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Bob Dylan: "Make You Feel My Love"

 A "rearview mirror" song is a note to a friend; it's the thoughts you forgot to articulate. You have these thoughts as you're driving away, and you're glancing in the rearview mirror. Often--in the song's asides and parenthetical allusions--we get the entire history of a relationship. A sterling example is Taylor Swift's "We Are Never Getting Back Together." Taylor is delivering a message--of course--but she is also narrating several months of "bad romance"; she is giving us the (entertaining) context for her decision.


Another fine example is "Make You Feel My Love," by Bob Dylan. This is a friend addressing another friend. Letter Recipient is in trouble. Letter Writer is offering help.

When the wind is blowing in your face--
And the whole world is on your case--
I could offer you a warm embrace--
To make you feel my love.

The reason that the song is brilliant is the little wrinkle that Dylan adds. The Letter Recipient is possibly beyond the reach of help. Love is available, but love might be limited in its "brass tacks" efficacy.

I know you haven't made your mind up yet--
But I would never do you wrong.
I've known it from the moment that we met--
No doubt in my mind where you belong.

Letter Writer's feelings may not be "productive," but they're still powerful. They're still worth observing; they're a part of life, and they're easily relatable. This song took its definitive form in Adele's live performance--shortly after the death of Amy Winehouse.

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