Changing of the Guards
Bob Dylan
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Sixteen years Sixteen banners united over the field Where the good shepherd grieves Desperate men, desperate women divided Spreading their wings 'neath the falling leaves Fortune calls I stepped forth from the shadows to the marketplace Merchants and thieves, hungry for power, my last deal gone down She's smelling sweet like the meadows where she was born On midsummer's eve, near the tower The cold-blooded moon The captain waits above the celebration Sending his thoughts to a beloved maid Whose ebony face is beyond communication The captain is down but still believing that his love will be repaid They shaved her head She was torn between Jupiter and Apollo A messenger arrived with a black nightingale I seen her on the stairs and I couldn't help but follow Follow her down past the fountain where they lifted her veil I stumbled to my feet I rode past destruction in the ditches With the stitches still mending 'neath a heart-shaped tattoo Renegade priests and treacherous young witches Were handing out the flowers that I'd given to you The palace of mirrors Where dog soldiers are reflected The endless road and the wailing of chimes The empty rooms where her memory is protected Where the angels' voices whisper to the souls of previous times She wakes him up Forty-eight hours later, the sun is breaking Near broken chains, mountain laurel and rolling rocks She's begging to know what measures he now will be taking He's pulling her down and she's clutching on to his long golden locks Gentlemen, he said I don't need your organization, I've shined your shoes I've moved your mountains and marked your cards But Eden is burning, either getting ready for elimination Or else your hearts must have the courage for the changing of the guards Peace will come With tranquility and splendor on the wheels of fire But will bring us no reward when her false idols fall And cruel death surrenders with its pale ghost retreating Between the King and the Queen of Swords
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Written by: BOB DYLAN
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
10 facts about this song
Song Creation"Changing of the Guards" was written and performed by American music legend Bob Dylan.
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Album ReleaseIt is one of the songs featured in his 1978 album "Street Legal". The album didn’t top the charts, but it did earn gold certification in the US.
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Chart Performance"Changing of the Guards" was not released as a single in the United States but was released as a single in the UK, where it reached number 41 on the charts.
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Musical CharacteristicsThe song has a unique musical composition as it is built around a horn section and features a female backing vocal group, which was a departure from Dylan's usual sound.
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Length of SongIt is one of Dylan's longer songs, it runs for nearly seven minutes.
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Lyrics InterpretationLike many of Dylan's songs, "Changing of the Guards" has inspired widespread speculation about its lyrics. Some theories suggest the song may be about Dylan's own career, with the "guards" representing the old guard of folk music from which Dylan emerged. The song’s cryptic lyrics full of symbolism and epithets also sparked debates among fans and critics.
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Live PerformancesThe song was infrequently performed live by Dylan. Its live premiere was on September 15, 1978, and the last known performance was on November 6, 1978.
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Song CoverThe song has been covered by several artists over the years, including Patti Smith on her 2007 covers album "Twelve".
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Critical ReceptionThe song has gained appreciation over the years. While it was initially met with mixed critical reception, some critics have retrospectively described it as one of Dylan's finest compositions.
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Spiritual ReferenceSome analysts consider the song to be an allegory about Dylan's conversion to Christianity, which he publicly declared shortly after the release of "Street Legal".
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Citation
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"Changing of the Guards Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 21 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/24939737/Bob+Dylan/Changing+of+the+Guards>.
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