About Angels and Bitches

Dylan has recognized only two kinds of women: "angels," whose function was to save man (from the women themselves as often as not), and "bitches," whose function was to let him down, if not by overt attempts to ruin and confuse, at least by their failure to save. The bitches enjoyed their heyday during the "Just like a Woman" period, of course, and their prominent return on Blood on the Tracks was one of the principle reasons why that album was believed to be a return to the golden age. The angels dominated from Nashville Skyline to Planet Waves, and there is reason to believe that Dylan still holds onto something of that vision: "Sara," one of two songs on Desire which he wrote alone, again speaks of his wife as a "sweet virgin angel." – Rolling Stone review of Desire (1976)

Whoa! Pretty strong statement, that one. Considering Dylan’s intricacy as an intriguing songwriter, I feel the critic over-simplified his appraisal about the women in Dylan’s songs.

There is this song that comes to mind, “North country blues” , a bleak folksy song about the trial and tribulation of a young mother in copper country no ‘bitchiness’ here no beatific charm.

Well, there is "I don’t believe you" which is an opinion about double standards; I don’t think there is a direct assault on “bitchiness”.

“ I’ll be your baby tonite” and “All I really wanna do” are yearnings to get into her pants, almost a cunning plea, bereft of any macho thing going.

“Boots of Spanish leather” Dylan accepts the going away of his beau, without reprove. In other words he does not call her a bitch for abandoning him!!!

Even seemingly caustic songs like “ It ain’t me babe” speaks of the individual’s shortcomings in the relationship, but then again this could be Dylan’s outburst to his 60’s fans who almost deified him.

With a Dylan song you never know.