Meet Me in the Morning by Bob Dylan Lyrics Meaning – Unraveling the Mystique of a Folk Rock Classic
Lyrics
56th and Wabasha
Meet me in the morning
56th and Wabasha
Honey, we could be in Kansas
By time the snow begins to thaw
They say the darkest hous
Is right before the dawn
They say the darkest hour
Is right before the dawn
But you wouldn’t know it by me
Every day’s been darkness since you been gone
Little rooster crowin’
There must be something on his mind
Little rooster crowin’
There must be something on his mind
Well, I feel just like that rooster
Honey, ya treat me so unkind
Well, I struggled through barbed wire
Felt the hail fall from above
Well, I struggled through barbed wire
Felt the hail fall from above
Well, you know I even outran the hound dogs
Honey, you know I’ve earned your love
Look at the sun
Sinkin’ like a ship
Look at the sun
Sinkin’ like a ship
Ain’t that just like my heart, babe
When you kissed my lips?
Bob Dylan, a name synonymous with lyrical depth and musical innovation, often leaves a trail of interpretational breadcrumbs for his listeners to follow. ‘Meet Me in the Morning,’ a seemingly straightforward blues song from his celebrated 1975 album ‘Blood on the Tracks,’ paints an evocative picture of longing and despair, wrapped in the deceptive simplicity of his music.
Peering beyond the surface, we find Dylan’s typical cunning in lyricism, as he invites us on a journey through the morning after—the aftereffects of love lost and hardships faced. Like dawn itself, the song is an intersection of light and darkness, of renewal and continuous struggle.
The Enigma of 56th and Wabasha: A Place or a State of Mind?
While Bob Dylan is known for his poignant storytelling, he often resists the temptation of painting a clear picture. The mention of ’56th and Wabasha’ serves as the crux of the song, a rendezvous point laden with mystery. Geographically elusive, it begs the question: Is Dylan referring to an actual location or is this symbolic of an internal meeting place—a crossroads of emotion and memory where one reconciles with their past?
This ambiguity plays into the song’s overarching theme of introspection. By evoking a specific image that is both tangible and untraceable, Dylan crafts a poetic limbo that reflects the transient nature of the relationship central to the song.
Dylan’s Blues: Interweaving Folklore and Personal Sorrow
Traditionally, blues songs are repositories of sorrow, channels through which artists pour their personal grief. ‘Meet Me in the Morning’ takes form in this rich tapestry of American music, but with a distinct twist. Dylan’s references to the ‘darkest hour’ before dawn and the crowing rooster are drawn from folklore and used to underscore the sense of incessant struggle and endurance portrayed in the song.
These elements serve as metaphors for anticipated change and pent-up expression. By interlacing his experiences within these shared cultural motifs, Dylan creates a song that is both timeless and intimately personal.
Tales of Resilience: ‘I Struggled Through Barbed Wire’
In a display of resilience, the lines ‘Well, I struggled through barbed wire’ compel listeners to consider the physical and emotional obstacles faced by the protagonist. Dylan uses this imagery to depict the trials one endures over the course of a trying relationship—an emblematic journey through pain for the sake of love.
By choosing to persevere ‘through barbed wire’ and outpacing ‘the hound dogs,’ the protagonist exemplifies determination in the face of relentless challenges. These lines sing to the hardships endured not just in love, but in life’s broader canvas, marking the song as an anthem for the tenacious spirit.
Revealing the Heart: The Sunken Ship and Kissed Lips
Each verse in ‘Meet Me in the Morning’ builds towards the poignantly simple chorus that reveals a heart in despair. The imagery of a sinking sun compared to a heart’s sinking feeling cleverly intertwines nature’s cycle with human emotion, climaxing as the lyric ‘Ain’t that just like my heart, babe, when you kissed my lips?’ evoke the bittersweet memory of love’s last touch.
Such memorable lines carry the dual weights of a relationship’s ending and the inevitable passage of time. Dylan crafts these words to create a visceral connection, anchoring the song’s emotive force in the universal experience of loss.
Uncovering the Veiled Meanings: A Deep Dive into Dylan’s Symbolism
True to his enigmatic style, Bob Dylan layers ‘Meet Me in the Morning’ with veiled meanings waiting to be uncovered. Each verse functions as a code, embedded with symbols that speak to broader human experiences. Whether it’s the rooster heralding a new beginning or the relentless passage of time represented by the changing seasons, Dylan’s cryptic prose demands a deeper look.
This song is not merely a tale of yearning or a blueprint of resilience; it acts as a mirror in which listeners see their personal struggles and redemptions. Crafting a story that resonates on multiple levels, Dylan invites us to meet him in the morning of our own understanding, wherever and whatever that may be.
