Times are a- changin'

The song, A Times are a- Changin’ by Bob Dylan is a song about calling everyone to come together and to notice that times are changing and that everyone needs to get on board. In a commentary Dylan says how he wrote the song with a purpose and how it was directed to the Civil Rights Movement and the Folk Music Movement. Both of these movements were close with each other and both at the time this song was written was growing and changing at a rapid speed.

Dylan starts the song off with “Come gather ‘round people wherever you roam and admit you have grown and accept it that soon you’ll be drenched to the bone”. This opening to a song gives a welcoming feeling by saying gather round but then immediately brings up the topic of change. He then says in the next two lines that we should get used to the change because time only moves forward. He then ends the stanza by saying if you don’t get on board with the change youll get left behind.

The next stanza starts with, “ Come writers and critics who prophesize with your pen and keep your eyes wide the chance wont come again and don’t speak too soon.” This stanza speaks to all of the writers and people who create and have a say in what the creators do.  Dylan in this stanza is saying how writers have the power to speak up for what they believe in and to not hide it. He says that they can change how they write. When he says “for the wheel’s still in spin” he is saying that they have time to change their ways.

The next stanza brings in the topic of our government. “Come senators, congressmen please heed the call don’t stand in the doorway don’t block up the hall.” According to Genuis.com these lyrics are rumored to be written a few months after two African American students were told they could not enroll at the University of Alabama. To end this verse he says how if they don’t change they will be the ones at harmed.

The next stanza talks to the parents in society. “ Come mother and fathers throughout the land and don’t criticize what you can’t understand” this stanza talks about the parents who accept their children and support them. Dylan then talks about how the old way of teaching children is getting old and not to try to help or put your two sense in if you wont try to understand them.

In the last verse, Dylan basically wraps everything up with saying the line has crossed and that everything going on needs to stop. He then brings up change and says how rapidly everything is changing.