Dylan appears to have written the song in September and October 1963. He offered it as a Witmark music publishing demo in that month—a version that was finally released on The Bootleg Series Volumes 1–3 (Rare & Unreleased) 1961–1991. The song was then recorded in the Columbia studios in New York on the 23rd and 24th October, and the latter yielded the version that became the title song of Dylan's third album.
Dylan recalled writing the song as a deliberate attempt to create an anthem of change for the moment. In 1985, he told Cameron Crowe: "This was definitely a song with a purpose. It was influenced of course by the Irish and Scottish ballads ...'Come All Ye Bold Highway Men', 'Come All Ye Tender Hearted Maidens'. I wanted to write a big song, with short concise verses that piled up on each other in a hypnotic way. The civil rights movement and the folk music movement were pretty close for a while and allied together at that time."
Dylan biographer Clinton Heylin recounts how Tony Glover stopped by Dylan's apartment in September 1963, picked up a page of the song Dylan was working on and read a line from it: "Come senators, congressmen, please heed the call.' Turning to Dylan, Glover said, 'What is this shit, man?' Dylan shrugged his shoulders and replied, 'Well, you know, it seems to be what the people want to hear."
Dylan critic Michael Gray called it "the archetypal protest song." Gray commented, "Dylan's aim was to ride upon the unvoiced sentiment of a mass public—to give that inchoate sentiment an anthem and give its clamour an outlet. He succeeded, but the language of the song is nevertheless imprecisely and very generally directed." Gray suggests that the song has been outdated by the very changes that it gleefully predicted, and hence the song was politically out of date almost as soon as it was written.
Literary critic Christopher Ricks suggests that the song transcends the political preoccupations of the time in which it was written. Ricks argues that Dylan is still performing the song, and when he sings "Your sons and your daughter/Are beyond your command", he sings inescapably with the accents not of a son, no longer perhaps primarily a parent, but with the attitude of a grandfather. Ricks concludes: "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..."
Critic Andy Gill points out that the song's lyrics echo lines from the Book of Ecclesiastes which Pete Seeger adapted to create his anthem "Turn, Turn, Turn!". The climactic line about the first later being last, likewise, is a direct scriptural reference to Mark 10:31: "But many that are first shall be last, and the last first."
Less than a month after Dylan recorded the song, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas on November 22nd, 1963. The next night, Dylan opened a concert with his song "The Times They Are a-Changin"; he told biographer Anthony Scaduto: "I thought, 'Wow, how can I open with that song? I'll get rocks thrown at me.' But I had to sing it, my whole concert takes off from there. I know I had no understanding of anything. Something had just gone haywire in the country and they were applauding the song. And I couldn't understand why they were clapping, or why I wrote the song. I couldn't understand anything. For me, it was just insane."
According to the The Times They Are A-Changin' Songfacts, handwritten lyrics to four verses of this song jotted on a scrap of paper by Dylan were sold for $422,500 at a December 10, 2010 sale. Hedge fund manager and contemporary art collector Adam Sender placed the winning bid by phone to Sothebys in New York.
The Times They Are a-Changin'
Bob Dylan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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'
And 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 namin'
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
The battle outside ragin'
Will 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'
Bob Dylan's iconic song “The Times They Are A-Changin'” is an anthem that encourages society to embrace change, progress, and evolve with time. It's a deep commentary on the social and political climate of America in the 60s, particularly relating the civil rights movement, Vietnam War, and the Cold War. The song is structured in 5 verses, each addressing a different group of people, urging them to take action and adapt to the changing times.
The first verse emphasizes the need to accept the current state of the world and recognize that the world is growing, and so are the challenges. Dylan implies that either society learns to swim or sinks trying. The second verse targets the writers and critics, urging them to pay close attention to what's happening around them, suggesting they can use their voice to contribute positively. The third verse is directed towards the lawmakers, asking them to consider the consequences of their actions, and not to impede progress. The fourth verse addresses the parents and the disconnect between generations, urging them to learn from their children and allow them to create their path. Finally, the last verse signifies that change is inevitable and those who resist will ultimately end up being left behind.
Overall, Dylan's message is that change is necessary and people must embrace it to move forward. It's a timeless message that resonates with people in any era and encourages people to challenge the status quo.
Line by Line Meaning
Come gather 'round people
Bob Dylan invites all to listen to his message.
Wherever you roam
No matter where you are, the message applies to you.
And admit that the waters
Recognize that things are changing around you.
Around you have grown
The changes are significant and noticeable.
And accept it that soon
Understand that the changes will soon have a big impact on your life.
You'll be drenched to the bone
The changes will be overwhelming and all encompassing.
If your time to you is worth savin'
If you value your time and want to make the most of it.
And you better start swimmin'
You need to start adapting and changing before it's too late.
Or you'll sink like a stone
Otherwise, you'll be left behind and unable to cope with the changes.
For the times they are a-changin'
The world is changing rapidly and we need to accept and adapt to it.
Come writers and critics
Bob Dylan is calling out to people in positions of power and influence.
Who prophesize with your pen
Those who have the ability to shape and influence public opinion.
And keep your eyes wide
Be alert and aware of what's happening around you.
The chance won't come again
Opportunities for change and progress may be fleeting.
And don't speak too soon
Don't be too quick to make judgments or assumptions.
For the wheel's still in spin
The outcome is still uncertain and can change at any moment.
And there's no tellin' who
It's impossible to predict who will come out on top.
That it's namin'
Who will be the winner or the loser in the end.
For the loser now
Those who may be disadvantaged or struggling now.
Will be later to win
May have opportunities to succeed and thrive in the future.
Come senators, congressmen
Bob Dylan is addressing the people in power.
Please heed the call
Listen to what needs to be done in order to adapt and change.
Don't stand in the doorway
Don't stop progress or hold others back.
Don't block up the hall
Allow others to move forward and make progress.
For he that gets hurt
Those who resist change may end up being negatively impacted.
Will be he who has stalled
Those who refuse to change may become stuck and unable to move forward.
The battle outside ragin'
There are conflicts and struggles happening in the world.
Will soon shake your windows
The impact of these conflicts will be felt by everyone.
And rattle your walls
The changes and conflicts will be intense and impossible to ignore.
Come mothers and fathers
Bob Dylan is addressing parents specifically.
Throughout the land
Everywhere in the country.
And don't criticize
Don't judge or condemn things you don't understand.
What you can't understand
Things you don't understand or agree with may still be important and necessary.
Your sons and your daughters
The next generation.
Are beyond your command
The younger generation should be trusted and allowed to make their own choices.
Your old road is rapidly agin'
The old ways of doing things are outdated and no longer effective.
Please get out of the new one
Don't try to force your own ways onto the younger generation.
If you can't lend your hand
If you can't be supportive and helpful to others.
The line it is drawn
There is a clear division between the old and new way of thinking.
The curse it is cast
The way forward has been set, and it's too late to turn back.
The slow one now
Those who are resistant to change, or who are left behind due to their inability or unwillingness to adapt.
Will later be fast
Those who were slow to adapt may be forced to catch up quickly.
As the present now
Right now, in the present moment.
Will later be past
Everything is constantly changing and evolving.
The order is rapidly fadin'
Old structures and systems are breaking down or becoming outdated.
And the first one now
Those who are currently leading or succeeding.
Will later be last
May eventually fall behind or be replaced by others.
For the times they are a-changin'
The world around us is constantly evolving, and we must be ready to adapt and change in order to keep up.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bob Dylan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@NA-du5vm
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'
Man, something about that part brought a chill to my body. My generation is headed out the door.
@juancamacho5746
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'
And 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 namin'
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
The battle outside ragin'
Will 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'
@larranag
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'.
@musicalmaniac5673
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 namin'.
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'.
@BenjaminBarnes
The perfect paradox- A song speaking of changes is forever relevant in its lyrics.
@WilliamStoneContentZone
Change is constant
@viviandarkbloom100
There is nothing new under the sun.
@copper0058
@@viviandarkbloom100 Some things remain constant, others don't. Frankly, that sentence is false.
@viviandarkbloom100
@@copper0058 It's a poetic statement. Talk to the writer of Ecclesiastes. That is where it comes from. Frankly, I wouldn't imagine someone who is so literal would be a Dylan fan.
@blakebauman6374
@@viviandarkbloom100 I am the same person who wrote that comment, just using a different account: my older brothers account.
What do you think it means if it isn't literal? I'm curious.
@theaceofspades8619
Don’t criticize what you can’t understand - that is a timeless quote
@Catmom2004
Well said!!! I am here for a little classic wisdom in 2020. We can all use it.
@treasalynam8940
A.... MEN!!!!👌👌👌👏👏👏👏
@robinalberti177
The Ace of Spades YES