Bob Dylan Unpublished Handwritten Religious Lyrics Sold for $25,000 at Auction
Bob Dylan's lyrics and harmonica
A rare piece of Bob Dylan's creative legacy featuring unpublished handwritten religious lyrics filled with Biblical allusion and accompanied by a harmonica sold for $25,000 in RR Auction's Fine Autographs and Artifacts sale.
The lyrical musings penned on Ritz-Carlton New York letterhead explore themes of faith and moral conflict, including the line: "You do good deeds to hasten the coming of the Messiah."
The unsigned one-page manuscript dating to the early 1980s reflects Dylan's spiritual exploration during a transformative period in his career when he blended his Evangelical Christian beliefs with his Jewish heritage. The lyrics discuss the coexistence of good and evil, encapsulated in a metaphor about two plants growing side by side, one yielding beautiful plants, the other poisonous fruit.
The manuscript, believed to have been gifted by Dylan along with a Hohner Special 20 Marine Band harmonica, was sold alongside the instrument in its original case.
Dylan has long been recognized for infusing his lyrics with Biblical and religious imagery, as seen in his songs God Knows, Nettie Moore, and Things Have Changed. This newly uncovered manuscript echoes such themes, offering a glimpse into Dylan's exploration of faith and morality during the recording of his 1983 album Infidels.
“These unpublished lyrics are more than just words on a page, they're a testament to Dylan's ongoing search for meaning through faith, creativity, and music,” said Bobby Livingston, Executive VP at RR Auction.
Other sale highlights from the auction include:
- Marie Antoinette autograph letter signed to King Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies ($25,781)
- Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton signed sea letters preserving American neutrality during wartime in Europe ($20,354)
- John Lennon signed royalties contract for Dear Prudence ($19,899)
- King Henry VII signed document for accounts of land confiscated from enemies ($18,781)
- George Washington signed document as President, three-language ship's Paper ($16,444)
