The Times They Are A Changin'

[itsallovernow]

Inspired by infinitemonkeys, who clearly has a more thorough working knowledge of music than I do, and I thought I was pretty well informed.

Music that has had a profound effect on my life.

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
And it is 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'.


My father picked me up from school one day when I was in junior high, and while driving me to piano lessons, asked me to read the letter to the schoolboard that he had just written. My dad, who was a passionate and committed teacher, was upset by some decision that had been made that would undoubtedly have a negative effect on his students and was urging the body to reconsider. He made his point and then, to reiterate, wrote, "don't stand in the doorways, don't block up the halls."

That hit me, somehow, both his use of that plea, and the meaning behind it. The idea of those who have been entrusted with bringing about change, with upholding what's right, actively blocking it just bowled me over. I've responded to authority with wariness ever since. The Times They Are A-Changing is still, to me, one of the most powerful protest songs ever. It's not pretty, or easy, and it isn't just about war, but about change, constant change, and the way of the world, and it certainly fueled me into becoming an activist. Wanting to be a revolutionary, feeling that deep in my gut, hating the oppression and trying to work for change. Although, sometimes, I feel like all I've accomplished so far is to buy a Che shirt from the boardwalk.

That moment led me into my love affair with Bob Dylan's music. My mother had always listened to Joan Baez, and I knew most of Dylan's work through her. But let me tell you, hearing Joan Baez with her madonna voice singing A Hard Rain is Gonna Fall, was nothing like hearing it from Bob Dylan the first time. Nasal and twangy, and raw. It scratches against you, pushing and taunting.

The song that for me remains the most, I don't want to say profound, but constant to though is Don't Think Twice, It's Alright. It carries through - that little irony, that shake of the head, the goodbye, good riddance, don't come back but damn it was fun, gee I kinda wish you hadn't left. Still I wish there was somethin' you would do or say, To try and make me change my mind and stay, We never did too much talkin' anyway, So don't think twice, it's all right It's funny, and a little bitter, and much of the semi-sweetness is directed at himself.

There are many other moments where music has just knocked me down, bowled me over, made me cry. Walking down a hill in the dark in a tiny Italian town, hearing Irish ballads sung a capella. Hearing Fairy Tale of New York for the first time, and thinking Shane McGowan really is a genius. Scary, but a genius when reigned in. John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman doing ,i>Lush Life, and Dexter Gordon's version of 'Round Midnight and Billy Holiday singing God Bless the Child, not understanding before that why jazz made people drink. Emmy Lou Harris and Neil Young and Joni Mitchell. All moments in there that are inextricably tied to my childhood. And Tom Waits, at the Wiltern, his hands extended, shaking them, face pressed into the microphone, that rumbly voice that really is real, and endless stories.

And the first time that I heard Madama Butterfly, and found my cheeks wet, not even knowing I'd cried.

Comments

[infinitemonkeys.livejournal.com]

I'm so pleased that you're doing this, it was such a pleasure to read posts about music by people who adore it. I came late to Dylan (mid-20s) and your post reminded me why, even with his imperfect voice, he's such a powerful performer, as well as a brilliant songwriter.

"Fairytale of New York" was the first record I ever bought with my own money (along with "Blue Monday").

Hello, btw. *g*

[thassalia.livejournal.com]

I've really enjoyed reading the responses to this line of thought as well. People have such visceral reactions to music. It has such meaning to most of us and for wildly different reasons, and getting a glimpse into that has been fascinating. I feel like I could dedicate the rest of this journal to talking about music, how it's influenced me and effected me, but I rarely can be as eloquent about something this emotional as many of the other writers out there.

I'm glad people are responding to the challenge of talking about that interconnection! I've read similar posts about books, but would really like to know which books changed the way people looked at life, or even their life at the moment.