Bob Dylan
Shelter From The Storm - Alternate Version
'Twas in another lifetime, one of toil and blood
When blackness was a virtue the road was full of mud
I come in from the wilderness, a creature void of form
Come in, she said
I'll give ya shelter from the storm

And if I pass this way again, you can rest assured
I'll always do my best for her, on that I give my word
In a world of steel-eyed death, and men who are fighting to be warm
Come in, she said
I'll give ya shelter from the storm

Not a word was spoke between us, there was no risk involved
Nothing up to that point had even been resolved
Try imagining a place where it's always safe and warm
Come in, she said
I'll give ya shelter from the storm

I was burned out from exhaustion, buried in the hail
Poisoned in the bushes an' blown out on the trail
Hunted like a crocodile, ravaged in the corn
Come in, she said
I'll give ya shelter from the storm

Suddenly, I turned around and she was standin' there
With silver bracelets on her wrists and flowers in her hair
She walked up to me so gracefully and took my crown of thorns
Come in, she said
I'll give ya shelter from the storm

Now the bonds are broken, but they can be retied
Oh, one more journey to the woods to holes where spirits hide
It's a never-ending battle for a peace that's always torn
Come in, she said
I'll give ya shelter from the storm

Well, the deputy walks on hard nails and the preacher rides a mount
But nothing really matters much, it's doom alone that counts
And the one-eyed undertaker, he blows a futile horn
Come in, she said
I'll give ya shelter from the storm

Well, I've heard newborn babies cryin' like a mournin' dove
And old men with broken teeth stranded without love
Do I understand your question, man? Is it hopeless and forlorn?
Come in, she said
I'll give ya shelter from the storm

And now there's a wall between us, something has been lost
I took too much for granted, I got my signals crossed
And just to think it all began on an uneventful morn'
Come in, she said
I'll give ya shelter from the storm

In a little hilltop village, they gambled for my clothes
I bargained for salvation and she gave me a lethal dose
I offered up my innocence, got repaid with scorn
Come in, she said
I'll give ya shelter from the storm

Well, I'm livin' in a foreign country, but I'm bound to cross the line
Beauty walks on a razor's edge, someday I'll make it mine
If I could only turn back the clock to when God and her were born
Come in, she said
I'll give ya shelter from the storm