Hi, everyone. Welcome to another edition of Music Monday.
(Image found online. Original source unknown.)
One of the most important albums of the 20th century has turned 60 years old. It is Bob Dylan’s third album and the title track became the anthem for the 1960’s.
His second album, 1963’s The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan, gave us three now classic songs-“Blowin’ In The Wind”, “A Hard Rain’s a-Gonna Fall” and “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right”. His 1962 self-titled debut album contained traditional and cover songs along with his tribute to his hero, Woody Guthrie, in “Song To Woody”.
But it was album #3 in as many years that would deliver Dylan’s reflective ballad on an era of change. It was released in February 1964, a mere three months after the assassination of President Kennedy and foretold of the social upheaval which would follow later in the decade.
According to Dylan’s website, he first performed the song in October 1963 at a show at Carnegie Hall in New York City. Many sources indicate he wrote in the spirit of an Irish or Scottish ballad to give a voice to the civil rights movement and other social changes he saw developing from his perspective as a 22 year old folk singer.
There have been countless covers of the title track by Bruce Springsteen, Tracy Chapman and Nina Simone, amongst others. My favorite is by fellow American artist Richie Havens. But Dylan’s original is the one that remains the sound heard by a generation and a movement that changed the direction of our country. What an incredible legacy.
“The line it is drawn
The curse it is cast
The slow one now
Will later be fast“.
(Image found online. Original source unknown.)
Bob Dylan: “The Times They Are A-Changin‘” (1964, written by Bob Dylan).
Richie Havens: “The Times They Are A-Changin‘” (1987, written by Bob Dylan).
Stay safe & well.
Lilacs & Rust 