord, it makes his life worthwhile.
It don't matter 'bout his position, it don't matter 'bout his lifestyle.
Talk about perfection, I ain't never seen none
And there ain't no man righteous, no not one.

Sometimes the devil likes to drive you from the neighborhood.
He'll even work his ways through those whose intentions are good.
Some like to worship on the moon, others are worshipping the sun
And there ain't no man righteous, no not one.

Look around, ya see so many social hypocrites
Like to make rules for others while they do just the opposite.

You can't get to glory by the raising and the lowering of no flag.
Put your goodness next to God's and it comes out like a filthy rag.
In a city of darkness there's no need of the sun
And there ain't no man righteous, no not one.

Done so many evil things in the name of love, it's a crying shame
I never did see no fire that could put out a flame.

Pull your hat down, baby, pull the wool down over your eyes,
Keep a-talking, baby, 'til you run right out of alibis.
Someday you'll account for all the deeds that you done.
Well, there ain't no man righteous, no not one.

God got the power, man has got his vanity,
Man gotta choose before God can set him free.
Don't you know there's nothing new that's under the sun?
Well, there ain't no man righteous, no not one.

When I'm gone don't wonder where I be.
Just say that I trusted in God and that Christ was in me.
Say He defeated the devil, He was God's chosen Son
And that there ain't no man righteous, no not one.

Commentary

Bob had obviously been reading the Bible recently. This song shows the influence of the apostle Paul.

First the Problem

Talk about perfection, I ain't never seen none And there ain't no man righteous, no not one. In the first section of Paul's letter to the Romans, Paul states that no one is righteous, not the Jews, not the Gentiles, not those who observe the law, nor those who do not.

Then the Solution

"Man gotta choose before God can set him free." Romans 10:13 -for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

This song is better understood if one reads the book of Romans in the New Testament.