This week we are asked to select a song featuring light and or space. My first thought (as usual0 was Pink Floyd’s ‘Astronomy Domine’. However, as I’ve already deployed it twice for Song Lyric Sunday over the years I realised it was time to move on.
I mulled it over for a while until I dredged from the depths of my memory the line “I see my light come shining” from Bob Dylan’s ‘I Shall Be Released’. I hadn’t heard that for a long time, so here it is now.
They say ev’rything can be replaced
Yet ev’ry distance is not near
So I remember ev’ry face
Of ev’ry man who put me here
I see my light come shining
From the west unto the east
Any day now, any day now
I shall be released
They say ev’ry man needs protection
They say ev’ry man must fall
Yet I swear I see my reflection
Some place so high above this wall
I see my light come shining
From the west unto the east
Any day now, any day now
I shall be released
Standing next to me in this lonely crowd
Is a man who swears he’s not to blame
All day long I hear him shout so loud
Crying out that he was framed
I see my light come shining
From the west unto the east
Any day now, any day now
I shall be released
Written by Bob Dylan
This song was a highlight of The Band’s Last Waltz concert when they got all of these great musicians together on the same stage with Paul Butterfield playing Blues harmonica, and singing vocals / Bobby Charles – vocals / Eric Clapton – guitar, vocals / Neil Diamond – guitar, vocals / Dr. John – piano, guitar, congas, vocals / Bob Dylan wrote this song and he plays guitar, vocals / Ronnie Hawkins – vocals / Joni Mitchell – acoustic guitar, vocals / Van Morrison – vocals / Larry Packer – violin / John Simon – piano / Ringo Starr – drums / Stephen Stills – guitar / Muddy Waters – vocals / Ronnie Wood – guitar / Neil Young – guitar, harmonica, vocals / Bob Margolin – guitar (for Muddy Waters) / Pinetop Perkins – piano (for Muddy Waters) / Dennis St. John – drums (for Neil Diamond) / and Carl Radle – bass (on second encore Jam).
Such a cool song and a great pick, DH. Digging hearing it again. Nice one!
Classic Dylan