Natalie Wood's "Shelter from the Storm"

"Shelter From The Storm"

by Bob Dylan

I was in another lifetime one of toil and blood

When blackness was a virtue and the road was full of mud

I came in from the wilderness a creature void of form

"Come in" she said

"I'll give you shelter from the storm".

And if I pass this way again you can rest assured

I'll always do my best for her on that I give my word

In a world of steel-eyed death and men who are fighting to be warm

"Come in" she said

"I'll give you shelter from the storm".

Not a word was spoke between us there was little risk involved

Everything up to that point had been left unresolved

Try imagining a place where it's always safe and warm

"Come in" she said

"I'll give you shelter from the storm".

I was burned out from exhaustion buried in the hail

Poisoned in the bushes and blown out on the trail

Hunted like a crocodile ravaged in the corn

"Come in" she said

"I'll give you shelter from the storm".

Suddenly I turned around and she was standing there

With silver bracelets on her wrists and flowers in her hair

She walked up to me so gracefully and took my crown of thorns

"Come in" she said

"I'll give you shelter from the storm".

Now there's a wall between us something there's been lost

I took too much for granted got my signals crossed

Just to think that it all began on a long-forgotten morn

"Come in" she said

"I'll give you shelter from the storm".

Well the deputy walks on hard nails and the preacher rides a mount

But nothing really matters much it's doom alone that counts

And the one-eyed undertaker he blows a futile horn

"Come in" she said

"I'll give you shelter from the storm".

I've heard newborn babies wailing like a mourning dove

And old men with broken teeth stranded without love

Do I understand your question man is it hopeless and forlorn

"Come in" she said

"I'll give you shelter from the storm".

 In a little hilltop village they gambled for my clothes

I bargained for salvation and they gave me a lethal dose

I offered up my innocence and got repaid with scorn

"Come in" she said

"I'll give you shelter from the storm".

Well I'm living in a foreign country but I'm bound to cross the line

Beauty walks a razor's edge someday I'll make it mine

If I could only turn back the clock to when God and her were born

"Come in" she said

"I'll give you shelter from the storm".

When writing Goodbye Natalie Goodbye Splendour I wanted to use ALL of Dylan's lyrics for the Section Introductions, but was told I could choose only two lines from each song choice I used (without having to go through copyright procedures), but in this song I used for the Part Four intro in GNGS, I thought the lyrics were all too eerie and close to Dennis's relationship with Natalie. I've enlarged the chilling lyrics that bring the truest meaning for my use of this song in GNGS. 

Natalie sang THIS song and Rainy Day Woman by Bob Dylan so many times while hanging out with Dennis in the wheelhouse aboard Splendour. When Dennis met Natalie, he actually DID turn around and she WAS standing there with silver bracelets on her wrist! She DID give him "Shelter from the Storm" and Dennis's life has never been the same. If only he could turn back time, he would give HER "Shelter from the Storm."