‘Oh, Sister’: Was the biblical Bob Dylan song inspired by Joan Baez?
Bob Dylan is perhaps most well-known for his political songwriting, for enduring protest songs like ‘The Times They Are a-Changin’’ and ‘Hurricane’, but he didn’t always take on the weight of the world with his pen. Sometimes, his lyrics didn’t spawn from anger and discontent with society. Sometimes, they spawned from philosophical questions about death and the afterlife, from religious influences and interpersonal relationships. And sometimes, they combined all of the above.
In 1976, Dylan released his 17th record, Desire, which opened with one of his signature protest songs in ‘Hurricane’. But if you delve a little deeper into the tracklisting, you’ll find an example of his more personal approach to songwriting in a gorgeous little song called ‘Oh, Sister’. A song that, despite not being written in a particularly poetic or flowery way, has left listeners endlessly attempting to form their own interpretations of its meaning.
Amidst Biblical references, the song ruminates on life and death, reflecting on the relationships we may hone and hurt during our time on earth, imploring us to mend them before our time comes to leave them behind. Dylan’s protagonist longs to fix his relationship with the title character before he dies, affirming, “You may not see me tomorrow”.
But ‘Oh Sister’ is, as its title suggests, an ode to a sister. Dylan directly addresses a “sister” in his lyrics, asking her not to place distance between them and to accept the love that exists between them. “Oh sister, am I not a brother to you,” he asks, “And one deserving of affection?” But Dylan doesn’t have a sister, so who exactly is he addressing in his lyrics?
Some have suggested that the song might be an ode to Joan Baez, Dylan’s former lover and professional partner. Their complex relationship spawned love, heartbreak, and countless compositions, including one of Baez’s signature tracks in ‘Diamonds and Rust’. The song addresses a vague lover, declaring, “I loved you dearly, and if you’re offering me diamonds and rust, I’ve already paid.”
The bitter song hit out at Dylan, her former romantic partner, so could it be that he penned ‘Oh Sister’ in response, citing the brevity of life in an attempt to ask Baez to mend their relationship? This interpretation has never been confirmed by either party, but it is bolstered by the fact that Baez released a song called ‘Oh Brother!’ in the same year Desire was released.
Baez’s later song seems to echo Dylan’s sentiment, at times almost acting as a response to it lyrically. It was infused with the same biblical references and love, though with a little more intensity and bitterness. She promises that her love for her brother “extends through life” and admits that she doesn’t want to waste it. There is still a bitterness to her writing, though, as she sings, “But honey, what you’ve been dishing out,” she sings, “You’d never want to taste it.”
Whether ‘Oh, Sister’ was inspired by Baez or not, it certainly serves as an example of Dylan’s ability to pull from more personal feelings to pen equally beautiful and perplexing songs. Underscored by those characteristic harmonica blows and wavering backing vocals, it’s a gorgeous track that, like much of Dylan’s life and catalogue, might be best left shrouded in mystery for each listener to find their own meaning within.
Never Miss A Tale
The Far Out Bob Dylan Newsletter
All the latest stories about Bob Dylan from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.