Today’s song Precious Angel along with Gotta Serve Somebody and my previous entry I Believe in You are my favourite songs from the album which marked Dylan’s conversion to Christianity called Slow Train Coming. I remember in my second year on Exped at Sea listening to these songs ad nauseam. You might think I had grown tired of them over the years after the hundreds of listens. I even tried Dylanholics Anonymous. Nope, didn’t work. The music somehow seems ‘reborn’ upon each listen and lyrically it does as well, but I think a large part for why ‘musically’ it resonates so profoundly is in large part due Mark Knopfler’s wonderful contribution as lead guitarist on this record. I’m not alone in that view: Authors Oliver Keys and John Nogowski particularly praise the guitar playing of Mark Knopfler on the song.
The single from the record Gotta Serve Somebody became his first hit in three years, winning Dylan the inaugural Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance. I remember Nick Cave professing he got into music because of that song.
On November 17, 1978, while playing a gig in San Diego, an audience member apparently threw a small silver cross onto the stage, and [Bob] Dylan felt impelled to pick it up and put it into his pocket. The following night, in Tucson, Arizona, he was feeling even worse and reached into his pocket, pulled out the cross, and put it on. That night, while stuck inside his hotel room, he apparently experienced the overwhelming presence of Jesus whose power and majesty he’d heard about through his girlfriends Helena Springs and Mary Alice Artes, in addition to his recently converted band mates Steven Soles, David Mansfield, and T- Bone Burrnett. It was Artes, though, who seems to have influenced him the most. She had recommitted herself to the Christianity of her youth through a Church in Tarzana, California, called the Vineyard Christian Fellowship, which Dylan soon joined
– The year Bob Dylan was born again: a timeline – Oxford University Press
After Dylan made the sudden religious conversation to a Christian believer despite his Jewish hereditary, he poured out lyrics which expressed his new found devotion. He then went on to do a trilogy of records to ratify and prophetize ‘the word’ based on his newly held beliefs, namely Slow Training Coming, Saved and Shot of Love. Many songs have already appeared here from these three records, but my stand-out from the three was the bootleg Every Grain of Sand which featured on The Bootleg Series Volumes 1–3 (Rare & Unreleased) 1961–1991. Not unlike what occurred when he went electric on his 66′ world tour with The Band, Dylan was often booed and derided by audiences in concerts when he went all ‘preachy’ with monologues before and during the sets.
I have always found today’s featured track Precious Angel a companion piece of his scantily known Covenant Women song from the follow up record Saved. Both seem dedicated to a woman who he was indebted and devoted to for helping him forge an unrequited love and faith in Christ. At a concert in Seattle on January 14, 1980, Dylan claimed that the song is addressed to the woman who brought him to Christianity.
The covenant is a bond, a promise, a link of overwhelming significance. Put into the context of this song a covenant between a man and a woman is a bond between a couple who not only love each other but also share a belief that there is a God, and the Bible represents His teachings. So it is a triangle – the man, the woman, the teaching of Christ.
[Verse 1]
Precious angel
Under the sun
How was I to know
You’d be the one
To show me I was blinded
To show me I was gone
How weak was the foundation
I was standing upon?
Now there’s spiritual warfare
And flesh and blood breaking down
You either got faith or you got unbelief
And there is no neutral ground
The enemy is subtle
How be it we are so deceived
When the truth’s in our hearts
And we still don’t believe?
[Chorus]
Shine your light, shine your light on me
Shine your light, shine your light on me
Shine your light, shine your light on me
You know I just couldn’t make it by myself
I’m a little too blind to see (read the remainder here)
According to the Wikipedia article below: The lyrics contain many biblical references. The theme of the song seems to be taken from 2 Corinthians 4:4 to 4:6, in which the light of Christ is contrasted with the darkness faced by those deluded by the devil. The line “Now there’s spiritual warfare, flesh and blood breaking down” appears to be a reflection of another verse from 2 Corinthians (10:3) which states “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh“. The line in the chorus about blindness appears to be influenced by a passage from the Gospel of John in which the blind man healed by Jesus proclaims that “Whereas I was blind, now I can see“.
References:
1. Slow Train Coming – wikipedia
2. Precious Angel – Wikipedia
3. Precious Angel: an enigma inside a seemingly straightforward Bob Dylan song – Untold Dylan
“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand
Observation Blogger 
While I’m aware of it, I don’t know Dylan’s born again Christian period. Frankly, my knowledge of Dylan’s catalog remains pretty spotty to begin with. I’ve mostly listened to his ’60s and early-to-mid ’70s output.
I believe this was the first time I heard “Precious Angel”. While the lyrics don’t speak much to me, musically, I think it’s a cool song. I like Dylan’s vocals and the sound of this track. I also dig the gospely backing vocals.
I don’t blame you for being spotty given you are a big 60’s and 70’s guy. I listened to this song (late 80’s) way before I became a born again in 2003. I have since reneged from adopting a literal belief / interpretation, but I believe in the spiritual truths espoused as I do in some other religions.
This song like the other we spoke about from Taylor, appears a guy at the canvas painting. For me at least, the first listen was nothing to write home about, but I felt some connection. Then I tried it again. If this song doesn’t grab you after the second listen, it was never yours to begin with. Like the Taylor song.
It’s the same with the music you send or anyone for that matter. If I don’t get something from the first attempt, but there’s an inkling or connection, I’ll try it again for size. If it still doesn’t resonate it was never mine and that’s fine.
I think your approach is sound. I will say in some cases it has taken me more than two attempts to embrace music.
As surprising as it may sound, one example are Led Zeppelin. It definitely took various attempts before their music started to grab me. They ended up becoming one of my favorite bands.
Of course, with way more music artists than one can ever hear, the multiple-attempt approach isn’t sustainable. Sadly, I also have to admit my attention span has become shorter.
I’ll be back
I think the second listen approach is also beholden to the context and person you hear it from.
Regarding Led Zeppelin. I’ve heard so many from them (first and subsequent listens) and I still haven’t wanted to hear them again. It may well be I’m missing some drawcard piece from them.
I agree about how its impossible to hear the plethora of songs available which might be up our alley. Why do you think your attention span is shorter? Because there’s too much to hear and inculcate meaningfully? Sometimes less can mean more.
I think your absolutely right. The sheer volume of music and the fact that much of it nowadays can be accessed in seconds via streaming platforms and YouTube clearly is a double-edged sword.
I imagine, it’s a tricky subject matter especially for someone who explores new music. I can’t imagine that task even if you limit in scope. I admit I’m an end product of your great work and indeed an indebted admirer.
🙂
I don’t think I’ve heard of this before…it’s very good. I liked it right away when I heard it…it’s my third time going through it.
I’m amazed you hadn’t ‘perhaps’ heard it before. I’m listening to it perhaps for the 200th time. And I don’t mean that as ‘know it all’. On the contrary. I’m still learning from it, like I’m just hearing it again anew. This song just keeps becoming another beast as I hear it again. I don’t get it.
Some of that era I am not as familiar with…I listened to the albums but it’s been a long time.
This is such a great song. It says so much….
Yeh, I’ve always loved it. It feels like it courses through my veins.
It never gets old….