The notion of coming full circle serves as a recurring theme here, via both the lyrics and rootsiness of the music. It isn’t a new theme. Dylan has played the part of a man who’s traveled the world and come back with a message and a warning since “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall.”
But now weary wisdom has taken the place of apocalyptic urgency. He sounds like he’s come to understand that even the direst warnings usually go unheeded, leaving those who survive to sing about it. “It’s soon after midnight and my day has just begun,” Dylan sings on “Soon After Midnight,” sounding surprised to still be around, much less awake. If he has any final statements, he’s saving them. There’s too much work to be done.
