The Times They Are A-Changin Analysis

Bob Dylan as he is known today, was born Robert Allen Zimmerman on May 24th, 1941 in Minnesota. From the age of 10, Dylan began writing poetry while also teaching himself to play the piano and guitar. He looked up to rock stars like Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Little Richard who he used to imitate on the piano at high school dances. Zimmerman hardly attended college and dropped out in 1960. By his early 20’s Dylan was signed to Columbia Productions, with his first album being produced in March 1962. “The Times They are A-Changin”, was released on his third album in January 1964. This song was recognised as an anthem for a frustrated youth. The song captures the feel of much of the 60’s as the time was a decade of experimentation, progress and change. It was a time where the highest levels of political activism occurred in America. “The Times They are A-Changin”, was written at the height of the Civil Rights Movement and …show more content…
Here Dylan connotes more of a personal address to the parents who are the biggest influence on their children’s lives. Dylan’s line, “Your sons and your daughters Are beyond your command”, represents his attitude that we are living in a different world from what our parents lived in and that your sons and daughters are rebelling and protesting and parents should be open minded and encourage not discourage them. Dylan goes on to say, “Your old road is rapidly agin”, that your old ways won’t work anymore.
In the final stanza, “The line is drawn The curse it is cast”, is effectively used to demonstrate the belief that the time is now and direct change is imminent. Dylan implies that the civil rights movement can no longer be ignored, changes need to happen now. Little did Dylan know that the changes he was talking about actually happened the same year the song was released. In 1964 Congress passed the Civil Rights