“Amicus meus/Positively 4th Street”, introduction

The Dylan/Tenebræ pairing of this movement—Amicus meus + Positively 4th Street—was the inspired genesis of the whole project. The common emotions between the two texts is uncanny and, perhaps, points the Tenebræ listener closer to a human view of Christ. Connection between the two run further and include a direct musical quote of Dylan’s bass line.

Positively 4th Street is worthy of special note as this is one of Dylan’s greatest hits. It’s been released multiple times since being recorded and released as a singe in 1965. Both texts are heavy with the strong emotion of someone thrown aside by a friend. For Dylan, however, we don’t know the target of the lyrics (although a debate carries on today). In the case of Christ, the words “It had been good for that man if he had never been born.” becomes a refrain through the middle nocturn of the Responsories (movements 4–6) and depict an emotion one could only ascribe to a human Jesus. Follow NB as Paul discusses this in the commentaries for these middle movements.

My own familiar friend has betrayed me with a kiss.
Whomsoever I kiss, he is the one, hold him fast.
This wicked sign he gave to bring about my death.
Unhappy man who threw down the price of blood
and in the end hanged himself.

It had been good for that man if he had never been born.
Unhappy man who threw down the price of blood
and in the end hanged himself.

(cf. Matthew 26:48-50, 27:5, 26:24)

Positively 4th Street

The cover for Dylan's single "Positively 4th Street" from 1965

You got a lotta nerve
To say you are my friend
When I was down
You just stood there grinning

You got a lotta nerve
To say you got a helping hand to lend
You just want to be on
The side that’s winning

You say I let you down
You know it’s not like that
If you’re so hurt
Why then don’t you show it

You say you lost your faith
But that’s not where it’s at
You had no faith to lose
And you know it

I know the reason
That you talk behind my back
I used to be among the crowd
You’re in with

Do you take me for such a fool
To think I’d make contact
With the one who tries to hide
What he don’t know to begin with

You see me on the street
You always act surprised
You say, “How are you?” “Good luck”
But you don’t mean it

When you know as well as me
You’d rather see me paralyzed
Why don’t you just come out once
And scream it

No, I do not feel that good
When I see the heartbreaks you embrace
If I was a master thief
Perhaps I’d rob them

And now I know you’re dissatisfied
With your position and your place
Don’t you understand
It’s not my problem

I wish that for just one time
You could stand inside my shoes
And just for that one moment
I could be you

Yes, I wish that for just one time
You could stand inside my shoes
You’d know what a drag it is
To see you

Copyright © 1965 by Warner Bros. Inc.; renewed 1993 by Special Rider Music