Biblical Allusion in Dylan's Lyrics

15 Points Per Correct Answer - No time limit  

1. True or false: Before his conversion to Christianity, Dylan alluded to the Hebrew Scriptures in his song lyrics, but not to the New Testament. True False

2. Some have seriously argued that the Joker in "All Along the Watchtower" represents: The Apostle Paul Satan Jesus Christ Abraham

3. It has been argued that the Jokerman in "Jokerman" represents: Anti-Christ Jesus Christ All of these Israel

4. The line, "There's been rumors of wars and wars that have been...", from "Let Me Die in my Footsteps" alludes to a statement made by Christ. In what book of the Bible? Revelation Matthew Acts Job

5. The line "But I know I ain't no prophet / An' I ain't no prophet's son" from the song "Long Time Gone" refers to what book of the Bible? Revelation Hosea Genesis Amos

6. The lyric "And the first one now / Will later be last" in "The Times They Are A' Changing" alludes to what book of the Bible? James Genesis Matthew Isaiah

7. In "With God on Our Side" the speaker has "for many a dark hour" been thinking about what? How he was saved The indoctrination in his school The manner of Christ's betrayal World peace

8. In what song does Dylan allude to the exodus of the Hebrews, singing, "And like Pharaoh's tribe, they'll be drowned in the tide." Lay Down Your Weary Tune All Along the Watchtower Highway 61 When the Ship Comes In

9. What Biblical figure is mentioned in "Tombstone Blues"? Delilah John the Baptist Neither of these Both of these

10. Which Biblical figure is NOT mentioned in "Desolation Row?" Jesus Christ The Good Samaritan Cain and Abel Noah

11. The album "John Wesley Harding" draws Biblical allusions most heavily from which of the following books? Leviticus Isaiah Romans Esther

12. Name ONE of the two books of the Bible that Dylan says are the Jokerman's only teachers in the song "Jokerman." (Hint: Both are books of the law.) Numbers Leviticus Exodus Gospel of John

13. In "Foot of Pride", Dylan sings "up on the stage they’ll be trying to get water out of rocks." He is alluding to the action of what Biblical figure? Judas Iscariot Elijah Moses Jesus Christ

14. To what Biblical figure does Dylan allude in the first stanza of "Highway 61?" Answer: (One Word, first name only)

15. In what song does Bob Dylan probably allude to the following scripture: "And he cried, A lion: My lord, I stand continually upon the watchtower in the daytime, and I am set in my ward whole nights: And, behold, there cometh a chariot of men, with a couple of horsemen. And he answered and said, Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and all the graven images of her gods he hath broken down unto the ground" (Isaiah 21:8-9). I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine The Wicked Messenger All Along the Watchtower Jokerman

16. What one song probably alludes to all four of the following scriptures? (1) "..and ye shall eat, and not be satisfied" (Leviticus 26:26) (2) "Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not." (Isaiah 42:20) (3) "God will not cast away a perfect man...'till he fill thy mouth with laughing" (Job 8:20-21). (4) "They build upon Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity" (Micah 3:10) Rainy Day Women The Wicked Messenger I Pity the Poor Immigrant All Along the Watchtower

17. In 1987, Bob Dylan opened a tour by saying, "I'm going to sing a song about my hero." He then went into a rendition of what Biblical-allusion-laced song? Neighbourhood Bully In the Garden Jokerman Lenny Bruce

18. Based on a Biblical allusion in "Sweetheart Like You," who might we guess is the Sweetheart's father? Satan Israel Anti Christ God

19. In "The Groom's Still Waiting at the Altar," which of the following does the groom most likely represent? Jacob Satan Jesus Christ John the Baptist

20. What Biblical character is mentioned by name in "Every Grain of Sand"? Jesus Christ Cain Noah Abraham