Mr. Tambourine Man Song Lyric And Poetry Analysis
First, here is the song:
The Main Meaning Of This Song
This song is about escapism of drugs. It portrays the escapism of drugs in one of the most beautiful ways in all of poetry, songwriting, and literature. But near the end of the song, there is a sudden change with the following lyric:
And take me disappearing through the smoke rings of my mind Down the foggy ruins of time Far past the frozen leaves The haunted frightened trees Out to the windy beach Far from the twisted reach of crazy sorrow
Notice the “twisted reach of crazy sorrow” which is the answer to the thin protection offered by escapism of drugs. Drug use doesn’t ensure safety from the sorrow we hide from. In my opinion, this is the core idea of the song. And if I can add to this, a conclusion that can be made is that we must keep looking for a better solution to our sorrow than the escapism of drugs – if a solution is possible.
Who Is The Tambourine Man?
Bob Dylan explained that the “Tambourine Man” was a man who at times played guitar for him. His name was Bruce Langhorne. Dylan had a recollection of this guitarist once holding a big tambourine. I don’t know much more about this tambourine man.
My own interpretation of this tambourine man is the trance his music put on the protagonist of the song, further amplifying his trip and visions, helping him drift away on his dreamy trip.
Song Lyrics And In-line Analysis
Hey, Mr. Tambourine Man, play a song for me I'm not sleepy and there is no place I'm going to Hey, Mr. Tambourine Man, play a song for me In the jingle jangle morning I'll come following you.
This chorus sounds fun. But it’s not great poetry and a little confusing as to what’s being discussed here. The lyrical magic starts in the first verse:
Though I know that evening's empire has returned into sand Vanished from my hand Left me blindly here to stand, but still not sleeping My weariness amazes me, I'm branded on my feet I have no one to meet And the ancient empty street's too dead for dreaming.
Hey, Mr. Tambourine Man, play a song for me I'm not sleepy and there is no place I'm going to Hey, Mr. Tambourine Man, play a song for me In the jingle jangle morning I'll come following you.
Take me on a trip upon your magic swirling ship My senses have been stripped My hands can't feel to grip My toes too numb to step Wait only for my boot heels to be wandering I'm ready to go anywhere, I'm ready for to fade Into my own parade Cast your dancing spell my way, I promise to go under it.
Hey, Mr. Tambourine Man, play a song for me I'm not sleepy and there is no place I'm going to Hey, Mr. Tambourine Man, play a song for me In the jingle jangle morning I'll come following you.
Though you might hear laughing, spinning, swinging madly across the sun It's not aimed at anyone It's just escaping on the run And but for the sky there are no fences facing And if you hear vague traces of skipping reels of rhyme To your tambourine in time It's just a ragged clown behind I wouldn't pay it any mind It's just a shadow you're seeing that he's chasing.
Hey, Mr. Tambourine Man, play a song for me I'm not sleepy and there is no place I'm going to Hey, Mr. Tambourine Man, play a song for me In the jingle jangle morning I'll come following you.
And take me disappearing through the smoke rings of my mind Down the foggy ruins of time Far past the frozen leaves The haunted frightened trees Out to the windy beach Far from the twisted reach of crazy sorrow Yes, to dance beneath the diamond sky With one hand waving free Silhouetted by the sea Circled by the circus sands With all memory and fate Driven deep beneath the waves Let me forget about today until tomorrow.
We are continuing with this wonderful trip with “the smoke rings of my mind” and “foggy with the ruins of time.” I am not into drug trips, but even so, the way it’s described is magical and so enchanting.
Hey, Mr. Tambourine Man, play a song for me I'm not sleepy and there is no place I'm going to Hey, Mr. Tambourine Man, play a song for me In the jingle jangle morning I'll come following you.
The Takeaways