Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[perspectives]

Hi,

What does 'There's not even room enough to be anywhere.' mean as in Bob Dylan's Not Dark Yet http://www.bobdylan.com/songs/not-dark-yet?

Thanks in advance.

[pugachevV]

It's nonsense, but it vaguely conveys a feeling of unhappy discomfort; of being crowded into a small space, perhaps.

[perspectives]

Thanks, pugachevV.

Could it mean 'he cannot find a place in which to exist'? as in Bob Dylan and philosophy:it's alright, ma (I'm only thinking)
The link is here: http://books.google.com.tw/books?id=AUs-qZBoCPwC&pg=PA24&lpg=PA24&dq=%22There's+not+even+room+enough+to+be+anywhere%22&source=bl&ots=rpJC8QKt9e&sig=pF7puQ219ZkhzWnj7A2rEzFT7Ns&hl=zh-TW&ei=Vq22Tu6DMenemAXZtZ3NBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=8&ved=0CFoQ6AEwBzgo#v=onepage&q=%22There's%20not%20even%20room%20enough%20to%20be%20anywhere%22&f=false
I found this sentence ambiguous. I don't know how to seperate the sentence. Should it be

a. There's not even room enough to be / anywhere
b. (At /In) anywhere, there's not even room enough to be
c. There's not even room enough / to be anywhere

The meaning of the link I provide above seems to fit either a. or b. However, I doubt it means as such. What do you think?

[pugachevV]

The link you sent me seems to be in Asian characters. I regret that I do not understand it.
There's not even room enough to be anywhere
Does this mean there is no room anywhere in the world?
Does this mean there is no room for existence in the universe?
Does it mean there is no available housing?
Does it mean he is not accepted anywhere?
I don't know.
These are the words of a song. Bob Dylan is trying to elicit some emotion from his listeners. What really matters is: what emotion does it arouse in you?
The English words do not convey a clear meaning (at least, not to me) but in English poetry and song, such a lack of clarity and correct grammar is permitted in the interests of art. (It is called poetic licence).
My advice would be to continue to enjoy Bob Dylan's songs and eventually you will understand what the singer intended.
Treat it like a Zen koan, perhaps.

[perspectives]

Thanks once again, pugacheV. I agree with you but still desire to know the possible answers.