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This recording has special meaning. The poetry is poignant and typically searing Dylan in how it begins in one place and rambles off point to the real point so effectively. These works represent a rather chaotic period in Dylan's life and is often disregarded as unproductive. But I see these works as a cohesive presentation of a seeker who has not found that which he seeks, moans openly and sometimes with great imagination about his inner angst, and works his way through the grief cycle unsuccessfully.

I find a good contemporary and more lucid if pedestrian album to be Bonnie Raitt's new release. As I listened to a couple of songs on this album, and coincidently bought and am listening to "Dig in Deep" by Bonnie Raitt.

The first song, Tight Connection To My Heart (Has Anyone Seen My Love) starts with, "I’ll go along with the charade until I can think my way out.   I know it was all a big joke.   Whatever it was  about.   Someday maybe  I’ll remember to forget."  Unrequited love can be like that - confused and defensive.  Denial is the psychological phase.

The second song, "Seeing the real You at Last" has -- " Well, didn’t I risk my neck for you,  Didn’t I take chances?  Didn’t I rise above it all for you -  Whatever you gonna do;  Please do it fast." Is about feeling like a martyr. A broken heart is like that when you are on some kind of seeker's quest and you forget there is love involved. Eyes sometimes open. And lights come on. It's the true beginning of the curve in the grief cycle.

A song of love and alienation in the back of a pickup in a love embrace. "I’ll remember you". "When I’ve forgotten all the rest.   You to me were true.   You to me were the best.   When there is no more.   You cut to the core.   Quicker than anyone I knew.   When I’m all alone in the great unknown.   I’ll remember you."  Perfect.

"Clean Cut Kid" is a horse beat dead. He's the lover you married thinking it was a good idea and then everything went the way of the Dream. But you're stuck. And you live with it. We do. We all still do. "Never Gonna be the Same Again" tells another Part of a story of a broken relationship failingly forged by a seeker. "Sorry if I hurt you, baby.   Sorry if I did.  Sorry if I touched the place.  Where your secrets are hid.  But you meant more than everything.   And I could not pretend.   I ain’t never gonna be the same again."

"Trust Yourself" is about trusting your own fearful, insecure, appearances driven heart or not.  There are always unintended consequences. "Emotionally Yours" is not a simple a love dog as it seems, but one can take it that way and enjoy it. "When The Night Comes Falling From The Sky" is just the epic summary of a failing relationship.  "I don’t want to be a fool starving for affection  I don’t want to drown in someone else’s wine" it complains - complaints worthy on both sides.

"Something’s Burning, Baby" is my lingering hope and desire that some things can be undone.  It says, "I don’t wanna see you bleed, I know what you need but it ain’t what you deserve.   Something is burning, baby, something’s in flames.  There’s a man going ’round calling names.  Ring down when you’re ready, baby, I’m waiting for you.   I believe in the impossible, you know that I do."

The album ends with "Dark Eyes".  "Oh, the French girl, she’s in paradise and a drunken man is at the wheel (me).  Hunger pays a heavy price to the falling gods of speed and steel.  Oh, time is short and the days are sweet and passion rules the arrow that flies.  A million faces at my feet but all I see (in my dreams) are (her) dark eyes."

Pure Dylan whether you like him or not.