WORD GAMES
Dylan and Gates (Not Ol’ Bill)
Ever since last summer I’ve been intending to share some thoughts about Bob Dylan’s “Absolutely Sweet Marie” from Blonde On Blonde. While reading this past fall the urge was re-ignited. Having now completed the book a second time I’m still not ready. Instead, this blog post will focus on one feature of the song, repeated three times on this classic album — gates.
The reason I find the prevalence of this word so intriguing may well, in part, be due to Bob’s late-in-life interest in metal sculpture. His 2013–14 art exhibition titled Mood Swings filled the Halcyon Gallery with welded gates. His artist statement included these words:
“Gates appeal to me because of the negative space they allow. They can be closed but at the same time they allow the seasons and breezes to enter and flow. They can shut you out or shut you in. And in some ways there is no difference.”-Bob Dylan
And that is exactly how the word can be understood right here in the opening line of “Absolutely Sweet Marie.”
Well, your railroad gate, you know I just can’t jump it
Sometimes it gets so hard, you see
I’m just sitting here beating on my trumpet
With all these promises you left for…
