Bob Dylan- "Property Of Jesus" Meaning?

FahkaFahka Posts: 3,187
edited March 2006 in Other Music
I always really liked this song... but i cant fn figure out what or who rather the song is about... im pretty sure its has religious stance, but beyond that im a lil lost, any help?
Post edited by Unknown User on

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  • pickupyourwillpickupyourwill Posts: 3,135
    Go ahead and talk about him because he makes you doubt
    Because he has denied himself the things that you can't live without
    Laugh at him behind his back just like the others do
    Remind him of what he used to be when he comes walking through.

    He's the property of Jesus
    Resent him to the bone
    You got something better
    You've got a heart of stone.

    Stop your conversation when he passes on the street
    Hope he falls upon himself, oh, won't that be sweet
    Because he can't be exploited by superstition anymore
    Because he can't be bribed or bought by the things that you adore.

    He's the property of Jesus
    Resent him to the bone
    You got something better
    You've got a heart of stone.

    When the whip that's keeping you in line doesn't make him jump
    Say he's hard-of-hearing, say that he's a chump
    Say he's out of step with reality as you try to test his nerve
    Because he doesn't pay tribute to the king that you serve.

    He's the property of Jesus
    Resent him to the bone
    You got something better
    You've got a heart of stone.

    Say that he's a looser 'cause he got no common sense
    Because he don't increase his worth at someone else's expense
    Because he's not afraid of trying, say he's got no style
    'Cause he doesn't tell you jokes or fairy tales, say things that make you smile.

    He's the property of Jesus
    Resent him to the bone
    You got something better
    You've got a heart of stone.
    You can laugh at salvation, you can play Olympic games
    You think that when you rest at last you'll go back from where you came
    But you're picked up quite a story and you've changed since the womb
    What happened to the real you, you've been captured but by whom ?

    He's the property of Jesus
    Resent him to the bone
    You got something better
    You've got a heart of stone.



    never heard this song before---I googled for the lyrics.

    from what I can tell, it sounds very sarcastic. The whole refrain about "He's the property of Jesus, resent him to the bone, you got something better , you've got at heart of stone"--I'm hoping all this is sarcastic anyway--like he's taking it from the "sinner's" point of view but putting him down as well. Am I wrong? I don't know--its late. I need sleep. hope this helps ya.
  • rhinomagicrhinomagic Charlottesville, VA Posts: 2,547
    Well, it's on Shot of Love which is from Dylan's Christian period, I believe.

    For a few years in the early '80s (1979-1983, I think) he wrote some albums of songs about faith in Jesus and what it meant to him to be a Christian. He eventually dropped his pursuit of Christianity and continued to make (some would say better) music.

    I think it's a safe bet this song is a satirical look at the person who resents or rejects Jesus. The 'heart of stone' is reminiscent of passages from the Bible that describe non-believers as hard-hearted or having their hearts hardened.

    Just my take...
    Memphis 1994
    New Orleans 1995
    Fort Lauderdale 1996
    Atlanta & Birmingham 1998
    New Orleans 2000
    Tampa 2003
    Kissimmee 2004
    New York City (x 2) 2008
    East Troy (x 2) 2011
    Chicago & New Orleans 2013
    Hampton, Raleigh, Boston 2016
    Baltimore 2020
    Louisville 2022
    Philadelphia & Baltimore 2024
  • FahkaFahka Posts: 3,187
    good take man.. tis what i think too
  • The person in the song has taken "up his cross and followed Jesus." Thus he has no desires for worldly things which other non-believers love. They don't understand him and they have hearts of stone. As Christians we try to be in the world and not of, because of this people often misunderstand us. That and George Bush is a big tool.
  • pickupyourwillpickupyourwill Posts: 3,135
    rhinomagic wrote:
    Well, it's on Shot of Love which is from Dylan's Christian period, I believe.

    For a few years in the early '80s (1979-1983, I think) he wrote some albums of songs about faith in Jesus and what it meant to him to be a Christian. He eventually dropped his pursuit of Christianity and continued to make (some would say better) music.

    I think it's a safe bet this song is a satirical look at the person who resents or rejects Jesus. The 'heart of stone' is reminiscent of passages from the Bible that describe non-believers as hard-hearted or having their hearts hardened.

    Just my take...

    ~~~~bump~~~~
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