LYRICS & MUSIC BY BOB DYLAN
| Introduction |
|
Guitar - one |
| Bob Dylan |
1. |
How many roads most a man walk down
Before you call him a man ?
How many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand ?
Yes, how many times must the cannon balls fly
Before they're forever banned ?
The answer my friend is blowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind. |
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|
Harmonica |
|
2. |
Yes, how many years can a mountain exist
Before it's washed to the sea ?
Yes, how many years can some people exist
Before they're allowed to be free ?
Yes, how many times can a man turn his head
Pretending he just doesn't see ?
The answer my friend is blowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind. |
|
|
Harmonica |
|
3. |
Yes, how many times must a man look up
Before he can see the sky ?
Yes, how many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry ?
Yes, how many deaths will it take till he knows
That too many people have died ?
The answer my friend is blowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind. |
| Close |
|
Harmonica/Guitar trill |
Official Sony Music Lyrics at
nnn
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ANNOTATION
Source/Precedents
| Based on a traditional song No More Auction Block, a
verion of which was released on the BOOTLEG
SERIES VOLUME 1-3 Disc 1 Track 4. |
Comments
| 1. |
In contrast to the importance and gravity of the song, the performance
is subtly understated. |
| 2. |
A deceptively simple song, each verse consisting of three
philosophic questions and their metaphysical answer. |
| 3. |
Verse 1 has two metaphysical and one moral question, Verse 2
has one metaphysical and two moral questions. Verse 3 has only moral questions.
These are big questions. |
| 4. |
The song was quickly adopted as the un-official anthem of the Civil
Rights Movement (Roxon p 176) and its international status
is such that it is now beyond criticism. |
| 5. |
The blowin' wind image, or variations, reappears in future songs,
each time building on this powerful precedent. |
| 5. |
Single release by Peter, Paul and Mary xxx 1962 was a hit and gained
the song, and it's composer, international exposure. |
| 6. |
One of the most covered of Bob Dylan songs, in excess of 60, including
those by Sam Cooke, Marlene Dietrich, Duke Ellington, Percy Faith (Roxon
p 176). |
The Critics
Notes
|
ALTERNATIVE RECORDINGS
Bob Dylan
Other Artists
| 1. |
Peter, Paul and Mary : Blowin' In The Wind: single 1962?
and subsequent albums. |
| 2. |
Sam Cooke, Marlene Dietrich, Duke Ellington, Percy Faith (Roxon
p 176) |
| 3. |
|
| 4. |
Stevie Wonder : Blowin' In The Wind, UPTIGHT Track
5, May 1966.
Live Version on THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY
ALBUM Disc 2 Track 1 |
For extensive information on alternate versions see Olof
Björner's excellent ...
It
Ain’t Me, Babe
|
RECORDING DETAILS
| Recorded: |
1 August 1971 |
| Release Date : |
January 1972 |
| Published : |
First published in Broadside Magazine, 1962 |
| Venue: |
Madison Square Garden. |
| Master Number: |
|
| Take: |
1 |
| Producers: |
George Harrison and Phil Spector |
| Engineer/s: |
|
| Company: |
Apple Records |
| Record Number : |
Apple STCX 3385 |
| CD Number: |
|
| Record: |
Side 5 Track 3 (Date) |
| CD: |
Track xx (Date) |
| Time: |
2.45xx minutes |
Musicians:
| Bob Dylan |
Vocals/Guitar/Harmonica |
| Leon Russell |
Bass |
| George Harrison |
Electric guitar |
| Ringo Starr |
Tambourine |
All Recording Data usually from Record /Compact Disc Cover,
and
Clinton Heylin, Dylan : Behind Closed Doors - The Recording Sessions
1960-1994 Penguin Books 1996
|