Isis

Words by Bob Dylan, Jacques Levy, music by Bob Dylan © 1975 Ram's Horn Music

(Official lyrics @ www.bobdylan.com)

Desire session 5, Columbia Studio E, NYC - 31.jul.1975, album version  
Rolling Thunder Revue (October-December 1975):  
   Studio Instrumental Rentals rehearsals, New York City NY - 19 Oct 1975  
   Studio Instrumental Rentals rehearsals, New York City NY - 21 Oct 1975  
   Technical University, Lowell MA - 2 Nov 1975  
   Palace Theater, Waterbury, CT - 11 Nov 1975  
   Memorial Auditorium, Worcester MA - 19 Nov 1975  
   Harvard Square Theater, Cambridge MA - 20 Nov 1975  
   Boston Music Hall, Boston MA - 21 Nov 1975 (afternoon) 
   Boston Music Hall, Boston MA - 21 Nov 1975 (evening)  
   Forum de Montréal, Montréal QU - 4 Dec 1975  
   Madison Square Garden, NYC "Night of the Hurricane" - 8 Dec 1975  

I married Isis on the fifth day of may
But i could not hold on to her very long
So i cut off my hair an' i rode straight away
For the wild unknown country where i could not go wrong.

I came to a high place of darkness an' light
The dividin' line ran through the center of town
I hitched up my poney to a post on the right
Went into a laundry to wash my clothes down.

A man in the corner approached me for a match
I knew right away he was not ordinary
He said, "Are you lookin' for somethin' easy to catch?"
I said, "I got no money", he said, "That ain't necessary".

We set out that night for the cold in the north
I gave him my blanket an' he gave me his word
I said, "Where are we goin'?", he said, "We'd be back by the fourth."
I said, "That's the best news that i've ever heard."

I was thinkin' about turquoise, i was thinkin' about gold
I was thinkin' about diamonds an' the world's biggest necklace
As we rode through the canyons through the devilish cold
I was thinkin' about Isis, how she thought i was so reckless.

How she told me that one day we would meet up again
An' things will be different the next time we wed
If i only could hang on an' just be her friend
I still can't remember all the best things she said.

We came to the pyramids all embedded in ice
He said, "There's a body i'm tryin' to find
If i carry it out it'll bring a good price"
T'was then that i knew what he had on his mind.

The wind it was howlin' an' the snow was outrageous
We chopped through the nite an' we chopped through the dawn
When he died i was hopin' that it wasn't contagious
But i made up my mind that i had to go on.

I broke into the tomb but the casket was empty
There was no jewels, no nothin', i felt i'd been held
When i saw that my partner was just bein' friendly
When i took up his offer i musta been mad.

I picked up his body an' i dragged him inside
Threw him down in the hole an' i put back the cover
I said a quick prayer an' i felt satisfied
Then i rode back to find Isis just to tell her that i love her.

She was there in the meadow where the creek used to rise
Blinded by sleep an' in need of a bed
I came in from the east with the sun in my eyes
I cursed her one time an' i rode on ahead.

She said, "Where ya been", i said, "No place special"
She said, "You look different", i said, "Well i guess"
She said, "You been gone", i said, "It's only natural"
She said, "You gonna stay?", i said, "If you want me to, yes!"

Isis, oh Isis you're a mystical child
What drives me to you is what drives me insane
I still can remember the way that you smile
On the fifth day of may in the drizzlin' rain.