Bob Dylan - Precious Angel Lyrics
Lyrics
Precious angel, under the sun,
How was I to know you'd be the one
To show me I was blinded, to show me I was gone
How weak was the foundation I was standing upon?
Now there's spiritual warfare and flesh and blood breaking down.
You either got faith or you got unbelief and there ain't no neutral ground.
The enemy is subtle, how be it we are so deceived
When the truth's in our hearts and we still don't believe?
Shine your light, shine your light on me
Shine your light, shine your light on me
Shine your light, shine your light on me
You know I just couldn't make it by myself.
I'm a little too blind to see.
My so-called friends have fallen under a spell.
They look me squarely in the eye and they say, All is well.
Can they imagine the darkness that will fall from on high
When men will beg God to kill them and they won't be able to die?
Sister, lemme tell you about a vision I saw.
You were drawing water for your husband, you were suffering under the law.
You were telling him about Buddha, you were telling him about Mohammed
in the same breath.
You never mentioned one time the Man who came and died a criminal's death.
Shine your light, shine your light on me
Shine your light, shine your light on me
Shine your light, shine your light on me
You know I just couldn't make it by myself.
I'm a little too blind to see.
Precious angel, you believe me when I say
What God has given to us no man can take away.
We are covered in blood, girl, you know our forefathers were slaves.
Let us hope they've found mercy in their bone-filled graves.
You're the queen of my flesh, girl, you're my woman, you're my delight,
You're the lamp of my soul, girl, and you torch up the night.
But there's violence in the eyes, girl, so let us not be enticed
On the way out of Egypt, through Ethiopia, to the judgment hall of Christ.
Shine your light, shine your light on me
Shine your light, shine your light on me
Shine your light, shine your light on me
You know I just couldn't make it by myself.
I'm a little too blind to see.
Video
Bob Dylan - Precious Angel (Official Audio)
Meaning & Inspiration
"Precious Angel," released on August 20, 1979, as a pivotal track from Bob Dylan's album *Slow Train Coming*, stands as an indelible testament to a profound spiritual transformation. This song emerged during a period when Dylan openly embraced a born-again Christian faith, an experience that radically reoriented his songwriting from the enigmatic folk prophet to an unyielding evangelist. It’s a deeply personal yet universally resonant declaration, articulating the revelation of spiritual truth through the lens of newfound faith and the guiding influence of a loved one. The narrative unfolds as a powerful confessional, exploring the stark reality of spiritual warfare and the absolute necessity of choosing a side in the spiritual realm.
The song’s core meaning revolves around Dylan's awakening, acknowledging a past blindness to divine truth and the shaky foundations of his former life. The titular "Precious Angel" represents not only a beloved woman who helped illuminate his path but also serves as a symbolic vessel for divine grace, showing him he "was blinded" and "was gone." This vulnerability echoes the sentiment found in Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." The shift from a self-reliant worldview to one grounded in faith is presented as an urgent, inescapable reality, declaring that "there ain't no neutral ground" in the spiritual conflict between belief and unbelief. This assertion aligns with the biblical understanding of a cosmic battle, where one must choose allegiance, as described in Matthew 12:30, "Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters." Dylan expresses genuine bewilderment at human stubbornness, observing how "the truth's in our hearts and we still don't believe," reflecting Romans 1:20 which states that God's eternal power and divine nature have been clearly perceived, "so people are without excuse."
The recurring plea, "Shine your light, shine your light on me," is a raw and poignant cry for divine illumination, an admission of complete dependence on God to navigate a spiritually dark world. It recognizes a personal limitation, "I'm a little too blind to see," which beautifully mirrors the humility found in Psalm 119:105, "Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path," and the prayer in Psalm 43:3, "Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me." Dylan's concern extends beyond himself, touching upon "my so-called friends" who have "fallen under a spell," seemingly oblivious to the dire spiritual realities he now perceives. His warning about the coming darkness, when "men will beg God to kill them and they won't be able to die," is a chilling evocation of end-times prophecy, specifically Revelation 9:6, which speaks of a time of severe judgment when "people will seek death but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will flee from them." This highlights the urgency and weight of his message, portraying a stark choice between eternal salvation and irreversible despair.
The song takes a direct confrontational turn in a vivid vision addressed to a "Sister," depicting someone exploring various spiritual paths—Buddha and Mohammed—without acknowledging "the Man who came and died a criminal's death." This powerfully underscores the exclusivity of Christ as the unique path to salvation, echoing John 14:6, where Jesus declares, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Dylan emphasizes that trying to find righteousness or peace through other means is "suffering under the law," a theme central to Paul's letters, particularly Galatians, which contrasts grace with the impossibility of salvation through adherence to legalistic codes. He reminds his "Precious Angel" that "What God has given to us no man can take away," a profound assurance rooted in Jesus' words in John 10:28-29, confirming the eternal security of those in His hand. The reference to being "covered in blood" powerfully evokes the atoning sacrifice of Christ, a central doctrine of Christian faith described in Hebrews 9:22, where "without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins." Connecting this to "our forefathers were slaves" adds a layer of shared human suffering and historical oppression, seeking mercy in a lineage marked by hardship, a deep spiritual empathy that transcends time.
Finally, Dylan beautifully intertwines his personal affection for the "Precious Angel" with his spiritual devotion, calling her "the queen of my flesh," "my delight," and "the lamp of my soul." This shows how faith not only transforms individual lives but also deepens human relationships, grounding them in a higher purpose. However, he interjects a crucial warning against worldly enticements – "there's violence in the eyes, girl, so let us not be enticed" – cautioning against the dangers of lust and worldly distractions, aligning with Matthew 5:28 and 1 John 2:16 regarding the lust of the eyes and the desires of the flesh. The song culminates with a panoramic spiritual journey from "the way out of Egypt" (symbolizing liberation from bondage, Exodus 12), "through Ethiopia" (representing the breadth of the Christian mission, Acts 8:26-40), to "the judgment hall of Christ" (the ultimate reckoning, Revelation 20:11-15). "Precious Angel" is more than just a song; it is a sermon, a prayer, and a testimony, delivered with an unwavering conviction that calls all to seek the divine light and embrace the transformative power of Christ. Its message is clear, urgent, and designed to inspire listeners to examine their own spiritual foundations and choose wisely.