Blowing in the Wind
Bobby Solo Lyrics
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Before you call him a man?
How many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand?
Yes, how many times must the cannon balls fly
Before they're forever banned?
The answer my friend is blowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind.
Yes, how many years can a mountain exist
Before it's washed to the sea?
Yes, how many years can some people exist
Before they're allowed to be free?
Yes, how many times can a man turn his head
Pretending he just doesn't see?
The answer my friend is blowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind.
Yes, how many times must a man look up
Before he can see the sky?
Yes, how many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry?
Yes, how many deaths will it take till he knows
That too many people have died?
The answer my friend is blowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind.
The lyrics to Bobby Solo's song Blowing in the Wind are not only poignant, but they also raise some thought-provoking questions about the nature of humanity. The first verse asks how many roads a man must walk down before he can consider himself a man. This can be interpreted as a question about the journey of self-discovery that every person must undergo in order to come into their own. The following questions delve into larger societal issues, such as how many seas a white dove must sail before it can rest in peace and how many cannon balls must fly before war is forever banned.
The second verse builds on these questions, asking how long a mountain can exist before it is washed away by the sea and how many years people must exist before they are allowed to be truly free. The final question in this verse is particularly powerful, asking how many times a man can turn his head, pretending not to see the suffering around him. This is a call to action, urging listeners to confront the injustice in the world and work towards change.
The final verse continues this theme, asking how many times a man must look up before he can truly see the sky and how many ears he must have to hear the cries of others. The final question, how many deaths will it take until people realize the cost of war and conflict, is an urgent plea for peace. The overall message of the song is that the answers to these questions are not found in a simple place, but rather in the wind, in the collective voice of the people.
Line by Line Meaning
How many roads most a man walk down
Before you call him a man?
At what point does a man's journey and experiences qualify him to be considered a grown adult?
How many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand?
How many travels and tribulations must a dove go through before it finds peace?
Yes, how many times must the cannon balls fly
Before they're forever banned?
How much warfare and bloodshed must happen before humanity realizes the futility and destructive nature of war?
The answer my friend is blowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind.
These questions don't have concrete answers, they're abstract and subjective, and it's up to your interpretation.
Yes, how many years can a mountain exist
Before it's washed to the sea?
How long can a geological formation last before it erodes and is destroyed by natural forces?
Yes, how many years can some people exist
Before they're allowed to be free?
Why do some people have to wait an eternity to be granted the basic human right of freedom from oppression?
Yes, how many times can a man turn his head
Pretending he just doesn't see?
How many times can someone ignore the suffering and injustice in the world before they become complicit in it?
Yes, how many times must a man look up
Before he can see the sky?
How many obstacles and distractions must someone overcome before they can appreciate the beauty and wonder of nature?
Yes, how many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry?
How inattentive and ignorant must someone be to not hear the cries and pleas for help from those in need?
Yes, how many deaths will it take till he knows
That too many people have died?
How many unnecessary deaths and tragedies must occur before society realizes they need to make a change?
Contributed by Lila S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.