Has Bob Dylan changed his way of thinking?

In May, I posted a blog about Bob Dylan’s 70th birthday, in which I expressed agnosticism about his spiritual condition.

On 20 June, Dylan played Ramat Gan in Tel Aviv, his first Israel gig for almost 20 years ago. Two decades ago, he upset some in his audience by performing “In the Garden” and other “born-again” period songs.

In June, he opened with another of his born-again songs: “Change my Way of Thinking”. I didn’t post a blog because the lyrics, even though they had been changed were pretty much indecipherable and there was little to comment on. The first verse alone remained unchanged.

Gonna change my way of thinking,
Make myself a different set of rules.
I’m gonna change my way of thinking,
Make myself a different set of rules.
Gonna put my best foot forward,
Stop bein’ influenced by fools.

Thanks to my good friend and Bobphile, Rev Alex MacDonald of Buccleuch Free Church of Scotland in Edinburgh, I have the lyrics and, as Alex says, they are “interesting”:

Gonna sit at the welcome table,
I’m as hungry as a horse.
Sitting at the welcome table,
I’m so hungry, I could eat a horse.
I’m gonna revitalize my thinking,
I’m gonna let the law take its course.

Jesus is calling,
He’s coming back to gather His jewels.
Jesus is coming,
He’s coming back to gather His jewels.
Well, we live by the Golden Rule,
Whoever got the gold, rules.

The sun is shining,
Ain’t but one train on this track.
The sun is shining,
Ain’t but one train on this track.
I’m stepping out of the dark woods,
Trying to jump on a monkey’s back.

Yes, I’m all dressed up,
Goin’ to the country dance.
I said I’m all dressed up,
Goin’ to the country dance.
Every day you got to pray for guidance,
Every day you got to give yourself a chance.

There are storms on the ocean,
Storms out on the mountain too.
Storms on the ocean,
Storms out on the mountain too.
Oh Lord,
You know I have no friend without you.

I’ll tell you something:
Things you never had you’ll never miss.
I’ll tell you something:
Things you never had you’ll never miss.
Tell you something else: a brave man will kill you with a sword,
A coward with a kiss.