Dylan’s SuccessDylan’s Success “The nation was divided in the fall of 1968, by its split over the Vietnam War and social issues such as the continuing.

Bob Dylan and Social Protest

ThesisAlthough Bob Dylan was critical of his labeling as a Protest singer, one can’t deny the power which numerous of his prophetic compositions had as and outlet for social protest and how adequately these songs related to Protest

movements occurring during his time as a performer such as the Civil rights movements and Vietnam war movement. Regardless of his degree of interest in

being a representative of the movements, Dylan was continually able to capture the cultural and social atmosphere of the 60s, whether political or

existential. 

My paper will cover three songs that undertook pivotal roles in the Civil Rights movement and anti-war movements occurring at the time (“Blowing in the

wind”, “The Times They are A-Changin’” and ““Only A Pawn In Their Game”), and will advocate the songs’ aptitude to transcend their time through poetically

wide-ranging lyrics and universal themes, conforming to protest through human nature rather than issues in a specific time period; with symbolisms and

metaphors remaining open for each listener’s philosophical interpretation.

Dylan’s Success “The nation was

divided in the fall of 1968, by its split over the Vietnam War and social issues such as the continuing battle of integration. As anti-war demonstrations and police clashed on the streets of Chicago, the young protestors chanted Dylan’s words, ‘The whole world is watching’ and television showed the police riots to millions of American viewers.”

“What made him, at thisstage, into the most important singer-writer of his time (so that evena careful, intelligent and powerful artist like Joni Mitchell bears nocomparison with him at his best) was the breadth of his vision, personalistically-basedas it was. Dylan extended the possibilities of rockmusic-as-commentarymore than anyone else before or after him.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLwHnNybADo

Dylan’s denial

“There's no black and white, left and right to me anymore,” he stated flatly. “There's only up and down, and down is very close to the ground, and I'm trying to go up without thinking about anything trivial such as politics.” 13th December 1963, receiving Tom Paine Award at the Emergency Civil Liberties Committee’s Annual Bill of Rights Dinner

“I agree with everything that's happening, but I'm not part of no movement... I'm never going to have anything to do with any political organization again in my life. Oh, I might help a friend if he was campaigning for office. But I'm not going to be part of any organization.” Bob Dylan

“This here ain’t a protest song or anything like that, ‘cause I don’t write protest songs.” He would go on to say “I’m just writing it as something to be said, for somebody, by somebody”

Dylan’s Transcendence

“ For today's anti-war and global justice movements, Dylan's songs of the sixties offer both a bracing protest against enduring enemies and a salutary critique of some of our own worst habits.”

“Dylan was revolutionary – the way that Elvis your body, Bob freed your mind. He showed us that just because the music was innately physical, it did not mean that it was anti-intellect.” – Bruce Springsteen, while inducting Bob Dylan into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame, 1988

Blowin’ in the wind

Since 1963, many cannonballs were fired, yet they had never been banned. In the year of 2014, there are people who still exist and aren’t free, whilst people turn their heads and ignore the inequities and abuses. 

How many roads must a man walk downBefore you call him a man?Yes, ’n’ how many seas must a white dove sailBefore she sleeps in the sand?Yes, ’n’ how many times must the cannonballs flyBefore they’re forever banned?The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the windThe answer is blowin’ in the wind

How many years can a mountain existBefore it’s washed to the sea?Yes, ’n’ how many years can some people existBefore they’re allowed to be free?Yes, ’n’ how many times can a man turn his headPretending he just doesn’t see?The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the windThe answer is blowin’ in the wind

Times Are A Changin’

Come gather 'round peopleWherever you roamAnd admit that the watersAround you have grownAnd accept it that soonYou'll be drenched to the boneIf your time to youIs worth savin'Then you better start swimmin'Or you'll sink like a stoneFor the times they are a-changin'.

Come mothers and fathersThroughout the landAnd don't criticizeWhat you can't understandYour sons and your daughtersAre beyond your commandYour old road isRapidly agin'Please get out of the new oneIf you can't lend your handFor the times they are a-changin'.

"Once upon a time it may have been a matter of urging square people to accept the fact that their children were, you know, hippies. But the capacious urging could then come to mean that ex-hippie parents had better accept that their children look like becoming yuppies. And then Republicans...”, Christopher Ricks

Only A Pawn In Their Game

But it ain’t him to blame:

He’s just a pawn in their game.

Nature vs. Nurture

“Now the significance of this song to me is that it’s a song that will last unfortunately for a long, long time. And when I say “unfortunately”, I’m talking about the fact that it will always be relevant to something that is going on in this world of ours. In the 60s the song related to the civil rights movement and the war in Vietnam. In the 70s, Watergate, Steven Deco and the struggling South Africa. In the 80s still, relevant to the fighting against the apartheid in South Africa, the fighting to end starvation. Today in the 90s the song is still very relevant, as you think about who you should vote for, I want you to vote for that person that is going to commit to bring unity to all people, not only throughout the world but in this country. Vote for the one who is going to commit to open up his heart to those that are from the minorities that make up the majority of this country” – Stevie Wonder, before performing “Blowin’ in the Wind” at Bob Dylan’s 30th Anniversary Show (1992)

To what extent does author’s intend matter, opposed to the listener’s interpretation?