Blowing' in the Wind
The Seekers Lyrics


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How many roads must a man walk down
Before he's called a man?
How many seas must the white dove sail
Before he sleeps in the sand?
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

How many years can a mountain exist
Before it's washed in the sea?
How many years can some people exist
Before they're allowed to be free?
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

How many times can a man look up
Before he can see the sky?
How many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry?
And 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 answer is blowin' in the wind

Overall Meaning

The Seekers' song "Blowin' in the Wind" is a classic and iconic protest song. The lyrics speak to the universal concern of humanity and what it means to be a responsible and conscientious individual in society. The refrain, "The answer my friend, is blowin' in the wind, the answer is blowin' in the wind," examines the impossibility of answering some of life's biggest questions without the help of the natural world.


The song's first verse asks how many roads a person must travel before they are considered grown up. It's asking if simply aging is enough to be considered a mature adult, or if there are other factors that play into it. The second verse addresses the concept of freedom, asking how much time must pass before people are allowed to live as they please. The third stanza ponders how much tragedy must occur before people wake up and start noticing the problems around them.


Throughout the song, the writer makes it clear that they don't know the answers to these difficult questions. However, they also make the argument that sometimes, the answers we need are right in front of us. The natural world is personified as an all-knowing entity, and it's suggested that we should look to it for guidance.


Line by Line Meaning

How many roads must a man walk down Before he's called a man?
How much effort does a man have to put in before he can be recognized as a man?


How many seas must the white dove sail Before she sleeps in the sand?
How far must a peace symbol go before finding peace?


How many times must the cannon-balls fly Before they're forever banned?
How many more wars need to occur before people unite to ban them?


The answer my friend is blowin' in the wind The answer is blowin' in the wind
The answer to these questions is elusive and can only be found through worldly wisdom.


How many years can a mountain exist Before it's washed in the sea?
How long can anything last before ultimately being washed away?


How many years can some people exist Before they're allowed to be free?
How long will injustice persist before human beings are finally free from it?


How many times can a man turn his head And pretend that he just doesn't see?
How many times can a man ignore the suffering of others right in front of him?


How many times can a man look up Before he can see the sky?
How many times does one need to look beyond themselves to truly realize what's real?


How many ears must one man have Before he can hear people cry?
How much empathy is required is required to perceive the pain of others?


And how many deaths will it take till he knows That too many people have died?
Why does it take so much tragedy to make people realize that things need to change?




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

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Imberbe Tokkelos

Judith Durham has an absolutely crystal clear incredible voice with perfect pitch and clarity. She has one of the top five best singing voices ever. Judith`s singing is unique, awesome and a gift from God...

Green Deane

Good yes, but too much vibrato. Her warbling is hard on the ears

Valentin Ramirez

Yes she had a.god,s blessing voice

Franklin Thompson

Judith Durham is one of the best female singers of all time. Perfect voice.

raymond barnes

THE best!

Green Deane

Too much vibrato.

Piet Kearns

The most underrated female vocalist ever 💓

Harald Versteegden

She is not .................we know Mary Travis, Grace Silk, Joan Baez, Judy Collins, Judith Durham are the Sirines of past times........ Giants

Edie Kelley

One of my all time favourites! My Mum has Alzheimers and doesn't know me but she knows Judith's voice and loves her! Thank the Lord for her voice, it is truly miraculous!

Kerry Ward

Judith Durham’s voice is one of the best female voices I’ve ever heard - had a great night listening to her!

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