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Idiot Wind - Bob Dylan
by sybil Monday, May 1 2017, 10:03pm
international / prose / post

These are the chorus lyrics from Bob Dylan’s song ‘Idiot Wind,’ which a friend played for his dinner guests and then asked of his guests, ‘is it socially relevant today? Allow me to assist a little with the creative artistic process before you strain your brain attempting an answer.

The Idiot on the Hill

As a poet myself I am acutely aware that all artistic expression is derived from the collective unconscious, which is saturated with archetypes obtained/imprinted on our minds since human experience began. With that in mind, art delivers and haunts us beyond our conscious apprehension, the art that really works relates to all humanity because it tugs at our powerful and largely unconscious archetypes, and Dylan was a genius at relating to his age, though he probably wasn’t aware why his lyrics struck ‘home’ to the extent they did.

Now of course Dylan was writing about a failed personal relationship in 'Idiot Wind,' however, that does not exclude it from social relevance in any time period as human experience constantly repeats itself, unfortunately.

Now apply these lyrics to Trump as the antagonist and American society as the protagonist, and see the ruination in both players today. I cannot thank my friend enough for bringing this experience to our attention TODAY, as it applies more now than when Dylan pulled it from the collective unconscious.

I would add for those interested in pursuing the matter, that Carl Jung developed the collective unconscious/archetype theory, which has proven itself almost daily since Jung brought it to culture’s attention.

Symbolic archetypes are more powerful than spoken language as they contain the hyper emotionally charged totality of a species’ experience, not that of isolated, lost individuals/societies, which have lost their connection to the collective 'soul.'

And so society today is at that stage where it can ‘barely feed itself’ -- so what would you imagine would be the outcome? Do not fear though that’s impossible, as deep down we all know where we are headed, it’s happened before and has been recorded in history on numerous occasions but it’s always extremely unpleasant, to put it mildly. However, remember our prerogatives are always open, nothing is written in stone; the sickness/plague that infects the entire world today is cured with awareness and enlightened remedial action.

It’s time to stop FOLLOWING, we are all created beings and no other being has the right to lord over another unless of course that other SURRENDERS their God given sovereignty, which act has produced the lost societies of today. Follow nothing but YOUR inner inclinations for peace and harmony as are laid out plainly by the infinite universe, and remember if you weren’t aware of this simple fact: if the infinite process was flawed it would have extinguished many aeons ago -- but it persists, infinity is indeed perfection and its open secret is harmony and the striving for balance or equanimity/peace.

I hope Dylan’s lyrics are re-appreciated in today’s age -- enjoy, learn and ACT before it's too late!

Idiot wind
Blowing every time you move your mouth
Blowing down the back roads headin' south
Idiot wind
Blowing every time you move your teeth
You're an idiot, babe
It's a wonder that you still know how to breathe

Idiot wind
Blowing through the flowers on your tomb
Blowing through the curtains in your room
Idiot wind
Blowing every time you move your teeth
You're an idiot, babe
It's a wonder that you still know how to breathe

Idiot wind
Blowing like a circle around my skull,
From the Grand Coulee Dam to the Capitol
Idiot wind
Blowing every time you move your teeth
You're an idiot, babe
It's a wonder that you still know how to breathe

Idiot wind
Blowing through the buttons of our coats
Blowing through the letters that we wrote
Idiot wind
Blowing through the dust upon our shelves
We're idiots, babe
It's a wonder we can even feed ourselves