Bob Dylan vs. John Lennon

“In the life of faith, neutrality is not an option. We are either ranked under the banner of the Lord Jesus, to serve and fight His battles, or we are slaves of the dark prince, Satan. ‘To whom do you belong?’” – C.H. Spurgeon

In 1979, Bob Dylan entered a recording studio in Muscle Shoals, Alabama and emerged with a song that won that year’s Grammy Award for Best Rock Vocal Performance by a Male. The song, which appeared on Dylan’s studio album Slow Train Coming, was titled “Gotta Serve Somebody” and its chorus went like this…

But you’re going to have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You’re going to have to serve somebody
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you’re going to have to serve somebody

Despite its critical and commercial success, not everyone was a fan of Dylan’s song. In fact, John Lennon was so incensed by Dylan’s lyrics that he wrote a song titled Serve Yourself. Not only did it mock Dylan’s newfound Christian faith, but it included harsh profanity including at least six F-bombs.

Here is one of the cleaner choruses…

You got to serve yourself
Nobody gonna do for you
You gotta serve yourself
Nobody gonna do for you
Well you may believe in devils and you may believe in laws
But if you don't go out and serve yourself, la, ain't no room service here

Tragically, Lennon was murdered a year later and is presumably languishing in hell today, having rejected Jesus. Conversely, Bob Dylan is a spry 84-year-old balladeer who still performs up to 100 times per year.

“He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.” Matthew 12:30 (BSB)

- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President