Under The Red Sky

Bob Dylan's song 'Under The Red Sky' weaves a surreal and enigmatic narrative that blends elements of fairy tales, folklore, and allegory. The lyrics introduce us to a little boy and girl living in an alley under a red sky, a setting that immediately evokes a sense of otherworldliness and mystery. The repetition of their existence under the red sky suggests a cyclical or eternal nature to their story, hinting at themes of innocence and the passage of time.

The appearance of an old man living in the moon adds another layer of mysticism to the song. His presence and subsequent departure symbolize the transient nature of life and the inevitability of change. The old man could be seen as a guardian or a figure of wisdom, whose brief interaction with the children marks a pivotal moment in their lives. The imagery of the moon and the old man passing by evokes a sense of fleeting moments and the ephemeral nature of existence.

The bridges in the song introduce cryptic messages and surreal imagery. The promise of a diamond as big as a shoe to the little girl suggests a future filled with unexpected and grand possibilities. However, the dark twist of the children being 'baked in a pie' introduces a grim, almost cautionary tale element, reminiscent of classic fairy tales with their often dark undertones. The second bridge, with its references to the 'key to the kingdom' and the 'blind horse,' further deepens the song's allegorical nature, suggesting themes of guidance, destiny, and the search for meaning. The final lines, where the man in the moon goes home and the river runs dry, leave the listener with a sense of finality and the end of a mystical journey.