Every Grain of Sand - Bob Dylan

(See lyrics here.)This Spadecaller video presents a montage of fine artwork and paintings to augment Dylan's haunting lyrics. Among the painters represented are: Bouguereau, Michelangelo, Caravaggio, Sargent, and Waterhouse.

At the time of its recording and release (1982) Dylan was in what has been called his "Christianity Phase" , as the song does contain powerful allusions to Jesus, faith, and spirituality. It also stands as a secular work, and Rolling Stone magazine described it as a "mature update" of Dylan's 1964 song Chimes of Freedom.

Every Grain of Sand was written by Bob Dylan. Initially, it was released on his album Shot of Love (1982), then included on the compilations Biograph and The Bootleg Series Volumes 1-3 (Rare & Unreleased) 1961-1991. In addition the song was used on the soundtrack for the 1997 film Another Day In Paradise and was also performed at the funeral of Johnny Cash, in 2003, by Emmylou Harris and Sheryl Crow.

Ever y Grain of Sand (Lyrics)

In the time of my confession, in the hour of my deepest need
When the pool of tears beneath my feet flood every newborn seed
There's a dying voice within me reaching out somewhere
Toiling in the danger and in the morals of despair.

Don't have the inclination to look back on any mistake
Like Cain, I now behold this chain of events that I must break
In the fury of the moment I can see the master's hand
In every leaf that trembles, in every grain of sand.

Oh, the flowers of indulgence and the weeds of yesteryear
Like criminals, they have choked the breath of conscience and good cheer
The sun beat down upon the steps of time to light the way
To ease the pain of idleness and the memory of decay.

I gaze into the doorway of temptation's angry flame
And every time I pass that way I always hear my name
Then onward in my journey I come to understand
That every hair is numbered like every grain of sand.

I have gone from rags to riches in the sorrow of the night
In the violence of a summer's dream, in the chill of a wintry light
In the bitter dance of loneliness fading into space
In the broken mirror of innocence on each forgotten face.

I hear the ancient footsteps like the motion of the sea
Sometimes I turn, there's someone there, other time it's only me
I am hanging in the balance of the reality of man
Like every sparrow falling, like every grain of sand.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• folk
• rock
• Dylan
• Painters
• Masterpieces
• Art
• Aivazovsky
• Bakhuizen
• Bouguereau
• Caravaggio
• Hacker
• Hassam
• Spadecaller

[epiphannyy]

OUTSTANDING!!!

[Zachin6]

Absolutely incredible video, Spadecaller. I actually cried from the sheer beauty of it. Your videos have a quality and depth that is unique. Thanks so much for sharing this. I have to watch it again.

[robinmark64]

Magnificent!

[infoanalysis]

The peerless poet laureate of Pax Americana: One of only a handful of Americans to become immortal worldwide on a peer with Tolstoy, Chekhov, Shakespeare, Cervantes, Goethe,Conrad, Dostoevsky, Byron and Keats. To be truly an authentic American one must embrace Bob Dylan!

[tedwalk1960]

Beautiful video. When will we ever see another like him, eh?

[MsLouise1960]

Do you know that i have learned that because of you and what you have sung and written the folk the lovers of you are bound in love to each-other.I truely love you frustrating as it is, not ever being allowed to be close to you.

[TommyJefferson1776]

A Masterpiece of music and lyic! It penetrates my soul, my heart , my being and my mind.

[Risperal3mg]

Love Bob, love this lyrics, but your vid makes it even more worthy. Thank you...

[grainofsandfan]

He never wrote anything shallow.  Didn't have the capacity.

It's just a great song and I'm greatful an artist came who wasn't afraid to write and perform profound songs.

Songs are poetry but songs are no doubt more commercial and powerful than poetry even though poetry may be the base of it all or not.

[popGoesAnthony]

brilliant, my spouse just e'd me this , his fav and now a good fav of mine, thnx 4 yr upload

[chumkui999]

"in the fury of the moment i see the masters hand" genius.

[purpuracolors]

Beautiful ...

Greetings

Marlene