BOB DYLAN

Blowin in the WindBlowin in the wind

How many roads must a man walk down, before you can call him a man?

How many seas must a white dove fly, before she sleeps in the sand?

And how many times must a cannon ball fly, before they're forever banned?

The answer my friend is blowing in thewind, the answer is blowing in the wind.

How many years can a mountain exist, before it is washed to the sea?

How many years can some people exist, before they're allowed to be free?

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 thewind, the answer is blowing in the wind.

How many times must a man look up, before he sees the sky?

And how many ears must one man have, before he can hear people cry?

And how many deaths will it take till we know, that too many people have died?

The answer my friend is blowing

in the wind, the answer is blowing in the wind. (x2)

Analysis of Blowin in the Wind

How many roads must a man walk down, before you call him a man? How many seas must a white dove fly, before she sleeps in the sand? And how many times must a cannon ball fly, before they're forever banned? The answer my friend is blowing in the wind, the answer is blowing in the wind.

Civil Rights marches/Reference to the burning of draft cards during the Vietnam War To what extent must the idea of peace be spread before it is unnecessary to do so? How long will it take before society realizes that war is unjust? The answers to these questions are up in the air.

Analysis of Blowin in the Wind (cont.)

How many years can a mountain exist, before it is washed to the sea? How many years can some people exist, before they're allowed to be free? 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.

How many years can a barrier or obstacle exist before it is eradicated or forgotten? This is an allusion to the tune of Blowin in the Wind, which was derived from a traditional slave song called No More Auction Block. How long can a person ignore societys apparent issues?

Analysis of Blowin in the Wind (cont.)

How many times must a man look up, before he sees the sky? And how many ears must one man have, before he can hear people cry? And how many deaths will it take till we know, that too many people have died? The answer my friend is blowing in the wind, the answer is blowing in the wind. (x2)

The reality of life is obfuscated by a skewed perception. How many people will suffer before society decides to take action? These lines also hint the negligence and ignorance of belligerents

Further AnalysisDylan uses an ABCBDB rhyme scheme in this poem. The main idea of the song Blowin in the Wind is to promote peace and an end to suffering worldwide. I took it off a song called 'No More Auction Block' that's a spiritual and 'Blowin' in the Wind' follows the same feeling. -Dylan

Bob Dylans Biography

Bob Dylan is known as a famous singer and songwriter. Dylan was born on May 24th , 1941 in Duluth, Minnesota. His birth name is Robert Allen Zimmerman. He legally changed his name to Bob Dylan after a Welsh poet by the name of Dylan Thomas. Dylan attended University of Minnesota for his freshman year, then gained an honorary doctorate degree in music from Princeton University. Dylan moved to New York to spend time with an ill mentor and resided there for some time.

Family Life

Dylan converted from Judaism to Christianity at middle-age. He married Sara Lownds on November 22, 1965. The couple divorced 12 years later. It is thought that he made an attempt to win her back through his songwriting. Dylan then married his backup dancer, Carolyn Dennis in June of 1986. The poet fathered six children: Anna Lea Dylan, Samuel Isaac Abraham Dylan, Jakob Luke Dylan, Maria Dylan, and Gabrielle Dennis-Dylan

Musical Career

Dylans influences are Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, Hank Williams, Woody Guthrie. Dylan made his public debut in 1962 after signing a contract with Columbia Records. Throughout his career, Dylan constantly reinvented himself by adopting multiple styles such as jazz and country. Angered people. Historical events such as the Civil Rights movement and the Vietnam War, which Dylan opposed, greatly impacted his life and writing. Dylan was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame , 1988 Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame 2002, and the Candaian Songwriters Hall of Fame 2006. He won a multitude of Grammy, Golden Globe, Academy Awards, a Kennedy Center Honor, and a Pulitzer Prize.

Individual Style

Although his music is classified as folk or rock and roll, Dylan uses the call-back approach that is common to the genre of blues. Dylan repeats lines in many of his poems. Each verse is comprised of a quartet followed by a couplet. His poetry has no particular rhyme scheme, but Dylan tends to rhyme every other line. Dylan explores the themes of love and peace. He protests the injustices of the Vietnam War and the mistreatment of minority races through his works. The poet includes metaphors, imagery, and symbolism to depict a desire for world peace and his feelings towards significant others.

Analysis of Blowin in the Wind

How many roads must a man walk down (Rhetorical Question) Civil rights marches/ Vietnam Before you can call him a man? Burning Draft cards / Discrimination (A.A.) Yes, n how many seas must a white dove sail How long does the idea of peace need to be spread before it becomes unnecessary to do so? Before she sleeps in the sand? || Yes, n how many times must the cannonballs fly How long will it be before we figure out that war is not the answer? Before theyre forever banned? || The answer, my friend, is blowin in the wind, The answer is almost impossible to reach, The answer is blowin in the wind. - ||

Analysis of Blowin in the wind

How many years can a mountain exist - How many years can a barrier exist before it is eradicated or forgotten? Before its washed to the sea? - || Yes, n how many years can some people exist A.A. Civil Rights / Jim Crow Before theyre allowed to be free? free Yes, n how many times can a man turn his head, - How long can a man ignore obvious head problems in society? Pretending he just doesnt see? -|| The answer, my friend, is blowin in the wind, - Up In the Air The answer is blowin in the wind. ||

Analysis of Blowin in the wind

How many times must a man look up the reality of life is blocked by a skewed perception Before he can see the sky? Yes, n how many ears must one man have -ignorance Before he can hear people cry? - How many will suffer before we take action? Yes, n how many deaths will it take till he knows - ignorance That too many people have died? The answer, my friend, is blowin in the wind, The answer is blowin in the wind.