|
|||||||
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||||
|
At first hearing the 1990 song What Good Am I by Bob Dylan may easily fit into a genre of songs that are begging for our social consciences to be awakened and called into action. Without a doubt it, the lyrics question whether any man can be or should be an island and be indifferent to the pains of others with whom he shares this dirt road. But in analyzing the lyrics I do not think that Bob Dylan is speaking to "any man." He is speaking to specific individuals that are bond by a unique quality to be discussed later on. What good am I?
Right from the beginning Dylan narrows his focus to whom he is challenging. If one takes the first two lines: What good am I if I am like all the rest at face value it leaves one with a not so humble view of Mr. Dylan. Does he really think that he alone is the one person who cares for others, and the "rest" of us lack his compassion and generosity? I don't think so. But Dylan is clearly alluding to two types of people and the description of "those who care" and "those who don't care" do not fit the answer that we are seeking. It implies that there is a certain group of people who SHOULD care. That he and they belong to some group or have a particular quality in them that enables them to care. He is not asking others who heretofore have not cared to start caring, he is asking those who should care, why aren't they. I believe what separates the two groups that Dylan is addressing is their relationship to the God of the Bible; Who six thousand years ago commanded His created beings to do righteousness and justice, and be merciful. Those who truly believe in a God with the qualities of righteousness, justice and mercy; one would think that they would want to emulate the same qualities in their own lives. It is evident that God had rules of conduct for us since the time of Adam and Eve. These rules did not mean much to those who went down in the flood, but they did to Noah and his household. These rules did not mean much to a family living in Ur with the exception of young Abram. These rules did not mean much to King Ahab and Jezebel, but the rules were engraved upon 7001 hearts in Israel. These rules did not mean much to the Babylonian persecutors of three young Hebrews but it was the latter's embracing of the Giver of those statutes that allowed them to persevere. The list goes on throughout the accounts in the Bible and in history that people of faith are called to do acts that are not often in their best interest. To the observer who only believes in the here and now, many of these acts are foolish unless there is a payoff such as recognition or public acclaim. Sixteen years before writing What Good Am I in a song titled Up To Me, Dylan writes "We heard the Sermon on the Mount and I knew it was too complex". I believe that it is the meaning of the Sermon on the Mount that Dylan now understands and captures in What Good Am I. The Sermon on the Mount are teachings from Jesus to His Jewish brethren. It describes the outworking in a person's life that is truly fulfilling the Mosaic Law that was in effect at that time. Humility, mercy and compassion are the fruits from those who fulfill God's call on their lives. Since God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow and cannot change His character for those who submit to His plan for their lives will be a conduit for His compassion and mercy to those that He has placed in our path. Throughout this song, the circumstances and spheres that one can perform selfless and caring acts towards other, changes. The first verse pricks the conscience of the haves towards the have-nots. The fact that we are sharing this time and space with others is not by chance. We are all living in a perfect finished plan as Dylan has called it. If we are have received material blessings and position in this world, might it not be for us to help others. What good am I?
In the Book of Esther, we find a young girl chosen from among others to become the queen. She soon is faced with a situation that could cause her to lose her crown and the head that it sits upon. The frightened woman is admonished by these words of her uncle Mordechai, "...and who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?" The name of God is not mentioned in the Book of Esther, but His absolutes are. Should we cry out against injustice and the rise of evil in our culture as it destroy our society? Can we just ignore it as if it will have no impact on us? What good am I?
There are those who may even
share our households but they have become strangers to us. Have we
shirked our duty to be our brother's-keeper? What is causing us not
to act when the pain is before us and on some level we know we should take
action? Early on in Dylan's career he sung about the pangs
of sadness that he witnessed in a friend and wondered about what help he
might bring to ease the despair. Thirty-three years later he writes
of a perfect love that can heal all hurts in Make You Feel My Love.
What has changed is the definition of what is good and what is love.
Sometimes we must leave our
comfort zone to acquaint ourselves with the pain of others. Because
it may not be visible from your window does not allow you to not be concerned.
In today's world, there are many venues in which one can lighten the burdens
that are borne by the oppressed and the unfortunate. Dylan once sang,
"You don't have to go to Russia or Iran, just surrender to God and He'll
help you make a stand." Indeed, we are not all called to be medical
missionaries to the Third World, but we are called to be vessels that God
may use to bless others with His love. Among those who are God-fearing
are a group that the New Testament tells us, are equipped for every good
work. This group are those who have been regenerated by the Holy
Spirit at the moment of salvation. Dylan sang in Pressing On that
"nothing can hold you down, nothing that you lack." For every work
that God has called you to do He will supply your need. Therefore,
if you find that your hands are tied and you are unwilling to fulfill what
God has asked you to do, then it would be wise for you to ask yourself
if you have gone away from serving God. If your hands are tied, it
is because you have allowed another influence to become a factor in your
decisions.
This last verse can be interpreted in light of temporal and eternal needs. A lack of compassion is portrayed here but also, a sense of indifference to another's welfare. In 1979 Dylan looked out on a sorrow-filled world and put away foolishness. He became very focused and steadfast. He went to great extremes to make sure that his fans heard the Gospel. He did this knowing that he would become his own enemy the instant that he preached. But he did it. He did not turn his back and watch people die without presenting to them the message of salvation and eternal security. Some Christians fault Dylan for having stopped performing his "gospel" shows. Rather than appreciating the work that Dylan did in fulfilling the Great Commission, they turned from him and in some cases, on him. Each year there are pot luck dinners and plaques made to honor the work of lay-volunteers that have given of their time and energies to participate in a ministry. There are physicians who use vacation time to practice their profession pro-bono in third world nations, there are young men who participate in the building of churches and schools in under-developed regions and there are the local congregates who serve as teachers and mentors during vacation bible schools. No one condemns these lay-volunteers when they return to their secular jobs. However, Bob Dylan has been chastised for doing the same thing. One great difference between a lay volunteer who embraces a ministry for a certain time and Bob Dylan's Gospel shows in 1979-1981 is that Bob Dylan jeopardized his very livelihood and personal reputation. Most lay volunteers risk absolutely nothing but receive praise from their fellow men. Dylan incurred great financial loss, horrible press and his reputation to this day has suffered from the media who do not know how to cover anything of a spiritual nature. It is a rare but growing number of believers who understand that much appreciation is owed Bob Dylan rather than the scorn he typically is the target of. So Dylan faithfully put out the message that could keep those who heard it from undergoing spiritual death. That message still is heard from Dylan today in 2001 when he covers such traditional hymns as Rock of Ages and This World Can't Stand. This song also may have been an impetus for Dylan returning to the subject of Bible prophecy one year later on the Under the Red Sky album in 1990. The songs there appear to deal with eschatological matters that involve Israel, the Anti-Christ and the Second Coming of the Messiah. (See song analysis on Lily for these songs). If this interpretation is correct then once again Dylan is faithfully keeping the promise to remain scripturally true. It would be easier for Dylan to have ignored the prophecies that most do not know of or place any faith in. But Dylan chooses to not say foolish things on the next album. He chooses not to laugh in the face of what sorrow brings when he warns his fans that this world be judged for its sin and he does not turn his back when he personally reminds us that his sole (soul) protection occurred when he let his Savior in and He saved Dylan's soul from sin. Ronnie Keohane
|