Meaning of "Rank Strangers to Me" by Bob Dylan

The lyrics of "Rank Strangers to Me" by Bob Dylan speak to the universal experience of feeling disconnected and isolated as time passes and people change. The speaker longs for familiarity and belonging but finds himself surrounded by strangers, emphasizing the impermanence of relationships and the inevitability of loss. The mention of a "beautiful home on that bright, crystal sea" and the idea of reuniting in heaven suggest a longing for a sense of belonging and reunion in an afterlife where relationships are eternal and unchanging. The song captures the loneliness that can come with aging and the bittersweet realization that the people we once knew may become strangers to us, but there is still hope for a future where everyone will be recognized and familiar once again.