Shelter from the Storm

Shelter from the StormBob Dylan’Twas in another lifetime, one of toil and bloodWhen blackness was a virtue, the road was full of mudI came in from the wilderness, a creature void of form“Come in,” she said, “I’ll give you shelter from the storm”And if I pass this way again, you can rest assuredI'll always do my best for her, on that I give my wordIn a world of steel-eyed death, and men who are fighting to be warm“Come in,” she said, “I’ll give you shelter from the storm”Not a word was spoke between us, there was little risk involvedEverything up to that point had been left unresolvedTry imagining a place where it’s always safe and warm“Come in,” she said, “I’ll give you shelter from the storm”I was burned out from exhaustion, buried in the hailPoisoned in the bushes an’ blown out on the trailHunted like a crocodile, ravaged in the corn“Come in,” she said, “I’ll give you shelter from the storm”Suddenly I turned around and she was standin’ thereWith silver bracelets on her wrists and flowers in her hairShe walked up to me so gracefully and took my crown of thorns“Come in,” she said, “I’ll give you shelter from the storm”Now there’s a wall between us, somethin’ there’s been lostI took too much for granted, I got my signals crossedJust to think that it all began on an uneventful morn“Come in,” she said, “I’ll give you shelter from the storm”Well, the deputy walks on hard nails and the preacher rides a mountBut nothing really matters much, it’s doom alone that countsAnd the one-eyed undertaker, he blows a futile horn“Come in,” she said, “I’ll give you shelter from the storm”I've heard newborn babies wailin’ like a mournin’ doveAnd old men with broken teeth stranded without loveDo I understand your question, man, is it hopeless and forlorn?“Come in,” she said, “I’ll give you shelter from the storm”In a little hilltop village, they gambled for my clothesI bargained for salvation an’ she gave me a lethal doseI offered up my innocence and got repaid with scorn“Come in,” she said, “I’ll give you shelter from the storm”Well, I’m livin’ in a foreign country but I’m bound to cross the lineBeauty walks a razor’s edge, someday I'll make it mineIf I could only turn back the clock to when God and her were born“Come in,” she said, “I’ll give you shelter from the storm”