High Water Everywhere: Essential Bob Dylan # 21

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Bob Dylan is a Psalmist, a love-lost Minnesotan, a realist, and a craftsman. What is often forgotten is that many of his best songs show that he is indeed a puzzle maker, weaving together narratives and leaving listeners guessing as to the true meaning of the song. I don't accept that some songs may mean nothing, because that is a meaning in and of itself. This all brings us to "Pay in Blood", a puzzle of a tune that offers many riches, and will leave you mulling over its meaning for quite some time.

The song kicks off with a swaggering guitar lick that sounds like it could of been ripped right off a 70's Rolling Stone album. Bob's voice hear is incredibly hoarse, and he grunts and yells about his mistreatment, his penchant for violence, and how he's getting away with it. After the light, Stones-sounding riff that cascades through the beginning of the first part of the verses, a minor chord tempo is thrown in to sway the listener off balance. This seems to be when lyrics get almost uncomfortable at some points: " I got something in my pocket to make your eyeballs swim"/ I got dogs that'll tear ya from limb to limb".  After the verses that document pain and suffering, Bob claims that he "Pays in blood/but not my own". So he gets away with it, ey?To "pay in blood"?

Here, I think Bob may be referring to the atonement theory embedded in Christianity. The atonement theory purports that Jesus died and took punishment for humanity's evil ways, saving all from being punished for wickedness. Jesus' death atones for our sins, in other words, and his death took the place of the punishment we deserve. If Bob was trying to suggest that he believed in this theory, it wouldn't be the first time. Just listen to his gospel albums from the late 70s and early 80s!

There are also other possible meanings to "Pay in Blood".  Is it a character sketch of a ruthless leader or gangster? An evil Wall St. banker or shady businessman that elicits our wrath after hearing them document their evils proudly? Or is it something else all together?

Listen to the great puzzle-master bark his tale over a sound that is equal parts Rolling Stones, grunge rock, and faux bravado. Rest assured, it's easily his best song off 2012's album "Tempest".

Video: https://vimeo.com/157038227



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