The Times They Are-a Changing

This song off the 1964 with the same name was letting people all around the world that we were witnessing a change in the world. The Civil Rights Movement was in full swing and things were eventually going to be different in the world. He calls on all types of people to come “head the call” and take up action. From writers to politicians, and the mothers and fathers who don’t want change. The times truly did change and I think Dylan, although not an instrumental figure like Kennedy of King, still was able to reach people in way those men could not, sure they were great orators and gave us some of the greatest speeches of all times, but Dylan was able to reach them in other ways and that was through the power of song. He was able to reach people who were not affected by these actions and didn’t see them every day and make them realize that something had to be done and as it was you had to be on the right side.

Come gather ’round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You’ll be drenched to the bone.
If your time to you is worth savin’
Then you better start swimmin’ or you’ll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin’.

Come writers and critics
Who prophesize with your pen
And keep your eyes wide
The chance won’t come again
And don’t speak too soon
For the wheel’s still in spin
And there’s no tellin’ who that it’s naming.’
For the loser now will be later to win
For the times they are a-changin’.

Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don’t stand in the doorway
Don’t block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
There’s a battle outside and it is ragin’.
It’ll soon shake your windows and rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin’.

Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don’t criticize
What you can’t understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is rapidly agin’.
Please get out of the new one if you can’t lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin’.

The line it is drawn
The curse it is cast
The slow one now
Will later be fast
As the present now
Will later be past
The order is rapidly fadin’.
And the first one now will later be last
For the times they are a-changin’.

A note to those who complain about his voice

I get sick and tired of the only excuse people can seem to come up with why they don’t like Dylan is because he has a raspy voice, or he can’t carry a tune. While I know his voice isn’t perfect but it fits his music, and not only that he has inspired so many musicians whose voices are known to be less than par, such as Jimi Hendrix and Kurt Cobain. Do you think they would have been able to unleash their great music on the world if Dylan didn’t open the door for those whose voices were less than perfect. Also I think that it is very important to point out that on a couple different instances Dylan seems to be able to give a voice that you did not expect from him, you just have to know where exactly to look because it is not everywhere you turn. An great example would be “Girl From The North Country” from Nashville Skyline. Off John Wesley Harding the song “I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight” is another example. The point of the matter is that there are many people out there who like the way the Dylan sings, and many wonder if his much of music would carry the same meaning if it didn’t have the sound that it does. I once remember reading an interview by an artist who once commented on Dylan’s voice in this way. There are plenty people out there trying to sing like Dylan, people want to create that sound, not many people try to sing like Elvis these days now do they.

Dylan the early years

On my website I just wrote an article on Bob Dylan’s early music career. The aricle talks briefly about his childhood and then goes into details regarding the five year period in which he made seven albums, many considered to be some of the greatest ever. In this period it seemed that Dylan could turn anything he touched into gold. The songs that he produced would be envied by everyone in the industry. Many different artist would be known for covering his songs during this period from the folk band Peter Paul and Mary, to Jimi Hendrix. He would receive many accolades during this time for songs like “ Blowing in the Wind”, and “Like a Rolling Stone” and albums like Highway 61 Revisted and Bringing it All Back Home”. The reason why this period of music is so important to me is that both these areas are what got me hooked on Dylan. I loved his early folk music and especially loved his rock revial. Listing to these albums and songs is what made me branch out even further into his career and find songs and albums that the novice Dylan fan would have never heard of and I think if any Dylan hater sat down and really gave this music a chance they really realize what all the fuss is about. The man changed music forever in just five years and he was only getting started. Like I said the article goes into a brief summary of what Dylan was doing during this time. A couple of short stories, information about songs, but the period is just so full of information I could write forever on it, so I knew I should cut myself off. If you would like to read it you can find it at

http://bobbydylanfan.webs.com/dylantheearlyyears.htm

Masters of War

Here is another song that I think people don’t truly get. This song was off of The Times They Are-a Changing circa 1964. This is a song about war that can resonate at any time. I personally use to hear this song and think of Bush and the Iraq war that he dragged us into. It is so true what he is saying. Men are sitting behind desk and telling us to go risk our lives when they themselves see virtually no danger to themselves. It is the last verse of this song that always gives me the chills. I cannot hear it without having a picture pop up in my head of a rainy day where everyone is grieving, but one man is instead smiling.

Come you masters of war
You that build all the guns
You that build the death planes
You that build the big bombs
You that hide behind walls
You that hide behind desks
I just want you to know
I can see through your masks

You that never done nothin’
But build to destroy
You play with my world
Like it’s your little toy
You put a gun in my hand
And you hide from my eyes
And you turn and run farther
When the fast bullets fly

Like Judas of old
You lie and deceive
A world war can be won
You want me to believe
But I see through your eyes
And I see through your brain
Like I see through the water
That runs down my drain

You fasten the triggers
For the others to fire
Then you set back and watch
When the death count gets higher
You hide in your mansion
As young people’s blood
Flows out of their bodies
And is buried in the mud

You’ve thrown the worst fear
That can ever be hurled
Fear to bring children
Into the world
For threatening my baby
Unborn and unnamed
You ain’t worth the blood
That runs in your veins

How much do I know
To talk out of turn
You might say that I’m young
You might say I’m unlearned
But there’s one thing I know
Though I’m younger than you
Even Jesus would never
Forgive what you do

Let me ask you one question
Is your money that good
Will it buy you forgiveness
Do you think that it could
I think you will find
When your death takes its toll
All the money you made
Will never buy back your soul

And I hope that you die
And your death’ll come soon
I will follow your casket
In the pale afternoon
And I’ll watch while you’re lowered
Down to your deathbed
And I’ll stand o’er your grave
’Til I’m sure that you’re dead

Donations

For those that I have my found my information relevant and useful I thought I would give you the opportunity to donate if you wish. I am in no way begging or asking for any sort of donations but I thought that I would give anyone who wanted to the chance for it. Any donations that I receive would go directly toward my website so I might be able to expand what I am doing into something more than what it is. Any amount would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. If you have any questions you can always reach me at my email or through my website. www.bobbydylanfan.webs.com