Bruce Feiler - Where God Was Born, Abraham, Walking The Bible

Bob Dylan (Hearts) Israel
Thursday, February 15, 2007

It's Bob Dylan week here on Feiler Faster. First, Dylan's song about Abraham pitches up on an NPR show about my book. Then a friend sends along this email about Dylan's love that dare not speak its name: His love for Israel.

Back in 1983 Bob Dylan wrote "Neighborhood Bully" and sang it on an album entitled "Infidels". "Neighberhood Bully" is an amazing pro Israel song, a commentary on the Jewish people and its contribution to the world; on the eternity of the Jewish people; on the world's hypocrisy; as well as the persistence of anti-Semitism over the centuries.
Unfortunately very few people seemed to notice it at the time but its never been more appropriate than it is today. I recently shared it with a colleague (and dedicated Dylan fan!) who confessed that he had missed it as well. So for the edification of all of us who remain Dylan fans, for all of us who love Israel and hate the world's hypocrisy, I'm reprinting the lyrics below. Read it and share it with your kids ....download the song from itunes (it's actually a great song...well worth the $.99!)...

Here's a sample:

Neighborhood Bully
by Bob Dylan

Well, the neighborhood bully, he's just one man,
His enemies say he's on their land.
They got him outnumbered about a million to one,
He got no place to escape to, no place to run.
He's the neighborhood bully.

The neighborhood bully just lives to survive,
He's criticized and condemned for being alive.
He's not supposed to fight back, he's supposed to have thick skin,
He's supposed to lay down and die when his door is kicked in.
He's the neighborhood bully.

The neighborhood bully been driven out of every land,
He's wandered the earth an exiled man.
Seen his family scattered, his people hounded and torn,
He's always on trial for just being born.
He's the neighborhood bully.

Well, he knocked out a lynch mob, he was criticized,
Old women condemned him, said he should apologize.
Then he destroyed a bomb factory, nobody was glad.
The bombs were meant for him.
He was supposed to feel bad.
He's the neighborhood bully.
From the album "Infidels", Copyright © 1983 Special Rider Music

Labels: Middle East, The Bible in Pop Culture

Posted by B Feiler at 7:05 AM
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1 Comments:

Anonymous said...: Although this site has not been updated since 2004, it provides additional insight to Bob Dylan's ties and feelings toward Israel.

Bob Dylan: Tangled Up In Jews
http://www.radiohazak.com/Dylan.html; February 17, 2007 4:16:00 PM EST