The Times They Are A-Changin'

This is a timeless song. Because the only constant is change. (sorry to use a corny volcom slogan but it's true)

You can say that Texas and Minnesota are both part of United States. But I refuse to believe that George W Bush and Bob Dylan are from the same country. CNN should play "With God On Our Side" every twenty minutes. We'll have to wait four more years for the President of the US stop being an embarassment. A shame.

I think this song is the most important and iconic song ever written.

I can't believe I'd ever feel the need to express this in relation to a Bob Dylan song, but this is a website for song MEANINGS, so it would probably be best for everyone if personal political views were excluded. Bush bashing is a magnet for idiots who like to defend our elected enemy. I also like to just laugh and smile when people don't appreciate the original artists, and prefer covers. If they can't see the beauty in Dylan, then that's their loss. Anyways. About the song. In my opinion, the first verse is an allusion to a flood, something that is not strictly a biblical reference (seeing as Dylan was, as Freewheelin pointed out, Jewish when he wrote this song) but also an archetype that is used by almost every religion on earth. Dylan persists that we get with it with the lines "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'." The second verse warns the authors, journalists, artists, etc of the time to watch for change, observe it, and record it. He talks of sudden twists of fate, unexpected victories. Verse three screams Vietnam to me. Dylan is telling our politicians to stop closing their eyes to the fact that Vietnam is real, people are getting killed, and it will soon hit closer to home than comfortable. He is asking them to take action. 4 seems to be asking people to stop a-bitchin'. Their children are out in the world, and they can't control them anymore. They need to let go of old fears and prejudices and get with the times. 5 sums it up. Live in the now, change your ways, accept the past but look forward. K... these are my opinions. Don't bash 'em. Disagree all you want, but don't turn this into some kind of personal war.

I love this song. I don't think any other version could be better. And I personally connect this song to today - the fight against same-sex marriage. Your old road is rapidly aging, bigots. But that's just me. Wonderful song.

Umm, that's Eddie VEDDER. And don't criticize What you can't understand. End of Discussion.

Yes, Bush will protect you. Just follow him blindly. And in the meantime, check out the song Pet by A Perfect Circle. And if you can, go to their site and watch the video "Counting Bodies". It is very educational. This is a good song indeed. Revolution is coming.

he's not saying you have to get along with everyone just dont fucking bomb everyone who looks at you wrong

This song is so wonderful. One of Dylan's best (not that I'm particulary knowledgable about Dylan's songs, but this one is amazing anyhow). I love how it's so simple, but still so strong. And I also love that they used this song for the opening title of Watchmen. It's perfect. And I also love that they used the original version and didn't lete anybody cover it. It's simply perfect and give me goosebumps every damn time! I love the "come mothers and fathers" verse. It describes the way I'm feeling right now, as I just turned 18, very well. "Don't critisize what you can't understand, your sons and daughters are beyond your comand, your road is rapidly aging, please get out of the new one if you cant lend a hand" It's definitivly about change, in any shape or form I think. I think this song is pretty open to very indivdual interpretation. People's lives will dictate what they think it's about, which is great. I love songs that can mean a million different things to a million different people.

I know it's been a big joke ever since he started that Dylan can't sing, but honestly it's his unique voice that makes his so great, in my opinion. Voice is obviously a big factor in what makes us like a particular artist/song (like, other than Daughtry sucking ass in general, his voice makes me convulse and start vomiting), and I think Dylan is an incredible singer just BECAUSE it's unorthodox.