☝️ Key Points
- The song explores the meaning of time and how it feels when one is lost or dreamy.
- It shows how time seems to pass even slower when one is lost in a dream.
- The song emphasizes the feeling of stagnation and stillness when time passes slowly.
- The chorus compares time to a blooming red rose that fades over time.
- Overall, the song reflects the experience of time feeling slow when one is lost or dreamy, and how it ultimately passes and fades.
Interpretation
"Time Passes Slowly" is a song by
Bob Dylan that explores the meaning of time and how it feels when one is lost or dreamy.
The song begins by talking about how time passes slowly in the mountains, as one sits beside bridges and walks along fountains. It is mentioned how the wild fish that swim through the river are caught. This illustrates how time seems to pass even slower when one is lost in a dream.
Dylan then tells of a former lover with whom he sat in her kitchen while her mother cooked. They looked out the window to the stars high above. Here, it becomes evident how time passes slowly when one is seeking love.
It is said that there is no reason to go to the city or go to mass. There is no reason to go up or down, or anywhere at all. This conveys the sense of stagnation and stillness when one finds themselves in a situation where time only passes slowly.
The chorus of the song emphasizes how time passes slowly in the daylight and how one strives to act rightly. A comparison is drawn to the red rose that blooms in summer and slowly fades with time. This symbolizes the passage of time and how it ultimately disappears.
Overall, "Time Passes Slowly" reflects the experience of time feeling slow when one is lost or dreamy, and how it eventually passes and fades. It is a calm and thoughtful song that invites listeners to ponder the nature of time."