Expecting Rain

Ok, first post on expectingrain!

I've been wondering whether Dylan wrote any song that include image of the devil.
My Wife's Hometown comes to mind, but only because of hell. But the devil... ?

Any suggestions?

Oh, and forgive me if my english isn't that clear to understand. Cheers!

Hello bonkowiecki, welcome to ER.... and don't worry, your english is just fine.... I will have to think about this one, but I am sure that there are some here that can come up with some samples really quick.....by the way.... where are you from?

Passing mention in Mississippi. Man Of Peace also.

I don't remember any song right now, maybe in his religious period. But "Sign On The Cross", the spoken part, Dylan seems to be a little possessed... .

"Sometimes you don't see him so good..."

Saving Grace

Btw, the official website at bobdylan.com has a search function for keywords in his lyrics, if you want to try that.

Talkin' Devil on Broadside Ballads, Vol 1 in 1964.

Maybe I'm not understanding the question, because I would think someone would have said this, but:
Man In The Long Black Coat?

also, Satan is mentioned sometimes instead of using the name devil.

Gotta Serve Somebody and Man of Peace come to mind first.

Satan
-man of peace
-trouble in mind
-dead man, dead man
-slow train

Devil
-gotta serve someone
-watcha gonna do
-saving grace
-ain't no man righteous
-Mississippi
-Pressing on
-saved
-caribbean wind
-po'boy
-you changed my life
-

90 MILES AN HOUR DOWN AN DEAD END STREET

I remember seeing this super long essay some guy wrote on his belief that Dylan's whole catalog is a struggle against the Devil. From Talkin' Devil to the Gospel song to Man In The Long Black Coat to the his latest songs. I only read the first two or three paragraphs because 1) it was really long and 2) it sounded kind of farfetched to me at the time.
But that thought has always stuck with me. I sort of wish I had read it.

^^Do you have a link?

The Devil's Been Busy in Your Back Yard, credited to the group, but has a Lucky or "Boo" Willberry-vibe.

While you're strolling down the fairway
Showing no remorse
Glowing from the poisons
They've sprayed on your golf course
While you're busy sinking birdies
And keeping your scorecard
The devil's been busy in your back yard

Steaming down the highway
With your trucks of toxic waste
Where you gonna hide it
In the outer space?
You don't know what you're doing
Or what you have to guard
The devil's been busy in your back yard

Sometimes you think you're crazy
But you know you're only mad
Sometimes you're better off not knowing
How much you've been had


You see your second cousin
Wasted in a fight
You say he had it coming
You couldn't do it right
You're in a western movie, playing the part
The devil's been busy in your back yard

Sometimes they say you're wicked
But you know that can't be bad
Sometimes you're better off not knowing
It'll only make you sad

They're coming down Picadilly
Dripping at the dash
Wasting sticky Willy
Covering him with their cash
They just might not have noticed, they've been beating him so hard
And the devil's been busy in your back yard

Devil's been busy in your back yard
Devil's been busy in your back yard

I'm from Wroclaw, Poland! Beautiful city! I just hope, one day Bob will play a gig here!

Was it the Ben Cruickshank book(let)s? I don't recall exactly if it was in those, but the idea sounds familiar.

Well, now you see my point. I mean, Dylan has covered so many subjects but devil was at best mentioned in lyrics here and there. Maybe with exception of "Man of Peace".

..."Satan whispers to ya, "Well, I don't want to bore ya,
But when ya get tired of that Miss So-and-so I got another woman for ya”...
from Trouble in Mind, recorded during Slow Train Coming

He covered Freind of the Devil numerous times.

it's possible it came from there; i read it on the internet though, not a book(let).
i think i might have even gotten the link from somewhere on ER.

no, sorry. i had it bookmarked for a while, but i updated my browser one day and all my bookmarks got erased.

Learn Polish at ER, lesson 1


cześć, byłem niedawno we Wrocławiu, piękne miasto

[hi, i've been in Wroclaw recently, a beautiful town it is]

Dylan's work is infused with this evil, crazy world(his view). I think those that believe in the devil believe that all evil eminates from Satan. The Devil. So Dylan's entire output could be seen to be "about" the devil.

Highlands.

What in the devil could it all possibly mean?