Every Grain of Sand (Bob Dylan song)
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"Every Grain of Sand" is a song written by
Bob Dylan Bob Dylan (legally Robert Dylan, born Robert Allen Zimmerman, May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. Often regarded as one of the greatest songwriters of all time, Dylan has been a major figure in popular culture during a career sp ...
, recorded in Los Angeles in the spring of 1981 and released in August of that year on Dylan's album '' Shot of Love''. It was subsequently included on the compilation '' Biograph''. An early version of the song, recorded in September 1980 and featuring Jennifer Warnes on backing vocal, was released in 1991 on '' The Bootleg Series Volumes 1–3 (Rare & Unreleased) 1961–1991''. The song appeared on the
soundtrack A soundtrack is recorded music accompanying and synchronised to the images of a motion picture, drama, book, television program, radio program, or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack o ...
for the 1998 film '' Another Day in Paradise'' and in the premiere episode of Marvel Studios’ ''
Moon Knight Moon Knight is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Doug Moench and artist Don Perlin, the character first appeared in ''Werewolf by Night'' #32 (August 1975). The son of a rabb ...
'' (2022).


Song structure and lyrics

Dylan had, according to his biographer Ian Bell, become a
born again Born again, or to experience the new birth, is a phrase, particularly in evangelicalism, that refers to a "spiritual rebirth", or a regeneration of the human spirit. In contrast to one's physical birth, being "born again" is distinctly and sepa ...
Christian in November 1978. "Every Grain of Sand" contains powerful allusions to Jesus, faith, and
spirituality The meaning of ''spirituality'' has developed and expanded over time, and various meanings can be found alongside each other. Traditionally, spirituality referred to a religious process of re-formation which "aims to recover the original shape o ...
(‘In the fury of the moment I can see the Master's hand / In every leaf that trembles, in every grain of sand’). '' Rolling Stone'' described it as a "mature update" of Dylan's 1964 song " Chimes of Freedom". The song is well known for its haunting imagery, which has been compared to that of William Blake. Although it is filled with numerous biblical references, it may also have been partly inspired by the following lines from William Blake's Auguries of Innocence: ''To see a world in a grain of sand''
''And a heaven in a wild flower,''
''Hold infinity in the palm of your hand''
''And eternity in an hour.''


Reception and aftermath

"Every Grain of Sand" is "perhaps his most sublime work to date", writes Clinton Heylin, "the summation of a number of attempts to express what the promise of redemption meant to him personally. One of his most intensely personal songs, it also remains one of his most universal. Detailing 'the time of my confession/the hour of my deepest need,' the song marks the conclusion of his evangelical period as a songwriter, something its position at the conclusion of Shot of Love tacitly acknowledges." Paul Nelson of '' Rolling Stone'' called it "the 'Chimes of Freedom' and 'Mr. Tambourine Man' of Bob Dylan's Christian period...it has surety and strength all down the line. Also vulnerability...Dylan's beautifully idiosyncratic harmonica playing has metamorphosed into an archetype that pierces the heart and moistens the eye. And, for once, the lyrics don't let you down. The artist's Christianity is both palpable and comprehensible...For a moment or two, he touches you, and the gates of heaven dissolve into a universality that has nothing to do with most of the LP." A 2015 ''Rolling Stone'' list of the "100 Greatest Bob Dylan Songs" placed it 10th. An article accompanying the list calls it a "spellbinding ballad" that is "equal parts Blakean mysticism and biblical resonance" and quotes U2 singer
Bono Paul David Hewson (born 10 May 1960), known by his stage name Bono (), is an Irish singer-songwriter, activist, and philanthropist. He is the lead vocalist and primary lyricist of the rock band U2. Born and raised in Dublin, he attended M ...
who compares it to "the great Psalms of David". Paul Williams in his book '' Bob Dylan, performing artist:The Middle Years'' said, "The love in "Every Grain of Sand," though firmly rooted in Dylan's conversion experience and his Bible studies, immediately and obviously reaches beyond its context to communicate a deeply felt devotional spirit based on universal experiences: pain of self-awareness, and sense of wonder or awe at the beauty of the natural world." Tim Riley described "Every Grain of Sand" as, "a prayer that inhabits the same intuitive zone as "Blowin' in the Wind" - you'd swear it was a hymn passed down through the ages." Rock critic Milo Miles wrote, "This is the one Dylan song in ten years...in which he examines a pop-culture paradox (that legendary stars in particular have to believe in ideals greater than themselves) more eloquently than any other performer has." When
Bruce Springsteen Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen (born September 23, 1949) is an American singer and songwriter. He has released 21 studio albums, most of which feature his backing band, the E Street Band. Originally from the Jersey Shore, he is an originat ...
inducted Dylan into the
Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (RRHOF), sometimes simply referred to as the Rock Hall, is a museum and hall of fame located in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States, on the shore of Lake Erie. The museum documents the history of rock music an ...
on January 20, 1988, he also cited "Every Grain Of Sand" as an example of his best work. "Every Grain of Sand" was cited by
Elvis Costello Declan Patrick MacManus Order of the British Empire, OBE (born 25 August 1954), known professionally as Elvis Costello, is an English singer-songwriter and record producer. He has won multiple awards in his career, including a Grammy Award in ...
on his list of "500 albums essential to a happy life" as possibly Dylan's finest track. A 2021 ''Guardian'' article included it on a list of "80 Bob Dylan songs everyone should know".


Cover versions

The Tucson-based band
Giant Sand Giant Sand is an American musical group from Tucson, Arizona, United States. Its most constant member is singer-songwriter Howe Gelb. The group started as Giant Sandworms in the late 1970s post-punk and paisley underground scenes. They later s ...
recorded a cover of this song for their album Swerve, which was released in 1990. It was also covered by
Emmylou Harris Emmylou Harris (born April 2, 1947) is an American singer, songwriter and musician. She has released dozens of albums and singles over the course of her career and has won 14 Grammys, the Polar Music Prize, and numerous other honors, including ...
on her album '' Wrecking Ball'',
Barb Jungr Barb Jungr (born 9 May 1954) is an English singer, songwriter and theatre writer, who has recorded versions of songs by Bob Dylan, Sting, Elvis Presley, Bruce Springsteen and Leonard Cohen. Career Barb Jungr was born in Rochdale, Lancashire ...
on her album '' Every Grain of Sand: Barb Jungr Sings Bob Dylan'', Lucy Kaplansky on the 2011 album Nod to Bob 2 and Steve Inglis on the 2010 album "Slackin' On Dylan".
Emmylou Harris Emmylou Harris (born April 2, 1947) is an American singer, songwriter and musician. She has released dozens of albums and singles over the course of her career and has won 14 Grammys, the Polar Music Prize, and numerous other honors, including ...
and
Sheryl Crow Sheryl Suzanne Crow (born February 11, 1962) is an American musician, singer, songwriter and actress. Her music incorporates elements of rock, pop, country, folk, and blues. She has released eleven studio albums, five compilations and three li ...
performed it in 2003 at the funeral of
Johnny Cash John R. Cash (born J. R. Cash; February 26, 1932 â€“ September 12, 2003) was an American country singer-songwriter. Much of Cash's music contained themes of sorrow, moral tribulation, and redemption, especially in the later stages of his ca ...
. The Blind Boys Of Alabama recorded a cover for their 2013 album ''I'll Find A Way'', Lizz Wright also for her 2017 album ''Grace.'' The traditional Iranian musician
Salah Aghili Salar Aghili ( fa, سالار عقیلی, Sâlâr Aqili, ; born 2 December 1977), known by his full name Mir Salar Moslemi Aghili, is a classical and Persian traditional singer.روزنامهٔ ایران â€/ref> ( fa, میرسالار Ù…Ø³Ù„Ù…Û ...
recorded a version of the song for the 2013 world music compilation ''From Another World: A Tribute to Bob Dylan''. Nana Mouskouri From the Album ''"Why Worry"'' June 22, 2018
Chrissie Hynde Christine Ellen Hynde (born September 7, 1951) is an American musician. She is a founding member and the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter of the rock band the Pretenders, and one of the band's two remaining original members alon ...
covered it on her 2021 album: ''Standing in the Doorway: Chrissie Hynde Sings Bob Dylan''.


Popular culture

The song appears twice in the Marvel series
Moon Knight Moon Knight is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Doug Moench and artist Don Perlin, the character first appeared in ''Werewolf by Night'' #32 (August 1975). The son of a rabb ...
, both at the start of the premiere episode and in the second episode.


References


External links


Lyrics
at Bob Dylan's official site
Chords
at Dylanchords {{DEFAULTSORT:Every Grain Of Sand 1981 songs Bob Dylan songs Magnapop songs Songs written by Bob Dylan Gospel songs Song recordings produced by Bob Dylan Song recordings produced by Chuck Plotkin