Having been amongst a ‘trainload of fools trapped in a magnetic field’, Bob Dylan had, so to speak, a changing of the guards when he stripped and kneeled and said ‘Lord, Lord, you know their hearts are as cold as leather’. The period that followed is often called his ‘gospel period’, referring to Dylans tours and the albums: Slow Train Coming, Saved, and Shot of Love.

However, those albums seem to me more like covers compared to the mature Christian reflection in Dylan’s 1997 album Time Out of Mind. This article will be looking at the songs of that album via the more extensive January 2023 five CD release: FRAGMENTS – TIME OUT OF MIND SESSIONS (1996-1997): THE BOOTLEG SERIES VOL. 17.
In an interview with Jeff Slate published in The Wall Street Journal, December 19, 2022 Bob Dylan said: “I’m a religious person. I read the scriptures a lot, meditate and pray, light candles in church. I believe in damnation and salvation, as well as predestination. The Five Books of Moses, Pauline Epistles, Invocation of the Saints, all of it.”
Songs for Pascha
Love Sick - in the manner of Hosea’s prophecy
Dirt Road Blues - incarnation
Standing in the Doorway - in the womb (cf Dignity alternate verse)
Million Miles - living far from heavenly home
Tryin to Get to Heaven - ministry coming to crisis
Til I Fell in Love with You - being nailed to the Cross
Not Dark Yet - dying just before sunset
Cold Irons Bound - descending into Hell
Make You Feel My Love - the risen Lord proclaiming
Can’t Wait - awaiting the Second coming
Dylan ends the album on a more personal note, with Highlands in contrast to the Lowlands of his Blonde on Blonde album.
Let’s now consider each of the songs in more detail (to be continued)