In 1982, Robert Hazard and the Heroes released their highly anticipated debut record. The self-produced and self-titled five song EP quickly sold over 300,000 copies in the Philadelphia area. Soon thereafter, the record caught the attention of the recording industry and the band was signed to an eight album deal by RCA. RCA released a remixed version of the EP nationally and Rolling Stone magazine gave the record four stars.
In late 1982, Robert Hazard removed The Heroes from the marquee and replaced two of The Heroes, John Lilley and Rob Miller with new band members. The band's new line-up performed "Change Reaction" and "Escalator of Life" on Dick Clark's American Bandstand TV show. Around this time, Cyndi Lauper recorded the '80's anthem "Girls Just Want To Have Fun". (See VH1 VJ talk about the song.) Her version was a huge hit, peaking at number 2 on the Billboard charts in 1984.
In 1984, Robert Hazard released his highly anticipated first full length album - "Wing of Fire." This album was intended to expand musically upon the song material that he had been playing live for the past few years. However, the production of the record suffered due to too much involvement from RCA management. Regardless, the record received an impressive advance order of 89,000 copies. Unfortunately, the record promotion was hampered by management changes at RCA, and sales stalled.
In 1986, Robert Hazard released another self-produced record titled "Darling." He named his revamped band the New Heroes.
[1991 Reunion]
In 1991, Robert Hazard and the Heroes reunited for a 10 year reunion concert at the now defunct Chestnut Cabaret on 38th Street in Philadelphia.
In 1998, Robert Hazard released the "Howl" CD, and began performing in the Philadelphia area with his new band, The Hombres.
In July 2002, Robert Hazard released a limited edition compilation CD, titled "Out of the Blue", that featured classic Hazard songs from the eighties. In the summer of 2003, after a five year hiatus, he returned to the studio and recorded "The Seventh Lake" CD which was produced by the T-Bone Wolk. In 2004, Robert Hazard recorded and released the "Blue Mountain" CD.
Robert Hazard died unexpectedly August 5, 2008 at age 59 after surgery for pancreatic cancer at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
Blowin' in the Wind
Robert Hazard Lyrics
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Before she sleeps in the sand?
How many roads must a man walk down
Before you call him a man?
Yes, 'n' 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
The answer is blowin' in the wind
How many years can a mountain exist
Before it's washed to the sea?
Yes, 'n' how many times can a man turn his head
Pretending he just doesn't see?
Yes, 'n' how many years can some people exist
Before they're allowed to be free?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind
How many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand?
How many roads must a man walk down
Before you call him a man?
Yes, 'n' 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
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind
In Robert Hazard's song "Blowin' in the Wind," the lyrics present a series of questions that seem unanswerable, but are asking for societal change. The song asks us to consider how many hurdles must be overcome for certain things to happen, such as how many seas a white dove must sail before she sleeps in the sand, or how many roads a man must walk down before he is considered a man. These questions are seemingly unanswerable because there will always be new hurdles, new obstacles, and new injustices to overcome though it’s necessary to keep fighting for change.
The lyrics also question how many times cannon balls must fly before they are forever banned, calling attention to the futility of war and the need for peace. The repetition of the phrase "the answer is blowin' in the wind" suggests that the answers to these questions are not easily found, but are abstract and intangible. The wind is an unpredictable symbol, and the answers to societal inequality seem to slip away no matter how close we appear to be. It seems that changing society is a never-ending task, the challenges and hardships keep changing, and so must the strategy to battle them.
Line by Line Meaning
How many seas must a white dove sail
How many challenges and hardships must someone go through before they can find peace and rest?
Before she sleeps in the sand?
Before they can find a place to rest and call home?
How many roads must a man walk down
How much effort must someone put into their life journey?
Before you call him a man?
Before they are recognized as having achieved maturity and wisdom?
Yes, 'n' how many times must the cannon balls fly
How much violence and destruction must there be before people have had enough?
Before they're forever banned?
Before they are permanently rid of war and conflict?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind
The solutions and answers to these questions are not obvious, but are ever-changing and elusive.
The answer is blowin' in the wind
The key to resolving these problems is unpredictable and subject to change.
How many years can a mountain exist
How long can natural wonders endure before they erode and disappear?
Before it's washed to the sea?
Before nature's power and the passage of time cause the mountain to no longer exist?
Yes, 'n' how many times can a man turn his head
How often can someone ignore or deny the reality of a situation?
Pretending he just doesn't see?
Denying or avoiding a problem cannot make it go away.
Yes, 'n' how many years can some people exist
How long can certain groups be oppressed before they are granted the basic right of freedom?
Before they're allowed to be free?
Before society recognizes and puts into practice the right to liberty and equality for all?
Contributed by Jason T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.