About the song
*The Times They Are a-Changin’* is Bob Dylan’s third studio album, released on February 10, 1964, through Columbia Records. Unlike his previous albums, which included both original compositions and covers, this album consists entirely of Dylan’s own songs. It marks a significant step in Dylan’s career, showcasing his deep engagement with social and political issues.
The album’s title track, “The Times They Are a-Changin’,” is one of Dylan’s most renowned songs, often seen as a reflection of the turbulent political and social climate of the 1960s. With its call for change and acknowledgment of shifting social norms, the song captures the spirit of an era marked by civil rights struggles and widespread reform.
The album primarily features sparse ballads that address themes such as racial injustice, poverty, and social upheaval. Despite its critical importance, some reviewers and fans found the album less engaging compared to Dylan’s earlier works, noting a lack of humor and musical variety. Nevertheless, *The Times They Are a-Changin’* achieved notable commercial success, reaching number 20 on the U.S. charts, eventually earning gold certification, and achieving number 4 in the UK in 1965.
Recording began on August 6, 1963, at Columbia’s Studio A in New York City, with Tom Wilson as the producer. Dylan was already an influential figure in the music world at this time. The recording sessions saw various versions of songs, with some tracks like “North Country Blues” and “Seven Curses” being recorded but ultimately not included in the final album. However, “The Times They Are a-Changin’” and “One Too Many Mornings” were among the tracks that made it to the album.
The album’s content reflects Dylan’s intent to create a song that resonated with the current moment. He drew inspiration from Irish and Scottish ballads, aiming to write a song with powerful, evocative lyrics. Despite the album’s focus on serious topics, Dylan later clarified that the song was not about generational divides but rather a broader commentary on societal changes.
Songs like “Ballad of Hollis Brown” and “With God on Our Side” highlight Dylan’s storytelling ability, addressing issues from poverty to the use of religion to justify conflict. “Boots of Spanish Leather” and “Restless Farewell” further showcase Dylan’s lyrical depth and ability to weave traditional influences into modern contexts.
Overall, *The Times They Are a-Changin’* stands as a landmark album in Dylan’s career, symbolizing a moment of great social change and artistic evolution.
Video
Lyrics
Come gather ’round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You’ll be drenched to the bone
If your time to you is worth savin’
And you better start swimmin’
Or you’ll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin’
Come writers and critics
Who prophesize with your pen
And keep your eyes wide
The chance won’t come again
And don’t speak too soon
For the wheel’s still in spin
And there’s no tellin’ who
That it’s namin’
For the loser now
Will be later to win
For the times they are a-changin’
Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don’t stand in the doorway
Don’t block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
The battle outside ragin’
Will soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin’
Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don’t criticize
What you can’t understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is rapidly agin’
Please get out of the new one
If you can’t lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin’
The line it is drawn
The curse it is cast
The slow one now
Will later be fast
As the present now
Will later be past
The order is rapidly fadin’
And the first one now
Will later be last
For the times they are a-changin’