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THIS WORLD CAN'T STAND LONG
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PERFORMANCES 1999.11.20, NEWARK, DELAWARE 2000.03.10, ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA (EARLY SHOW) 2000.03.10, ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA (LATE SHOW) 2000.03.11, SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA 2000.03.12, BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA 2000.03.14, VISALIA, CALIFORNIA 2000.03.17, RENO, NEVADA (EARLY SHOW) 2000.03.22, MISSOULA, MONTANA 2000.03.31, ROCHESTER, MINNESOTA 2000.04.01, SIOUX FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA 2000.04.05, SALINA, KANSAS 2000.04.06, DENVER, COLORADO 2000.06.18, GEORGE, WASHINGTON 2000.06.30, VENTURA, CALIFORNIA 2000.07.18, TORONTO, CANADA |
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This world can't stand too long Be ready don't be too late We should know it can't stand long For it is too full of hate For a long time this world has stood Gets more wicked every day The good maker who created it Surely won't let it stand this way This world it can't stand long Be ready don't be too late We should know it can't stand long For it is too full of hate This world has been destroyed before Cause it was too full of sin For that very reason Going to be destroyed again This world it can't stand long Be ready don't be too late We should know it can't stand long For it is too full of hate If only we give our hearts to God Let him lead us by the hand Nothing in this world to fear He'll lead you across the burning sand This world it can't stand long Be ready don't be too late We should know it can't stand long For it is too full of hate This world it can't stand long Be ready don't be too late We should know it can't stand long For it is too full of hate This world it can't stand long Be ready don't be too late We should know it can't stand long For it is too full of hate (Newark version) ____________________________ In 2000 Bob changed the lyrics of each chorus into: "...don't wait too late...". He also modified the last verse: "...let him take you by the hand... ...he'll lead you beyond the burning sand." Song written by Jim Anglin (1913-1987) |
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Four versions were given to me so far (Newark, Anaheim one, Visalia and Reno) and one more I have found online (George). The early version Bob performed in Anaheim is absolutely stunning. Each warning message of the three verses is underlined by a most powerful 15-seconds-harmonica-solo.
This only confirms that Bob Dylan is deeply convinced of the message he conveys with this challenging song. He does tell us in this song that "it's not dark yet, but it's getting there" and that "a hard rain's a-gonna fall" So "be ready, don't wait too late". He knows that one day "they close the door". But he also is confident that the same hand that led him through seas most severe will kindly assist him home. "THIS WORLD CAN'T STAND LONG" has been performed outside the US only once (in Toronto, Canada), the first performance in Europe has yet to be witnessed. |
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