Bob Dylan's handwritten working lyrics for "With God On Our Side"

Maker Bob Dylan (American, born 1941)

Datec. 1963-1964

ClassificationsMusic

DimensionsLyrics: 7 1/2 x 7 in. (19.1 x 17.8 cm)

DescriptionBob Dylan's handwritten, partial working lyrics for the song "With God On Our Side" from his seminal 1964 album The Times They Are A-Changin'. The manuscript features half of the seventh, the complete eighth and ninth verses to the song, along with numerous corrections, words scratched out, and Bob Dylan's signature in pencil. It reads:

If fire them we're forced to then fire them we must
One push of the button and a shot the world wide
And you never ask questions when God's on your side.
Through many a dark hour I've been thinking about this
That Jesus Christ was betrayed by a kiss
But I can't think for yuh you'll have to decide
If Judas Iscariot had God on his side.
So now as I'm leaving I'm weary as Hell
The confusion I'm feeling ain't no tongue can tell
The words fill my head and fall to the floor
If God's on our side he'll stop the next war.

Bob Dylan’s (b. 1941) impact on culture transcends music. His topical lyrics, protest statements, and anti-establishment appearance made him an icon of the civil rights and anti-war movements of the 1960s. Dylan’s early music drew on elements of folk, R&B, gospel, and Beat Generation poetry to create an original sound.

After establishing himself in the folk community, Dylan created controversy when he played an electric set at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival. His “plugged in” performance was met with boos but spoke to his shift in musical style and attitude. Dylan’s entry in TIME 100: The Most Important People of the Century speaks to his legacy. He is referred to as a “master poet, caustic social critic and intrepid, guiding spirit of the counterculture generation.”