Crazy Horse is best known for its long association with Young, despite having released five albums of its own over a 19-year span. It has been co-credited with Young as Neil Young and Crazy Horse on 15 albums, "Americana" and "Psychedelic Pill" from 2012 being the latest.
The band recorded a concept album entitled "Greendale" (2003) that told the story using metaphors of murder and crime to represent the destruction of a small town community. The final song "Be The Rain" is one of Neil's classic epics, pleading for the world to be like the rain -- recycle and conserve to save our planet.
Discography: the studio albums "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere" (1969), "Zuma" (1975), "Rust Never Sleeps" (1979), "Re-ac-tor" (1981), "Life" (1987), "Ragged Glory" (1990), "Sleeps With Angels" (1994), "Broken Arrow" (1996), Greendale (2003), "Americana" (2012), Psychedelic Pill (2012) and live albums "Live Rust" (1979), "Weld" (1991), "Year of the Horse" (1997), "Live at the Fillmore East" (2006)
03 Blowin' in the Wind
Neil Young & Crazy Horse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Before you call him a man
How many seas must the white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand
Yes, and how many times must the cannonballs fly
Before they are forever banned
The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind
Yes, and how many years can a mountain exist
Before it washed to the sea
Yes, and how many years can some people exist
Before they're allowed to be free
Yes, and how many times can a man turn his head
And pretend that he just doesn't see
The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind
The answer is blowing in the wind
Yes, and how many times must a man look up
Before he can see the sky
Yes, and how many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry
Yes, and how many deaths will it take till he knows
That too many people have died
The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind
Neil Young's song "Blowin' In The Wind" is a powerful protest song that asks rhetorical questions related to the difficult political and social issues of the time. The repetition of the phrase "blowing in the wind" throughout the song emphasizes the elusive and sometimes intangible nature of the answers to questions that arise, such as the number of roads or seas one must traverse before becoming a true "man", or the number of cannonballs that must be fired before realizing their devastating toll on human life. The song also addresses the idea of freedom and the arbitrary limitations placed on certain groups throughout history, such as the mountain that must exist for years before being washed out to sea or the individuals who must exist for years before achieving true freedom. The repeated questions serve as a call to action, urging individuals to confront these issues head-on and seek real solutions rather than turning a blind eye.
Overall, "Blowin' In The Wind" is a moving song that continues to resonate with people today. The repeated questions are both thought-provoking and haunting, as they point to the idea that the answers to our biggest problems might be more difficult to discern than we initially think. The song's themes have continued to be relevant throughout history, serving as a reminder of the importance of freedom, justice, and equality in all aspects of life.
Line by Line Meaning
How many roads must a man walk down
How much struggle must a man go through to earn his place in society?
Before you call him a man
Before he is granted the respect he deserves as an adult?
How many seas must the white dove sail
How much hardship must the white dove face before it can rest?
Before she sleeps in the sand
Before she can find peace and tranquility?
Yes, and how many times must the cannonballs fly
How many deaths must occur before people come to see the deep tragedies of war?
Before they are forever banned
Before we learn to resolve conflicts without resorting to violence?
The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind
The answer is not yet clear or visible.
Yes, and how many years can a mountain exist
How long can an obstacle stand between us and progress or success?
Before it's washed to the sea
Before it fades away with time and effort?
Yes, and how many years can some people exist
How long will some be trapped in adverse situations due to lack of opportunities or privilege?
Before they're allowed to be free
Before they are treated as equal members of society?
Yes, and how many times can a man turn his head
How many times will people turn a blind eye to social injustice?
And pretend that he just doesn't see
And act as though they are not aware of the problems plaguing society?
Yes, and how many times must a man look up
How often must people aspire to reach for success and hope?
Before he can see the sky
Before he can find beauty and inspiration in life?
Yes, and how many ears must one man have
How many times must we listen to the cries of those in need and oppression?
Before he can hear people cry
Before he can truly empathize and try to help those who are suffering?
Yes, and how many deaths will it take till he knows
How many more tragedies must occur for people to recognize the harsh realities of life?
That too many people have died
That too many have lost their lives to war, inequality, and misery?
The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind
We don't yet have the answers to these difficult questions.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bob Dylan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Raitis Freimanis
Neil Young performs the Bob Dylan classic Blowin' in the Wind during
his acoustic set @ Stockholm Music & Arts 20140803.
Raitis Freimanis
Five years ago today...