BA3
Bob Dylan’s songs centered toward equality and racism certainly helped bring about change in the 60′s. Reading and listening to his lyrics has helped me to come to a better understanding of the mindset of both the black and the white man. Bob Dylan being a white man and singing about the injustice of racism was a brave brave man! The song “Only a pawn in their game” points out the white mans blind belief in their own superiority and how hate is taught from a young age. The white man has no idea why he is supposed to hate African Americans therefore acting as an ignorant pawn. The song “Blowing in the Wind” in contrast is more vague and almost poignant. Bob Dylan mostly asks a series of questions almost as if in defeat making me wonder if he wrote this at the start of the movement or the end. Both songs are discussing the issue of segregation and racism and the role everyone plays, but “Only a pawn in their game” seems to focus on the injustice of racism not the actions needed to change it.
“Times are Changing” is a awesome song to discribe the black movement, the title says it all “times are changing”. Bob Dylan asked all to acknowledge that things are not as they once were and to not be unyeilding and stuborn because no matter what things will be different. Dylans song “Blowing in the Wind” on the other hand is not as clear that things are changing rather leaving it up to chance and saying “it is blowing in the wind”, leaving me to wonder if he was really confident in change for the better. Both songs state change is inevitable, but it sounds like it is simply a matter of when.
The song “Oxford Town” is about the events that happen in Oxford Town, tear gas and murder and the fear that the people have to live through every day. A solution to the problems is not suggested however Bob Dylan does ask his “friend”, the listener, what he thinks about the issues? Perhaphs Dylan was leaving it up to the audience to determine the inequalities and come to their own conclusions as to a solution. The song “Blowing in the Wind” is also addressed to his “friend” the listener asking a series of questions and stating that all is blowing in the wind and things will change as soon as more people realize the problem. Out of all the songs I think these two are the most similar.
