______________________________ PASS ME NOT O GENTLE SAVIOR ______________________________ HEAR MY HUMBLE CRY _____________________
PERFORMANCES 1999.02.23, BUFFALO, NEW YORK 1999.02.24, AMHERST, MASSACHUSSETS 2000.03.15, SANTA CRUZ, CALIFORNIA 2000.03.21, PULLMAN, WASHINGTON 2000.03.29, BISMARK, NORTH DAKOTA (DURING SOUND CHECK ON 2000.07.03, ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO) (DURING BAND SOUND CHECK ON 2000.07.26, WANTAGH, NEW YORK WITH CHARLIE SEXTON ON VOCALS)
	Pass me not, O gentle Savior Hear my humble cry While on others Thou art calling Do not pass me by Savior, Savior Hear my humble cry While on others Thou art calling Do not pass me by Let me at Thy throne of mercy Find a sweet relief Kneeling there in deep contrition Help my unbelief Savior, Savior Hear my humble cry While on others Thou art calling Do not pass me by Trusting only in Thy merit Would I seek Thy face Heal my wounded, broken spirit Save me by Thy grace Savior, Savior Hear my humble cry While on others Thou art calling Do not pass me by Thou the Spring of all my comfort More than life to me Whom have I on earth beside Thee? Whom in heav’n but Thee? Savior, Savior Hear my humble cry While on others Thou art calling Do not pass me by WORDS BY FRANCES J. CROSBY, 1868; MUSIC BY WILLIAM H. DOANE, 1870
I have only listened to the second performance (Amherst) so far, where Bob only sings the first two verses with a slight lyric change in the second. When Bob Dylan chooses to sing a hymn like that (until now he only did that inside the US), he is openly confessing that he still is "weeping for the saving grace that's over" him. Addressing his wonderful Savior directly he is aware that sweet relief and help in unbelief is only to be found kneeling at the throne of mercy. Listening to his humble cry in the words of this blind lady songwriter of the last century is the most vulnerable Bob Dylan I have heard since "WHEN HE RETURNS" and "WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU". It still "is only He who can reduce" him "to tears". His Lord is the one who has "given all there is to give". "He knows your needs even before you ask".