On the song “Early Roman Kings” from Bob Dylan’s 2012 album “Tempest,” he sings, “If you see me coming and you’re standing there, wave your handkerchief in the air. I ain’t dead yet, my bell still rings.”

It’s never a good idea to take a Dylan lyric literally. His songs are usually shrouded in so many layers of metaphor, it all blends together like individual ice cubes melting into a pool of water. This song’s no different …