Isis
Bob Dylan
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I married Isis on the fifth day of May But I could not hold on to her very long So I cut off my hair and I rode straight away For the wild unknown country where I could not go wrong I came to a high place of darkness and light Dividing line ran through the center of town I hitched up my pony to a post on the right Went in to a laundry to wash my clothes down A man in the corner approached me for a match I knew right away he was not ordinary He said, are you lookin' for somethin' easy to catch Said, I got no money, he said, that ain't necessary We set out that night for the cold in the North I gave him my blanket, he gave me his word I said, where are we goin', he said we'd be back by the fourth I said, that's the best news that I've ever heard I was thinkin' about turquoise, I was thinkin' about gold I was thinkin' about diamonds and the world's biggest necklace As we rode through the canyons, through the devilish cold I was thinkin' about Isis, how she thought I was so reckless How she told me that one day we would meet up again And things would be different the next time we wed If I only could hang on and just be her friend I still can't remember all the best things she said We came to the pyramids all embedded in ice He said, there's a body I'm tryin' to find If I carry it out it'll bring a good price 'Twas then that I knew what he had on his mind The wind it was howlin' and the snow was outrageous We chopped through the night and we chopped through the dawn When he died I was hopin' that it wasn't contagious But I made up my mind that I had to go on I broke into the tomb, but the casket was empty There was no jewels, no nothin', I felt I'd been had When I saw that my partner was just bein' friendly When I took up his offer I must-a been mad I picked up his body and I dragged him inside Threw him down in the hole and I put back the cover I said a quick prayer and I felt satisfied Then I rode back to find Isis just to tell her I love her She was there in the meadow where the creek used to rise Blinded by sleep and in need of a bed I came in from the East with the sun in my eyes I cursed her one time then I rode on ahead She said, where ya been? I said, no place special She said, you look different, I said, well, I guess She said, you been gone, I said, that's only natural She said, you gonna stay? I said, yeah, I might do Isis, oh, Isis, you mystical child What drives me to you is what drives me insane I still can remember the way that you smiled On the fifth day of May in the drizzlin' rain
Struggling with Isis? Become a better singer in 30 days with these videos!
Written by: Jacques Levy, Bob Dylan
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
13 facts about this song
Song Origins"Isis" is a song by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan. Dylan co-wrote this song with Jacques Levy for his 1976 album "Desire."
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Album Success"Desire" was an incredibly successful album. It reached No. 1 on Billboard Pop Albums chart with two hit singles, and "Isis" has been recognized as one of the standout tracks.
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Genre"Isis" is classified under folk, folk rock, and blues genres.
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Folklore ReferenceThe song refers to the Egyptian goddess Isis, known as the goddess of life and magic in ancient Egyptian folklore, symbolizing rebirth and resurrection.
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Live PerformancesBob Dylan performed "Isis" on his Rolling Thunder Revue tour in 1975 which was documented in a live album and Netflix film.
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Narrative StructureUnlike many other Dylan tracks, "Isis" has a narrative structure, following a story filled with adventure, loss, and reunion.
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Song ThemeThe song is said to explore themes of commitment, hinted at through the main character's arduous journey and his eventual return to his wife, Isis.
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Cover VersionsCountless artists have covered "Isis" over the years. Notably, the White Stripes played an excavation of "Isis" live in 2007 which garnered significant attention.
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Song LengthAt almost seven minutes, "Isis" is one of the longest songs on the "Desire" album.
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Critics' PerspectiveCritics often highlight "Isis" for its powerful lyrics and emotional depth, and many consider it one of Dylan's top compositions of the '70s.
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Song's InstrumentationThe song features Dylan on vocals and piano, with other significant contributors being Scarlet Rivera on violin, Rob Stoner on bass, and Howie Wyeth on drums.
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Unique Live RenditionDuring his 1986 tour with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Dylan dramatically reworked "Isis" into a solo piano ballad. This version is considered as one of the most unique renditions of the song.
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Music VideoAlthough Dylan didn't traditionally release music videos for his songs in the 1970s, a semi-official video for "Isis" exists, featuring live footage from the Rolling Thunder Revue tour.
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"Isis Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 13 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/6529935/Bob+Dylan/Isis>.
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