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Changing Times

An Analysis on the Lyrics/Poem of Bob Dylan

By Salvatore Giangreco-MarottaPublished 5 years ago 6 min read
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This is the poem, from my poetry textbook

This was my analysis, for my poetry class, for the poem and song “The Times They Are A-Changin’.” I think this song still has an important message that can be taken from it and used today.

The poem “The Times They Are A-Changin’” by Bob Dylan is a piece that has an effect on any time period. It was written in 1964 which was a big change in American history. This was the year when the Civil Rights Act was signed which outlawed discrimination based on race, sex, and color. This was a big achievement in society because many people and activists fought for equality even before the Civil Rights movement was started. This poem is still a message to society because equality has not been achieved in any and all aspects of society. There is still racism, sexism, homophobia and many other things that hinder society’s fight for equality. Even with all the progress, there has been that can be reversed with a single bill or law the government makes or passes if government officials personal beliefs do not agree with the progress made. Even with the previous changes, humans are still evolving and therefore there will always be new changes that occur.

In the poem, Dylan is speaking to the readers as if he were a speaker at a rally and the readers are people in the crowd. This is symbolic because many protest rallies and marches will usually have speakers shouting the change they want to see. He is also calling groups of people to come join, who may or may not be at the protest event, but these are the people who can help with the change. Once he has their attention he gives ways that they will be able to help. If they ignore his advice he describes what people will do to convince them to help.

The way he wrote this calls people to help. He is not just complaining about what his feelings are. He is putting the responsibility on the people because he knows that getting more people involved will evoke change quicker than him or one person doing it on their own.

In the first stanza, he is calling to get people's attention. Anyone’s attention, whoever may be listening. Dylan is asking people to admit that there has been a change in the dynamics of society. Without admitting that things have changed there is no way for change to actually happen. “Then you better start swimmin’ or you’ll sink like a stone.” This line shows that if people do not accept change society is going to leave those people behind. This is what happens when people do not accept change in real life as well. The people who disagree with the change in society become the people whose beliefs are viewed as wrong and old-fashioned and need to change.

In the next stanza, he is specifically talking to writers and people who have a powerful influence on society with their words and opinions. He wants them to keep their minds open and to speak up when the time is right because they have power using their words to persuade others. Dylan is referencing the saying “With great power comes great responsibility” and people with that power must use it for the good of others and not hurt others. This greatly applies to change. The people in charge should be helping to change what society wants not only what they want.

The next stanza is where he discusses government and its power over how society and how it functions. He is calling senators and congressmen to pay attention to the people’s wishes. Sadly government is sometimes why change fails or is slow to happen. Officials do not do anything to accommodate the demand of society. “There’s a battle outside ragin’.” This refers to people fighting for their equality and changes they want to see. “It’ll soon shake your windows and rattle your walls.” This shows that if the change people want to see is ignored by the government, that has the power to make changes, does not do anything to help with what people want, there will be protests and marches until the government make these changes.

Stanza four refers to older people in society. Usually older generations do not agree with the new changes, people want. This is mainly because the older generations were raised with the old-fashioned way of thinking and it is harder for them to change their ideologies because it is all they have known. “And don't criticize What you can’t understand.” Dylan is not asking them to change their beliefs but instead to just support the changes happening even if they disagree. He is asking parents to support their children. This is also a reference to the saying “the children are the future.” Children, when they grow up, will be the ones running society. They will be the doctors, lawyers and teachers etc. who will take care of the elderly and teach their children to do the same. This part of the poem is important because change is needed when people do not agree with the ways and rules the people who came before them made, either because the old ways were wrong or they do not fit the vision of the future. He then tells them if they can not support the changes to not block or try to stop them, just to simply get out of the way and to stay silent.

The final stanza is similar to the last stanza. Although it does not call on a certain group of people, it says that the present is the past and the future is the present. It also refers to the same saying “the children are the future” because he says the people who do not have power now will have power soon. Children do not have power in society “now” because they are just kids and they are not developed people yet, but when they are older they will have power because the people who had the power before will no longer be in those positions.

Bob Dylan ends every stanza with “For the times they are a-changin’,” repetition makes a message stick and more powerful. I believe that's what Dylan wanted. He wanted his message to come across and putting that line at the end of each stanza really strengthens his message because it shows the reason each stanza was written.

I believe this poem works in any time period because every year has its own changes and new ideas. When the poem was written segregation in public places based on race was legal. Even though it is morally wrong it was deemed okay by the government. When people began to fight this it lead to segregation being outlawed. Gay marriage in the united states was only legal in some states, while in others was banned. This unfair law made gays and lesbians slightly less equal with their heterosexual counterparts. In 2015, just 3 years ago, gay marriage became legal throughout all of the United States. This happened because of protests and public demonstrations that lead to equal marriage for everyone. Today people are fighting for women and racially different people to receive equal pay. This poem can be used with any one of these examples and will have the same message as it did back in the 60s making this poem a piece of resistance that is timeless.

(All quotes are from the lyrics of the song.)

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