One Song By Bob Dylan: “Is Your Love In Vain?” “Street Legal”

In 1978,  Bob Dylan was fed up with his ex wife Sarah and decided to write at least an album’s worth of material about it. This is just about one song on the album.

The name of the song is: “Is Your Love In Vain?” and contains some of the most directly spiteful lyrics Dylan ever wrote. He does not pull one punch in this song…and that is why it is my favorite song. Maybe as a fellow songwriter, I could relate to the pain Dylan was going through? And despite his pose for this album as a pseudo Elvis character mostly in the clothing department, Dylan came out swinging complete with three killer back up singers that could blow the door off it’s hinges! And they did. Elvis had died approximately one year previous to this, and made Dylan’s persona even stronger.

Rolling Stone from most reports did not understand this album and criticized Dylan for going “Vegas.” This is what I remember anyway. But as time has moved on, and some tastes and styles have changed…Rolling Stone is not laughing so hard anymore about this 1978 Bob Dylan masterpiece!

The song starts out with a B-3 organ, electric rhythm guitar, full horn section and a full rhythm section playing what almost sounds like some kind of funeral march. What follows are the lyrics:

“IS YOUR LOVE IN VAIN?”     by Bob Dylan (c)1978

DO YOU LOVE ME

OR ARE YOU JUST EXTENDING GOOD WILL

DO YOU NEED ME HALF AS BAD AS YOU SAY

OR ARE YOU JUST FEELING GUILT

CHORUS:

I BEEN BURNED BEFORE

AND I KNOW THE SCORE

SO YOU WON’T HEAR ME COMPLAIN

WILL I BE ABLE TO COUNT ON YOU

OR IS YOUR LOVE IN VAIN

ARE YOU SO FAST THAT YOU CANNOT SEE

THAT I MUST HAVE SOLITUDE

WHEN I AM IN THE DARKNESS

WHY DO YOU INTRUDE

CHORUS:

DO YOU KNOW MY WORLD

DO YOU KNOW MY KIND

OR MUST I EXPLAIN

WILL YOU LET ME BE MYSELF

OR IS YOUR LOVE IN VAIN

BRIDGE:

WELL I BEEN TO THE MOUNTAIN

I’VE BEEN IN THE WIND

I BEEN IN AND OUT OF HAPPINESS

I HAVE DINED WITH KINGS

I’VE BEEN OFFERED WINGS

AND I’VE NEVER BEEN TOO IMPRESSED 

ALL RIGHT I’LL TAKE A CHANCE

I WILL FALL IN LOVE WITH YOU

IF I’M A FOOL YOU CAN HAVE THE NIGHT

YOU CAN HAVE THE MONEY TOO

CHORUS:

CAN YOU COOK AND SEW

MAKE FLOWERS GROW

DO YOU UNDERSTAND MY PAIN

ARE YOU WILLING TO RISK IT ALL

OR IS YOUR LOVE IN VAIN

REPEAT LAST CHORUS:

These are my favorite Bob Dylan lyrics…and that is why it is my favorite Dylan song, and for that matter my favorite song period. By the way…that is my right to like and maybe even love this song. You may like whatever else you want.  Some people have criticized me for liking this song on this site which I resent.  Maybe you should listen for yourselves to this song and others (on “Street Legal”) and then you can draw a conclusion that is educated not just hateful.  I wonder if that’s possible?  Please read these lyrics carefully before you jump to conclusions. Thank you to Bob Dylan for writing such a timeless song and for making an album as strong as “Street Legal.” As a listener, songwriter & fan I appreciate what Bob Dylan was trying to do back in 1978 no matter how misunderstood it was at the time. The time to embrace this song as a master work has come. And it will remain my number one song, no matter what somebody else sais. 

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