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Restless Pilgrim: The Spiritual Journey of Bob Dylan

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Throughout this book, Scott Marshall reveals that many of the answers people are searching for, in regard to Bob Dylan's faith, are found within his songs and life. The problem tends to be the biases brought to the music beforehand. This causes words that Dylan has said to appear contradictory, to be taken out of context. The author helps straighten them out, as he exposes the big picture (each chapter chronicles Dylan's life to the present year: 1941-1978, and so on). Though it is evident that the author also believes in Yeshua Ha Mashia (Jesus Christ) on a personal level, he does well in allowing the musician's own words and actions to speak for themselves.

Mr. Marshall covers numerous events, concerning (among others) such friends as Allen Ginsberg and acquaintances like Frank Zappa. And they help give added weight to lyrics in songs like "Precious Angel": My so-called friends have fallen under a spell. They look me squarely in the eye and they say, "All is well..." and the unacceptance felt in "I Believe In You": I believe in you even though I be outnumbered. Oh, though the earth may shake me-Oh, though my friends forsake me-that couldn't make me go back.

It is evident from Dylan's music that he feels people have tried to pigeonhole him. It is apparent, however, that his faith is strong regardless. Dylan has found critics on all sides. And he has done well to do what many people apparently fail to--delineate between his faith in Christ (which is personal) and religion (which, in and of itself, is not).

As Dylan sings in "Need A Woman," he is: searching for the truth the way God designed it. Not man. This would go hand in hand with his not being beholden to any "rabbi, preacher, or evangelist." He made such a statement after admitting that he enjoys listening to "preacher stations" on the radio. Another contradiction? Nope. But who is Dylan accountable to then, one might ask?...God. He knows well that a day of reckoning is yet to come (just listen to "Lord, Protect My Child," "God Knows," "Are You Ready?," Shooting Star," "Things Have Changed," and "Summer Days").

Some skeptics would say that Bob Dylan's spiritual journey has been one of contradiction. His own aunt evidently believes that his "conversion" was for the means of publicity. If this was the case (which Marshall does well in refuting), Mr. Dylan needs a new publicist! She also said, in effect, that he couldn't have "converted" because he's "plenty Jewish-minded-he was barmitzvahed." So someone who is Jewish, and barmitzvahed cannot be a believer in Christ? Scott Marshall heartily disagrees, as do many other believers. Jesus was a Jew after all.

"Restless Pilgrim" was a most enjoyable and quick read which left me wanting for a second volume. I was satisfied with its content as being researched very well. I would disagree with another reviewer, in saying that this book is narrow in its scope. It is obvious that Mr. Dylan was nominally a believer in Judaism, but that he embraced his Jewish roots more fervently after coming to faith in Jesus Christ. In the past twenty years (post-"Gospel Tour") it seems that those of Judaism and Christianity have, at some level, been debating whether Dylan belongs to their camp, or not. Mr. Marshall lays out the facts as they are...

I was impressed by the author's numerous interviews with individuals who were at the heart of the "Gospel Tour," and have been a part of Dylan's life. I had never heard about the many other musicians from the Rolling Thunder Revue that had become Christians-and artists like T-Bone Burnett and Roger McGuinn who came to faith at that same time (members of Mr. Dylan's circle of friends). I also found the story behind the original "Saved" album cover to be interesting (as I personally find that painting to be aesthetically more pleasing than the present one being used by Columbia for the cover).

Lastly, I was left with these impressions after reading this book: Dylan isn't singing for the generation who idolized him in his younger years. Though he was once referred to as the "voice of [that] generation" many considered him a traitor after he took a bold stand for Christ. Even Joan Baez spoke ill of his faith in "Children of the '80s" (what an open mind, Ms. Baez). He was only a voice for them when they believed that he agreed with them. Even when he sings "All Along the Watchtower" these days, one wonders how many know of its connection to Isaiah 28. I know I was clueless on this matter. Dylan isn't singing for the music industry either-it is all too obvious that many of his albums since "Saved," and prior to "Time Out of Mind," were not bestsellers. But is that what matters? I agree with Leonard Cohen, and Bono, that those albums are works of art, many of which are under appreciated. No, Dylan isn't concerned with the music industry's acceptance of him. It can be summed up in the introduction he gave to "In The Garden" at the Hard to Handle concert in 1986. Dylan said "I'm gonna sing about my hero now." Anyone who knows the lyrics of this song knows for whom he sings, and why.

It is interesting how many Dylan fans view Bob Dylan's involvement in Christianity as restricted to a couple years in the late 70's and early 80's and those years as a momentary lapse which he thankfully came out of. If one digs deeper into Dylan's work they will see an entirely different scenario. Dylan has had some Biblical references and themes in his songs since he first emerged in the early 60's. What does one make of the Jewish Dylan's Basement Tapes outtake, "Sign on the Cross" concerning the narrator's consternation that Jesus just may be the king of the Jews? The years following Dylan's born again period provoke much debate about his religious stance. Had he renounced Christianity, embraced Judaism? The Author makes a compelling case that shows how he believes Dylan has never ceased believing in Jesus even while embracing his Jewish roots. Mr. Marshall has meticulously researched these issues by examining Dylan's work through the last 2 decades including the songs that Dylan plays in concert day in and day out. Personal interviews abound. It is obvious that the author is a devoted fan who knows what he writes about. Well worth purchasing, this book is an interesting look at an often overlooked side of Bob Dylan.

One thing that really struck me about Martin Scorcese's recent Dylan documentary, "No Direction Home," is how much integrity Dylan displays when considering his artistic vision. And the pressure has been tremendous, as different camps have sought him out to make him their own. Joan Baez's comments regarding the desire to enroll him in protest efforts is perfectly illustrative of this. Just as illustrative is Dylan's push-back, which would result in his severing, at least partially, ties with that activist singer. His words have that kind of pull, but Dylan insists that the songs stay in a territory that he, not others, defines.

Still, the real career capper that went beyond Dylan's rejection of the folk movement, is his turn to Christianity. What to make of this turn? As Marshall and Ford point out in their book "Restless Pilgrim," his fans shouldn't have been that surprised, since Dylan has been signaling a religious sensibility for years in a number of his songs. And Dylan has said, look to his songs, if folks want answers about where his head and soul are at.

"Restless Pilgrim" is for the most part a distillation of things Dylan during the "faith" part of his career. Following this progression, Marshall and Ford make a strong case for Dylan still being a Christian - and a Jew, which are not at odds with each other. Looking at the songs Dylan still plays in concert, not to mention any number of comments made to interviewers over the years, you can't help but shake your head at the various Dylan "experts" out there who insist the Christian thing was just a phase. Well, clearly it's a phase that goes on.

One aspect of the book I really liked, were the various discussions of neglected albums. For example, Marshall and Ford suggest that the much maligned gospel albums "Shot of Love," and "Saved," are, upon examination of the actual songs, much better than critics have given them credit for. Listening to "Shot of Love," after reading the book had me agreeing. "Shot of Love" is a very good album, and I didn't even know that the great song "Every Grain of Sand" could be found on it. But Dylan's biblical interest didn't stop with these albums. Far from it. Marshall and Ford follow the thread up to the near present. If anything, Dylan's biblical vision is of a conservative and apocalyptic nature. But Dylan being Dylan, it's a vision that operates as a prophetic sword, one that cuts neither right nor left, but only aims at the truth.

Bob Dylan is a wizard with words. But his life is almost as interesting as his compositions, especially his spiritual life. Scott Marshall takes us on a tour of Dylan's spiritual life. His thesis seems to be that even though Bob is a seeker of truth, he is still a Christian after all these years. He highlights interviews that Dylan has given through the years, from the Sixties all the way to the present day.

However, when you read a Dylan interview, you never know whose answering the questions; the real Bob Dylan baring his soul, or Dylan the icon, or Dylan the whatever. Bob seems to enjoy being masked and anonymous, so I think it is tenuous at best to make a firm conclusion based on his interviews.

I think Dylan has gone back to the Judaism of his youth, and so I disagree with the author. Yet I also appreciated the fascinating journey that this book takes you on. Dylan truly is a restless pilgrim, and Marshall's book is faithful to its title. Recommended reading.

This book is a life changer! Scott Marshall has captured the essence of Bob Dylan's Spiritual marathon in such a way that not only draws you into the life of Dylan but more importantly, into your own spiritual journey. I couldn't put this literary work of art down! Mr. Marshall, thank you abundantly for your tendentious research, blood, sweat, and tears; it abounds in this powerful book on the pilgrimage of Bob Dylan.

Isaac Anderson
El Presidente
Vision FilmWorks
visionfilmworks.com

This book is a life changer! Scott Marshall has captured the essence of Bob Dylan's Spiritual marathon in such a way that not only draws you into the life of Dylan but more importantly, into your own spiritual journey. I couldn't put this literary work of art down! Mr. Marshall, thank you abundantly for your tendentious research, blood, sweat, and tears; it abounds in this powerful book on the pilgrimage of Bob Dylan.

Much has been written about the many phases of Bob Dylan. And there are many points of view. This book offers a compelling case for Bob Dylan, the ongoing Christian. If you are interested in spiritual side of Dylan and his lyrics, this book is for you.

I am a committed Christ-follower in pursuit of truth. I hope Mr. Dylan in his search for 'salvation' has truly found it. This book may not have answered that for me (who can know the heart of another?), but it gave evidence that he may be a fellow Christ-follower. I hope so.

"Restless Pilgrim: the Spiritual Journey of Bob Dylan" tells the story of Bob Dylan's spiritual journey between Judaism and Christianity as if that were the whole story. Anyone who has followed Dylan's life and career can tell you Dylan is a man of many parts, but Scott Marshall, and Marcia Ford give us only two, and though the parts are interesting and well documented these 196 pages could have lost half their length without sacrificing anything of what we're told. Dylan has been alive for 61 years, and producing for about 40. He's hung out with beatniks, hippies, druggies, meditators, artists, poets, and musicians, and probably all stripes of seekers and believers, and I find it hard to believe his spiritual wanderings and wonderings were restricted to Judaism and Christianity. There must be more, and "Restless Pilgrim," would have been a much more interesting book if the authors had dug a little deeper. As it is, it's an enjoyable read, but doesn't give us much depth.

Very interesting subject, but as I got farther into the book, I noticed that some of the reference Bible verses and quotes were starting to last over a page. I soon came to realize that the book was published by a Christian publishing company (Relevant Books). I learned more about "the sermon on the mount" than I did new information about Bob Dylan. "Restless Pilgrim" included some interesting facts, but was definitely written from a point of bias.