Shelter From The Storm is the fourth song to be presented here from one of Bob Dylan’s most highly regarded albums Blood on the Tracks. I also mentioned it recently in my post about Bruce Springsteen’s Secret Garden because both songs serve as a couplet in Cameron Crowe’s movie Jerry Maguire where the woman is presented as a symbol of safety and comfort. In Shelter from the Storm: The woman is a literal shelter, providing the narrator with protection from the chaos outside. It’s worth mentioning here the song was written during Dylan’s separation and divorce with first wife, Sara Dylan. Also the album is often regarded as his most personal and introspective.
Over the years Dylan has transfigured the song from the studio acoustic folk ballad to other music genres such as an electric, uptempo rock edge arrangement seen in the ’76 version below. This version felt more urgent, almost combative, as if the storm had grown fiercer, and the shelter was harder to find. No two performances were ever quite the same, keeping the song fresh and enigmatic. Over the years, Dylan has modified verses, swapped lines, or emphasized different parts of the lyrics depending on the mood of the performance. Dylan’s chameleon-like approach ensured that Shelter from the Storm remained a living, evolving piece of art rather than a static historical record, much like the rest of his catalogue.
Shelter from the Storm was recorded on September 17, 1974, and released on his 15th studio album, Blood on the Tracks. He recorded five takes for the album with the last one selected for the album. People often cite the song in their top lists of Dylan songs from the 1970’s decade. It sits well into my “50 Greatest Bob Dylan Songs” list. According to his official website, Dylan played the song 376 times between 1976 and 2015. As alluded to above, critics universally hail Blood on the Tracks as one of his finest albums and Shelter From The Storm one of their most beloved songs from it.
[Verse 1]
‘Twas 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 ya
Shelter from the storm”
[Verse 2]
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 ya
Shelter from the storm”
[Verse 3]
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 ya
Shelter from the storm”
[Verse 4]
I was burned out from exhaustion
Buried in the hail
Poisoned in the bushes
And blown out on the trail
Hunted like a crocodile
Ravaged in the corn
“Come in,” she said, “I’ll give ya
Shelter from the storm”
[Verse 5]
Suddenly I turned around
And she was standing 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 ya
Shelter from the storm”
[Verse 6]
Now there’s a wall between us
Something there’s been lost
I took too much for granted
I got my signals crossed
Just to think that it all began
On an uneventful morn
“Come in,” she said, “I’ll give ya
Shelter from the storm”
[Verse 7]
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 ya
Shelter from the storm
[Verse 8]
I’ve heard newborn babies wailing
Like a mourning dove
And old men with broken teeth
Stranded without love
Do I understand your question, then
Is it hopeless and forlorn
“Come in,” she said, “I’ll give ya
Shelter from the storm”
[Verse 9]
In a little hilltop village
They gambled for my clothes
I bargained for salvation
And she gave me a lethal dose
I offered up my innocence
And I got repaid with scorn
“Come in,” she said, “I’ll give ya
Shelter from the storm”
[Verse 10]
Well, I’m living 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 ya
Shelter from the storm”
References:
1. Shelter From The Storm – Wikipedia
“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand
Observation Blogger 
I totally love this album…from this one to Tangled Up In Blue to Buckets of Rain….and the list goes on.
Hey thanks for chiming in Max. Apart from perhaps ‘Blonde on Blonde’, ‘Blood on the Tracks’ could be argued as Dylan’s most impactful album and one which resonates most with fans. I think it was my favourite album by him in my younger years. I wanted to ask you how you like the ’76 live version? I think its stellar. I can’t get enough of it.
I’ve only heard that live version maybe once or twice but I like it….do you like the alternate version of Blood on the Tracks? I believe his brother produced it (but I could be wrong)…it’s much more sparce.
We could be going down a deep rabbit hole here mate lol
I’m gathering the alt release is what appears on the Jerry Maguire soundtrack. I agree, it’s sparser and looser. I think I probably prefer that one over the studio release. I remember hearing the alternate versions of the songs and I wasn’t that impressed with them as I was the second takes and official release. I’m glad he decided to redo them.
Having said that, it’s discerning you highlighted the alt-take of ‘Shelter’ since it is of such notable mention and I regret not doing it in my article. Good one. ‘High Five on the flip side’ Max lol
Now we are getting to the recesses of the rabbit hole bit….Have you heard ‘Up to Me’ outtake from the record? It’s one of my favourite unreleased songs from him although that list is in the ‘ten’s’. My understanding was he left ‘Up to Me’ off the album since it sounded so much like ‘Shelter’, which it does but it’s a different beast entirely; lyrically speaking and just how it come off. Below is the ‘Up to Me’ (take 2 from ‘Biograph’ which I believe Cameron Crowe introduced) if you haven’t heard it already. I love it.
It does sound like it but I really like that! Yea with Dylan there are so many “other” versions…it’s pretty cool to have another version of a studio album…the sparce one and the live one.
I’ve been down the rabbit hole recently as well…not in music but down the Shining rabbit hole…I’m posting it tomorrow. I do love Kubrick….he leaves you guessing.
‘Up to Me’ requires re listens, but well worth it. You know what makes me laugh watching Dylan’s live 76 ‘Shelter’ version, and it’s so typical Dylan; that he transforms the song so much so that even his most arduous fans are unlikely to recognise it and even might ‘boo-hoo’ him. They were probably waiting for their folk prince to do a ‘Blood on the Tracks’ version and got that fervent rock version, but it’s just so good.
You change topics fast Max lol. I love the Shining. I was talking to my family about Jack Nicholson and his role in the Shining just last weekend. I think we probably love Kubrick the same despite his compact, but perfectuous filmography. Poor Shelley Duvall given what she went through from Kubrick. Can you imagine? I’m looking forward to your article.
I will check it out…yea he does not always do what the crowd wants…I learned that by seeing him.
Yes I do…it’s my ping pong mind…I’ve very guilty doing that. Oh Duvall had it terrible… my system admin here…never saw the movie…he is 26…I told him to watch it…he loved it of course. I’m going through a Kubrick mood….the next one I watch will probably be A Clockwork Orange….I love that movie as well.
Your ‘ping pong mind’? But you aren’t even Asian! That was a joke of course..
Can I even say that in my own blog or will I become blacklisted and a right leaning insignia of sorts be painted on my window?
‘A Clockwork Orange’ – I watched so long ago and it made such an impression that I’m scared to revisit it. Now that you wrote about it, I should take the plunge, but it most definitely not be with the kiddies.
You can say what you want to me…I won’t care…I don’t get offended lol. I’m tired of people getting offended…we all do…it’s life wear a helmet.
Yea A Clockwork Orange different…stupid me saw it when I was 12…WAY too early. I didn’t let Bailey see it until he was 15 or so. It is the most violent movie I”ve seen…real violence not cartoon violence.
Did you watch the ping pong finals at the Olympics in Paris? I did, it was something.
Yeh, 12 years old was way early. I think ’15 years old’ might do the trick. It’s funny how to my senses, the violence portrayed in the movie might have the opposite effect of what its detractors said it would lead to.
No I didn’t watch it…after that beginnig…it just turned me off….it really did.
Oh yes…it wasn’t glorifying violence it to me at all…just the opposite.
Great pick, Matt, from one of the handful of Dylan albums I’ve heard front to back. “Blood On the Tracks” includes one of my all-time favorites by the maestro, “Tangled Up in Blue.” I only knew the studio version of “Shelter From the Storm,” so listening to that neat live version from ’76 was also fun!
Thanks Christian. I also rank ‘Tangled Up in Blue’ very high on my list of all time favourites from him. But that list is plentiful of course. I agree the ’76 version is a lot of fun. Cheers.