A few weeks ago I purchased the Bob Dylan Collection, a digital box set, from iTunes. The collection includes every Bob Dylan release from Bob Dylan (’62) to Modern Times (’06). I have found so many great Dylan songs that I have never had the chance to hear before now. One of my new favorites is Watered-Down Love from the 1981 album Shot of Love. The lyrics seemed instantly familiar to me. They sound an awful lot like what Paul had to say about pure love to the church in Corinth.
Watered-Down Love
Shot of Love
Bob Dylan
Love that’s pure hopes all things,
Believes all things, won’t pull no strings,
Won’t sneak up into your room, tall, dark and handsome,
Capture your heart and hold it for ransom.
You don’t want a love that’s pure
You wanna drown love
You want a watered-down love
Love that’s pure, it don’t make no claims,
Intercedes for you ‘stead of casting you blame,
Will not deceive you or lead you to transgression,
Won’t write it up and make you sign a false confession.
You don’t want a love that’s pure
You wanna drown love
You want a watered-down love
Love that’s pure won’t lead you astray,
Won’t hold you back, won’t mess up your day,
Won’t pervert you, corrupt you with stupid wishes,
It don’t make you envious, it don’t make you suspicious.
You don’t want a love that’s pure
You wanna drown love
You want a watered-down love
Love that’s pure ain’t no accident,
Always on time, is always content,
An eternal flame, quietly burning,
Never needs to be proud, restlessly yearning.
You don’t want a love that’s pure
You wanna drown love
You want a watered-down love
I hope that no one would ever dedicate this song to you or me. Jesus said that people would know that we were his disciples by the way we loved others. Let’s live everyday loving those around us with pure and unadulterated love.
No watered-down love around here.
“If I speak in human or angelic tongues, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self–seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” (1Corinthians 13:1-8 TNIV)
Great thoughts — thanks! I saw Dylan in concert in July and the depth of his music never fails to amaze me. Thanks for giving this song a whole new dimension.