Shelter From The Storm

by Bob Dylan

From the album: The Essential Bob Dylan

Track 23 of 30 on The Essential Bob Dylan (2000).

Duration: 5:02

The Essential Bob Dylan cover art

Lyrics for Shelter From The Storm

It was in another lifetime, one of toil and blood When blackness was a virtue the road was full of mud I came in from the wilderness, a creature void of form Come in, she said "I'll give you shelter from the storm" And if I pass this way again, you can rest assured I'll always do my best for her, on that I give my word In a world of steel-eyed death, and men who are fighting to be warm Come in, she said "I'll give you shelter from the storm" Not a word was spoke between us, there was little risk involved Everything up to that point had been left unresolved Try imagining a place where it's always safe and warm Come in, she said "I'll give you shelter from the storm" I was burned out from exhaustion, buried in the hail Poisoned in the bushes an' blown out on the trail Hunted like a crocodile, ravaged in the corn Come in, she said "I'll give you shelter from the storm" Suddenly I turned around and she was standin' there With silver bracelets on her wrists and flowers in her hair She walked up to me so gracefully and took my crown of thorns Come in," she said "I'll give you shelter from the storm" Now there's a wall between us, somethin' there's been lost I took too much for granted, I got my signals crossed Just to think that it all began on a noneventful morn Come in, she said "I'll give you shelter from the storm" Well, the deputy walks on hard nails and the preacher rides a mount But nothing really matters much, it's doom alone that counts And the one-eyed undertaker, he blows a futile horn Come in, she said "I'll give you shelter from the storm" I've heard newborn babies wailin' like a mournin' dove And old men with broken teeth stranded without love Do I understand your question, man, is it hopeless and forlorn? Come in, she said "I'll give you shelter from the storm" In a little hilltop village, they gambled for my clothes I bargained for salvation an' she gave me a lethal dose I offered up my innocence and got repaid with scorn Come in, she said "I'll give you shelter from the storm" Well, I'm livin' in a foreign country but I'm bound to cross the line Beauty walks a razor's edge, someday I'll make it mine If I could only turn back the clock to when god and her were born Come in, she said "I'll give you shelter from the storm"

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More from The Essential Bob Dylan

  1. Blowin' In The Wind
  2. Don't Think Twice, It's All Right
  3. The Times They Are A-Changin'
  4. It Ain't Me, Babe
  5. Maggie's Farm
  6. It's All Over Now, Baby Blue
  7. Mr. Tambourine Man
  8. Subterranean Homesick Blues
  9. Like A Rolling Stone
  10. Positively 4th Street
  11. Just Like A Woman
  12. Rainy Day Women # 12 & 35
  13. All Along The Watchtower
  14. Quinn The Eskimo (The Mighty Quinn)
  15. I'll Be Your Baby Tonight
  16. Lay, Lady, Lay
  17. If Not For You
  18. I Shall Be Released
  19. You Ain't Goin' Nowhere
  20. Knockin' On Heaven's Door
  21. Forever Young
  22. Tangled Up In Blue
  23. Shelter From The Storm
  24. Hurricane
  25. Gotta Serve Somebody
  26. Jokerman
  27. Silvio
  28. Everything Is Broken
  29. Not Dark Yet
  30. Things Have Changed