Anti War Song Meme

[jeffreyab]

"Blowin' in the Wind" is a song written by Bob Dylan in April 1962,
and released on his 1963 album The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan.

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 cannon balls fly
Before they're forever banned?
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.

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.

When you see this, post an anti-war song or a pro soldier song in your journal.

Tommy Atkins by Kipling comes to mind although it has no music I know of.

Comments

[ponsdorf.livejournal.com]

I never understood why that one was 'anti-war'. The first two stanzas taken by themselves, maybe, but add the third and it's quite easily a call to arms to free the oppressed. War is terrible, but sometimes we must listen to the cries and do something.

When the song was first written/sung Kennedy was President, Vietnam was of little note!

It certainly became commonly associated with the anti-war movement later, but it always puzzled me.

[jeffreyab.livejournal.com]

It does make one pause and reflect on why we go to war.

Things that seem big at the time can fade with time.