Blowin' in the Wind
Stevie Wonder Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

You know it's blowin' (blowin')
Blowin' (blowin')
It's blowin' (yes it is now)
Whoa, yeah yeah, mhm, mmh-mhm

How many roads must a man walk down
Before they call him a man?
And how many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand?
And how many times must those cannon balls be fired
'Fore they're forever banned?
Whoa, yeah, let me tell you that the

Answer, my friend
Is blowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind, whoa yeah

(Well how many years?)

Well how many years
How many years can a mountain exist (yeah before)
Before it's washed to the sea?
(I wanna know how many years?)
Now how many years
Can a man exist? (Ahh before)
Before he's allowed to be free? Yeah
(Too many years have by already now, Stevie)

Now how many times
Can a man turn his head
(He turn his head and pretend)
And he pretends that he just doesn't see?
Whoa yeah

You know the answer
Is blowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind

Whoa you know that
The answer is blowin' in the wind

Uh-huh, let me tell you
It's blowin' (blowin')
Blowin' (blowin')
It's blowin' (yes it is now)
Whoa, the answer is blowin' in the wind
And it's blowin'
Yeah, yeah, yeah
The answer is blowin'
La, la, la, la, la, la, la-la





You know that
The answer is blowin' in the wind

Overall Meaning

Stevie Wonder's version of "Blowing In The Wind" is a cover of Bob Dylan's iconic protest song, laced with heartfelt and soulful vocals. It's a song that has become synonymous with the civil rights movement, and it deals with fundamental questions of social justice and equality. The song begins by questioning how many roads a man must walk down before society truly acknowledges him as a man, and how many seas a white dove must sail before it is allowed to rest in the sand. The next verse questions the use of military force and how long it will be until humanity truly learns to put an end to war.


In the final verse, Wonder moves beyond questions to a declaration that the answer is blowing in the wind. The imagery of wind blowing suggests the idea of change - change that is unpredictable, yet inevitable. The answer to the questions raised in the song cannot be found by any one person, institution, or ideology. Instead, it is something that is in the air and needs to be collectively grasped by the society and incorporated in the system to make a positive change.


Line by Line Meaning

You know it's blowin' (blowin')
Stevie Wonder is stating that the wind is blowing.


How many roads must a man walk down Before they call him a man?
Stevie Wonder is asking how many difficult paths does a person has to take in their life before society calls them a matured and responsible adult.


And how many seas must a white dove sail Before she sleeps in the sand?
Stevie Wonder is asking how many times should someone attempt something, and fail, before they eventually quit or succeed.


And how many times must those cannon balls be fired 'Fore they're forever banned?
Stevie Wonder is questioning how many times should people endure violence and war before governments work together to eliminate these violent means of resolving conflicts.


Answer, my friend Is blowin' in the wind The answer is blowin' in the wind, whoa yeah
Stevie Wonder suggests that the answer to the questions he's asked throughout the song is not a straightforward one; it's intangible, elusive, and constantly changing like the wind.


Well how many years? How many years can a mountain exist (yeah before) Before it's washed to the sea?
Stevie Wonder is questioning the durability of all natural formations and their relationship with the elements that surround them.


Now how many years Can a man exist? (Ahh before) Before he's allowed to be free? Yeah
Stevie Wonder questions societal norms that restrict individuals' freedoms based on race, gender, or any other factors.


Now how many times Can a man turn his head (He turn his head and pretend) And he pretends that he just doesn't see?
Stevie Wonder is criticizing the human tendency to ignore societal problems and injustices until they affect them directly.


You know the answer Is blowin' in the wind The answer is blowin' in the wind
Stevie Wonder emphasizes that the answer to the song's questions is not found in fixed, concrete solutions, but rather in a constantly changing, ever-shifting reality.


Whoa you know that The answer is blowin' in the wind Uh-huh, let me tell you It's blowin' (blowin')
Stevie Wonder reiterates that the answer to these questions is elusive and ever-changing.


Blowin' (blowin') It's blowin' (yes it is now) Whoa, the answer is blowin' in the wind And it's blowin' Yeah, yeah, yeah The answer is blowin' La, la, la, la, la, la, la-la You know that The answer is blowin' in the wind
Stevie Wonder concludes that the answer to life's most significant questions is elusive and fleeting, like the wind.




Lyrics © CONSALAD CO., Ltd., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bob Dylan

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@DoorFamelicious

How many roads must a man walk down
Before you call him a man
How many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand
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
Yes, 'n' how many years can a mountain exist
Before it's washed to the sea
Yes, 'n' how many years can some people exist
Before they're allowed to be free
Yes, 'n' how many times can a man turn his head
And pretend that he just doesn't see
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind
Yes, 'n' how many times must a man look up
Before he can see the sky
Yes, 'n' how many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry
Yes, 'n' 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



@antoine80413

You know it's blowin' (blowin')
Blowin' (blowin')
It's blowin' (yes it is now)
Whoa, yeah yeah, mhm, mmh-mhm
How many roads must a man walk down
Before they call him a man?
And how many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand?
And how many times must those cannon balls be fired
'Fore they're forever banned?
Whoa, yeah, let me tell you that the
Answer, my friend
Is blowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind, whoa yeah
Well how many years
How many years can a mountain exist (yeah before)
Before it's washed to the sea?
(I wanna know how many years?)
Now how many years
Can a man exist? (Ahh before)
Before he's allowed to be free? Yeah
(Too many years have by already now, Stevie)
Now how many times
Can a man turn his head
(He turn his head and pretend)
And he pretends that he just doesn't see?
Whoa yeah
You know the answer
Is blowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind
Whoa you know that
The answer is blowin' in the wind
Uh-huh, let me tell you
It's blowin' (blowin')
Blowin' (blowin')
It's blowin' (yes it is now)
Whoa, the answer is blowin' in the wind
And it's blowin'
Yeah, yeah, yeah
The answer is blowin'
La, la, la, la, la, la, la-la
You know that
The answer is blowin' in the wind



@Dora-wb1rd

How many roads must a man walk down
얼마나 많은 길을 걸어가야
Before you call him a man
진정한 남자라고 불릴 수 있을까
How many seas must a white dove sail
얼마나 많은 바다를 날아가야
Before she sleeps in the sand
흰 비둘기는 모래밭에서 잠들 수 있을까
Yes, how many times must the cannon balls fly
그리고 얼마나 많은 포탄이 날아야
Before they're forever banned
영원히 포탄이 금지될까

The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind
그 답은 친구여 바람에 실려 불어온다네
The answer is blowin' in the wind
그 답은 바람에 실려 불어오고 있어

Yes, how many years can a mountain exist
산이 얼마나 오래 존재할 수 있을까
Before it's washed to the sea
산이 바다로 떠내려갈 때까지
Yes, how many years can some people exist
어떤 사람들은 얼마나 오래 살 수 있을까
Before they're allowed to be free
자유로워질 때까지
Yes, how many times can a man turn his head
얼마나 오래 고개를 돌리고
And pretend that he just doesn't see
그저 못 본 척 할 수 있을까

The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind
그 답은 친구여 바람에 실려 불어온다네
The answer is blowin' in the wind
그 답은 바람에 실려 불어오고 있어

How many times must a man look up
사람이 얼마나 많이 올려다 보아야
Before he can really see the sky?
정말로 하늘을 볼 수 있을까?
How many ears must one person have
얼마나 귀가 많아야
Before he can hear people cry?
사람들이 우는 걸 들을 수 있을까?
How many deaths will it take 'til he knows
그가 알 때까지 얼마나 많은 죽음이 일어날까
That too many people have died?
너무 많은 사람이 죽었다는 것을?

The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind
그 답은 친구여 바람에 실려 불어온다네
The answer is blowin' in the wind
그 답은 바람에 실려 불어오고 있어



@d.tlerraayers278

STEVIE WONDER'S MUSIC IS MADE TO
PERFECTION AND

HAS NOT CHANGED SINCE HE'S STARTED HIS GREAT FABULOUS

MUSIS CAREER WITH
THOSE AMAZING MOTOWN SOUNDS

AND HERE WE ARE STILL CELEBRATING
HIS AMAZING BEST

MUSIC CLASSIC HITS
WHILE HE CONTINUES HIS AMAZING JOURNEY

WITH MOTOWN'S 60TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

MAY GOD CONTINUE TO KEEP YOU SAFE AND BLESS WITH YOUR
EXTRAORDINARY GIFT

TO SING AS ANOTHER ONE OF GOD'S GREATEST SONGBIRD

OF A LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WINNERS AND MANY

GENERATIONS TO COME.
BEAUTIFUL FAMILY



@Hamed_

How many roads must a man walk down before they call him a man?
How many seas must a white dove sail before she sleeps in the sand?
How many times must those cannonballs be fired before they're forever banned?
Oh yeah

[Chorus]
Let me tell you that the answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind
Oh, oh yeah
[Verse 2]
(Well. how many years?)
How many years must a mountain exist before it is washed to the sea? Yeah
How many years can a man exist before he's allowed to be free? Yeah
Now, how many times can a man turn his head and he pretends that he just doesn't see?
Whoa, yeah

[Chorus]
You know the answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind
Uh-huh

[Outro]
Uh-huh
And let me tell you it's blowin' (Blowin')
Blowin' (Blowin')
And it's blowin'
Oh, the answer is blowin' in the wind
And it's blowin', yeah yeah yeah
The answer is blowin' in the wind



@thequietrevolution7390

How many roads must a man walk down
Before they call him a man?
And how many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand?
How many times must those cannon balls be fired
Before they're forever banned?

Whoa, yeah, let me tell you that the answer, my friend
Is a-blowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind
Whoa, yeah

(Well how many years)
Now how many years can a mountain exist
(Yeah before)
Before it's washed to the sea?

(And I wanna know how many years)
Now how many years can a man exist
(Ah before)
Before he's allowed to be free?

(Too many years have gone by already now, Stevie)
Now how many times can a man turn his head
(He turn his head and pretend)
And he pretends that he just doesn't see?

Whoa, yeah, you know the answer, my friend
Is a-blowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind

Uh huh, and let me tell you it's blowin' (blowin')
Blowin' (blowin')
And it's blowin' (yes it is now)
Whoa, the answer is blowin' in the wind
And it's blowin', yeah, yeah, yeah
The answer is blowin' in the wind



@l.angellove7129

CONGRATULATIONS MOTOWN'S
60th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

AND TO STEVIE WONDER WITH ALL
AMAZING LEGACY GIFTS AS A MUSICAL GENIUS, SINGER,

SONGWRITER, AND MUSIC PRODUCER, HUMANITARIAN
AND SEVERAL AWARD WINNING

GRAMMYS AND OTHERS, THROUGHOUT HIS MUSIC
CAREER,AND HE'S ONE

EXTRAORDINARY ARTIST OF ALL TIME HISTORY, AND I MUST SAY HIS
MUSIC CONNOISSEURS WORLDWIDE

ARE ALWAYS GRATEFUL TO MAKE A
WISE INVESTMENT WITH HIS MUSIC

YES SOMETHING HE DOES BEST AND THAT'S TO ENTERTAIN THEM WITH
GREAT QUALITY OF MUSIC OF
A LIFETIME



All comments from YouTube:

@lorettagordon815

I DEDICATE THIS SONG TO MY BEAUTIFUL MOTHER THAT PASSED AWAY FRIDAY 2/4/2022 SHE LOVED THIS SONG 💕🙏🏿 REST EASY MOMA TILL WE MEET AGAIN 😢🙏🏿♥️🌷🌷🌷🌷

@josephpaerau9144

3/12/21 Rip Mum

@davidkroll4360

Absolutely beautiful version of this Dylan song. Full of soul.
I could listen to Stevie and David Ruffin and Sam Cooke forever and not get bored. Three of the greatest,

@lindabibb2447

As a child, this song impacted my life and it still does. This version is exceptional.

@Mimi2Y2BYAZPHIL

Stevie truly is a WONDER!!❤💫💯💫👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

@tauwirahita-zj8ij

Wow I can listen to this version all day long❤so beautiful.

@jeffryphillipsburns

This arrangement and performance improves the song tremendously. Good job!

@johnnyberetta9533

Never heard this great Bob Dylan composition sound so fantastic. I can listen to Stevie sing this over and over...

@TheRenard10

Listen to Johnny Tilliotsen's version too.

@johnnyberetta9533

@Renard345 I will, thanks. I never knew Johny Tillotson ever recorded the song

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