The Times They Are A-Changin'

Bob Dylan

About The Times They Are A-Changin'

"The Times They Are a-Changin'" is a song written by Bob Dylan and released as the title track of his 1964 album of the same name. Dylan wrote the song as a deliberate attempt to create an anthem of change for the time, influenced by Irish and Scottish ballads. Released as a 45-rpm single in Britain in 1965, it reached number 9 on the UK Singles Chart. Ever since its release the song has been influential to people's views on society, with critics noting the general yet universal lyrics as contributing to the song's lasting message of change. Dylan has occasionally performed it in concert. The song has been covered by many different artists, including Nina Simone, the Byrds, the Seekers, Peter, Paul and Mary, Simon & Garfunkel, Runrig, the Beach Boys, Joan Baez, Phil Collins, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, and Burl Ives. The song was ranked number 59 on Rolling Stone's 2004 list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time". 


Year:
1968
307 
#1

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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'
Then 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
There's a battle outside ragin'
It'll 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'

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Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan ( /ˈdɪlən/; born Robert Allen Zimmerman; May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter, musician, author, poet and artist. He has been an influential figure in popular music and culture for more than five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly reluctant figurehead of social unrest. A number of Dylan's early songs, such as "Blowin' in the Wind" and "The Times They Are a-Changin'", became anthems for the US civil rights and anti-war movements. Leaving his initial base in the culture of folk music behind, Dylan's six-minute single "Like a Rolling Stone" has been described as radically altering the parameters of popular music in … more »

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Written by: Bob Dylan

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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9 facts about this song

Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan wrote and originally recorded "The Times They Are A-Changin'" in 1964. This was during the height of the American Civil Rights Movement and the lyrics were seen as a call for social change.
Billy Joel
While Billy Joel did not originally write or record "The Times They Are a-Changin'," he has performed the popular cover of the song live at various concerts and it has become a fan favorite.
Joan Baez
Joan Baez, who was an intimate friend of Dylan's from the time they both emerged as key figures in the '60s folk scene, had often included "The Times They Are A-Changin'" in her concert repertoire and brought a serenity to the song's delivery.
Nina Simone
Known for her mixture of jazz, blues, and folk music, Nina Simone recorded her cover of "The Times They Are A-Changin'" in 1969 for her Nina Simone and Piano album, showcasing her powerful vocals.
Peter, Paul and Mary
Peter, Paul and Mary, who were known for their folk and protest music, performed "The Times They Are A-Changin'" frequently at concerts during the 1960s, aligning with the group's activism and support for the Civil Rights Movement.
Phil Collins
Phil Collins did a cover of "The Times They Are A-Changin'" in 2010 for his album, "Going Back". Collins is primarily known as the drummer and lead vocalist of the rock band Genesis.
Simon & Garfunkel
While Simon & Garfunkel didn't officially record "The Times They Are A-Changin'", Art Garfunkel performed the song live and it has been released on his album "The Singer".
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys did not officially record or release a cover of "The Times They Are A-Changin'". The group is more known for its harmonious pop and surf rock.
The Byrds
As a folk rock band, The Byrds were greatly influenced by Bob Dylan's work. However, they never officially recorded "The Times They are A-Changin’". Their most famous Dylan cover is probably "Mr. Tambourine Man".

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