The title of my song is "Blowin' in the Wind" by Bob Dylan. The issues of this song are war and racism, but is mostly related to racism. I decided to choose this song because the lyrics were very deep and I could understand the meaning of them the first time I listened to it. I chose this song because I thought it was a strong topic that occurred throughout the 1960's. Many people all over the world were racist and discriminated against other people because of their looks or their personal beliefs. The decade that this song came out was the 1960's. Racism was a large occurring role throughout the late '50's and the early '60's. African Americans had been treated poorly for over a hundred years, and it took so many years of protesting and questioning, to finally receive equality.
Facts
Racism played a large role throughout the 1960's. White people discriminated against African Americans because of their color. The Jim Crow laws stated that blacks and whites should be separated while in public areas. For instance there were different water fountains, restrooms, restaurants, and seats on the bus for colored people. They were also not allowed certain jobs just because of their race. Organized groups such as the KKK (Ku Klux Klan) protested against African Americans and held ceremonies where they sometimes tortured and killed the African Americans. This act, was surprisingly enough, legal. There were also people who stood up for blacks and their rights. People such as Martin Luther King Junior fought for African American's equality.
Lyrics
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.
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.
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.
Response
The way I feel about the lyrics is strong because I can relate to them. Even though I haven't been discriminated against because of my race, I have because of my religion. The point is that our problems will never be answered. The lyrics relate to anti-discrimination because Bob Dylan feels that too many people are discriminated against because of their religion or color. A line in the song goes, "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?" It relates to racism because the song lyrics are about people not admitting that racism occurs, they just turn their head. The problems of racism and how they will never be solved, they are "blowin' in the wind." The reason people protest about war and racism are because they think it is wrong and unsafe, and an unnecessary way to solve our problems. This song relates to racism because all of the answers to problems are not with us. Bob Dylan sings in the song, "The answer my friend, is blowin' in the wind."
Bio Artist
The artist that wrote and sings this song is Bob Dylan (the name he changed to after he went into songwriting. His real name is Robert Allen Zimmerman). Did he perhaps change his name because he is Jewish and was discriminated against himself? Isn't it interesting that he grew up in Minnesota with a typical childhood and yet became a legendary anti-war activist? Dylan first went into the music industry when he was in high school. During this time he was a member of several bands some including, "The Shadow Blasters" and "The Golden Chords". He mostly stands for anti discrimination, anti war and equality. This song was written during the end of the civil rights movement and Dylan is saying in that song that answers to discrimination are blowin' in the wind. In the song lyrics Dylan sings, "How many times must the cannon ball fly, before it is forever banned?" This line stood out to me because it relates to war and death, and how many people die fighting and defending our country. It also made me think about how the United States in particular tries to solve our problems with war which ends people's lives. This song has a special meaning to Bob Dylan because he sings about problems and most of is songs have a special meaning to him. You can tell this by the way he sings them and the meaning of the lyrics that make up the song. This song was written because Bob Dylan felt strongly about treating everyone equally, and not discriminating against other people. This songs has a special meaning to Bob Dylan because during the 1960's Bob Dylan created awareness toward this issue and racism. White men in the 60's had certain chances and opportunities that black men could usually never have. In this song Bob Dylan asks the listeners a vast majority of questions, with a wide range of answers. http://30daysout.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/bob_dylan_12_64.jpg
Opinion Piece
My opinion to racism is that it is extremely unfair and wrong. During the 1950's and '60's racism was a large occurring issue throughout most of the United States. Discrimination was a big role in schools and public areas, saying African Americans are not as good as whites, and whites looked down upon them because of their physical appearance. One part of America I am proud of today is that African Americans are equal to whites, and are able to have the same opportunities. However racism still occurs in many areas of the country and with others races and religions. http://brotherpeacemaker.files.wordpress.com/2007/04/racism.jpg
"Blowin' In The Wind"
By: Bob Dylan
1960's
Introduction
The title of my song is "Blowin' in the Wind" by Bob Dylan. The issues of this song are war and racism, but is mostly related to racism. I decided to choose this song because the lyrics were very deep and I could understand the meaning of them the first time I listened to it. I chose this song because I thought it was a strong topic that occurred throughout the 1960's. Many people all over the world were racist and discriminated against other people because of their looks or their personal beliefs. The decade that this song came out was the 1960's. Racism was a large occurring role throughout the late '50's and the early '60's. African Americans had been treated poorly for over a hundred years, and it took so many years of protesting and questioning, to finally receive equality.Facts
Racism played a large role throughout the 1960's. White people discriminated against African Americans because of their color. The Jim Crow laws stated that blacks and whites should be separated while in public areas. For instance there were different water fountains, restrooms, restaurants, and seats on the bus for colored people. They were also not allowed certain jobs just because of their race. Organized groups such as the KKK (Ku Klux Klan) protested against African Americans and held ceremonies where they sometimes tortured and killed the African Americans. This act, was surprisingly enough, legal. There were also people who stood up for blacks and their rights. People such as Martin Luther King Junior fought for African American's equality.Lyrics
How many roads most a man walk downBefore 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.
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.
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.
Response
The way I feel about the lyrics is strong because I can relate to them. Even though I haven't been discriminated against because of my race, I have because of my religion. The point is that our problems will never be answered. The lyrics relate to anti-discrimination because Bob Dylan feels that too many people are discriminated against because of their religion or color. A line in the song goes, "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?" It relates to racism because the song lyrics are about people not admitting that racism occurs, they just turn their head. The problems of racism and how they will never be solved, they are "blowin' in the wind." The reason people protest about war and racism are because they think it is wrong and unsafe, and an unnecessary way to solve our problems. This song relates to racism because all of the answers to problems are not with us. Bob Dylan sings in the song, "The answer my friend, is blowin' in the wind."
Bio Artist
The artist that wrote and sings this song is Bob Dylan (the name he changed to after he went into songwriting. His real name is Robert Allen Zimmerman). Did he perhaps change his name because he is Jewish and was discriminated against himself? Isn't it interesting that he grew up in Minnesota with a typical childhood and yet became a legendary anti-war activist? Dylan first went into the music industry when he was in high school. During this time he was a member of several bands some including, "The Shadow Blasters" and "The Golden Chords". He mostly stands for anti discrimination, anti war and equality. This song was written during the end of the civil rights movement and Dylan is saying in that song that answers to discrimination are blowin' in the wind. In the song lyrics Dylan sings, "How many times must the cannon ball fly, before it is forever banned?" This line stood out to me because it relates to war and death, and how many people die fighting and defending our country. It also made me think about how the United States in particular tries to solve our problems with war which ends people's lives. This song has a special meaning to Bob Dylan because he sings about problems and most of is songs have a special meaning to him. You can tell this by the way he sings them and the meaning of the lyrics that make up the song. This song was written because Bob Dylan felt strongly about treating everyone equally, and not discriminating against other people. This songs has a special meaning to Bob Dylan because during the 1960's Bob Dylan created awareness toward this issue and racism. White men in the 60's had certain chances and opportunities that black men could usually never have. In this song Bob Dylan asks the listeners a vast majority of questions, with a wide range of answers.
http://30daysout.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/bob_dylan_12_64.jpg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWvh4S3YWVo
(Video of Bob Dylan performing "Blowin' in the Wind.")
Opinion Piece
My opinion to racism is that it is extremely unfair and wrong. During the 1950's and '60's racism was a large occurring issue throughout most of the United States. Discrimination was a big role in schools and public areas, saying African Americans are not as good as whites, and whites looked down upon them because of their physical appearance. One part of America I am proud of today is that African Americans are equal to whites, and are able to have the same opportunities. However racism still occurs in many areas of the country and with others races and religions.
http://brotherpeacemaker.files.wordpress.com/2007/04/racism.jpg
Resources
http://www.edlis.org/twice/threads/why_he_matters.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Dylan
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/racism-against-african-americans.html