“Sara,” is Bob Dylan’s most honest song.  Its probably the only personal song he addresses to a real person directly, his wife Sara.  The lyrics are incredibly intimate and, apparently, true to life.  ‘Sara’ a gorgeously pained ballad of desperation, fittingly included as the closer to an album he named Desire.  That record came out in 1976, and it should come as no surprise that Sara divorced him a year later.  Their marriage was on the rocks, evidenced by all the songs found on Blood on the Tracks.  I love this songs melody, at once both graceful and earthy.  The lyrics, which I also love, are mix of passionate pleadings and cosmic reverence for this woman, a brave and true piece of work, but hey, what else would you expect from Mr. Bob Dylan?  The video itself, is an incredible document of washed out 70s home movies and live performances capturing the desolate mood of the song perfectly. So, in the end, there is nothing else for us to do but press play a few times and let this sink in our souls.

The year was 1976, and Bob Dylan was in Colorado at Hughes Stadium singing one of his greatest songs ever, “Shelter From the Storm.”  Originally from Blood on the Tracks, the song was being filmed and recorded for Bob’s live record Hard Rain.  “Shelter From the Storm” is one of Bob’s most enduring poems.  Its a universal anthem that blithely crosses nostalgia with tall tales of true romance and bitterness.  The video below is taken from NBC’s hour long film of the concert and showcases what Dylan would  do in a live setting for the rest of career, namely never playing his classic songs the way you heard them on record.  This version of “Shelter From the Storm” is transformed from a somber acoustic ballad into an upbeat rocking rave.  It’s also a sight to see Bob play that incredibly unique electric guitar with a slide no less!  This is a wonderful rendition, and a must watch for fans of Bob’s middle eastern head gear phase.