Bob Dylan has written many songs that are prominent in lists of the greatest protest songs of all time. One of his greatest is “Blowin’ in the Wind” from 1962.
How many roads must a man walk down
Before you call him a man?
Yes, ’n’ how many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand?
Yes, ’n’ how many times must the cannonballs fly
Before they’re forever banned?
The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind
The answer is blowin’ in the wind
How many years can a mountain exist
Before it’s washed to the sea?
Yes, ’n’ how many years can some people exist
Before they’re allowed to be free?
Yes, ’n’ 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
How many times must a man look up
Before he can see the sky?
Yes, ’n’ how many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry?
Yes, ’n’ 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
Over the years song has been performed with some iconic covers. In fact, just weeks after Dylan’s version debuted, Peter, Paul and Mary released their cover.
Other great cover versions include those from Stevie Wonder, Sam Cooke, and Joan Baez, who has performed and recorded solo versions and duets with Bob Dylan.
Other “Songs of Peace” in this series:
- “War Pigs” by Black Sabbath
- “Fussing and Fighting” by Bob Marley and the Wailers
- “Bulls on Parade” by Rage Against the Machine
- “Ohio” performed by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young
- “Zombie” by The Cranberries
- “Hero of War” by Rise Against
- “Give Peace a Chance” by John Lennon
- “Sunday Bloody Sunday” by U2
- “One Love” by Bob Marley
- “War” performed by Edwin Starr
- “Imagine” by John Lennon
November is Peace Month at your School Library
Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary School Library 