Isis

This song is about a man who has recently split from his wife, Isis. He leaves town atop a pony headed "for the wild unknown country." Along his way, he meets with a shady character and the both of them begin a search for treasure. During the journey, the man keeps thinking back to his ex-wife: As we rode through the canyons, through the devilish cold I was thinking about Isis, how she thought I was so reckless The shady character dies midway into the voyage, leaving the man to continue the treasure hunt alone: When he died I was hoping that it wasn't contagious But I made up my mind that I had to go on Upon reaching the tomb where the supposed treasure lies, the man is shocked to find an empty casket: There were no jewels no nothing, I felt I'd been had Frustrated, he drags his dead companion into the casket, before deciding to ride back home to Isis, "just to tell her I love her." After questioning his recent whereabouts, Isis accepts her ex-husband back. The song then concludes with the man pondering Isis and her magnetic influence: Isis oh Isis you're a mystical child What drives me to you is what drives me insane

Dylan wrote this song while he was separating from his then-wife, Sara, therefore many fans believe this song alludes to the couple's turbulent relationship. This argument is supported by the fact it features on the album, Desire, which closes with the poignant "Sara," during which Dylan openly sings about his "radiant jewel, mystical wife." This biographical approach to writing was a rare feat for Dylan, who usually preferred to write under personas (as in "Isis").

A live version of "Isis" features on the compilation album, Biograph. Dylan introduces it as "a song about marriage."