Slow Train Coming | Born To Listen

“They ask me how I feel
And if my love is real
And how I know I’ll make it through
And they, they look at me and frown
They’d like to drive me from this town
They don’t want me around
‘Cause I believe in you”

Alison Krauss – I Believe In You – The Best Dylan Covers

I Believe In You is the third song on Slow Train Coming, the nineteenth studio album by Bob Dylan, released on August 20, 1979. It was his first effort since becoming a born-again Christian, and all of the songs either express his strong personal faith, or stress the importance of Christian teachings and philosophy. The evangelical nature of the record alienated many of Dylan’s existing fans; at the same time, many Christians were drawn into his fan base. Slow Train Coming was listed at #16 in the 2001 book CCM Presents: The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music.

“One of the most tender love songs Dylan wrote in the 1980’s, even though the object of his affection is not a woman, but Christ. “I Believe in You” also contains arguably Dylan’s most committed vocal on Slow Train Coming. The song’s lyrics are simple but touching – “I believe in you/even through the tears and laughter” and “I believe in you/Even when I feel outnumbered” are just two examples. Indeed, the song is a simple statement on Dylan’s new found faith and the notion that Dylan will now drop everything and make any sacrifice for Christ now that his faith is strong. The song contains a beautiful melody and some lovely guitar flourishes by Mark Knopfler. One of the best songs of Dylan’s Christian period.”
– Thomas Ward (allmusic.com)

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_message message_box_color=”mulled_wine” icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-quote-left”]It’s in my system. I don’t really have enough time to talk about it. If someone really wants to know, I can explain it to them, but there are other people who can do it just as well. I don’t feel compelled to do it. I was doing a bit of that last year on the stage. I was saying stuff I figured people needed to know. I thought I was giving people an idea of what was behind the songs. I don’t think it’s necessary any more. When I walk around some of the towns we go to, however, I’m totally convinced people need Jesus. Look at the junkies and the winos and the troubled people. It’s all a sickness which can be healed in an instant. The powers that be won’t let that happen. The powers that be say it has to be healed politically.
~Bob Dylan (to Robert Hilburn – Nov 1980)

Musically, this is probably Dylan’s finest record, a rare coming together of inspiration, desire and talent that completely fuse strength, vision and art.
~Jann S. Wenner (rollingstone.com – Sept. 1979)

Slow Train Coming was a collection of songs Dylan had originally intended to donate to backing singer Carolyn Dennis.
~Clinton Heylin (The Recording Sessions)[/vc_message][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Continue reading “August 20: Bob Dylan Released Slow Train Coming” →