Meaning
The title of the song is ironic. Although entitled "She Belongs to Me", the singer clearly belongs to the woman described in the song, and that woman belongs to no one, as alluded to in this line:
- She's nobody's child, the law can't touch her at all.
The lyrics describe how the woman cuts her man down to size but leaves him proud to serve her, as he "bow down to her on Sunday" and "salute her when her birthday comes." Other lines celebrate the woman's assertiveness and moral conviction as the singer's tone alternates between devotion and contempt. Some of the lyrics appear to reference Dylan's former lover, folk singer Joan Baez, particularly the line about the woman wearing an "Egyptian ring", since Dylan had given Baez such a ring. Other lines that may refer to Baez are a line describing her as "an artist" and a reference to being a "walking antique", which may be a reference to Baez' desire to keep Dylan writing protest songs. John Cale of the Velvet Underground has stated that he believes the song to be about Nico, with whom Dylan spent some time around the time of the song's composition. An alternate interpretation of the song is that it is a paean to Dylan's muse, depicting it as unapproachable but domineering. According to English artist, journalist and political activist Caroline Coon, the song was inspired by her.
Another possible interpretation is that the song is about Dylan's country, America, rather than a person.For example "salute her when her birthday comes" may refer to Independence Day.Giving her a trumpet and drum may refer to American militarism.The "Egyptian ring" verse may refer (obliquely) to the power of the dollar. (The dollar bill bears the image of an Egyptian pyramid.)
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