Album #3: The Times They Are a’Changin’’

Released February 10, 1964. Still just Bob; no band yet! 


This is Dylan’s first album of all-original material (although he did borrow melodies from at least two songs, which is very much in the folk tradition.) The album is more quiet and serious than Freewheelin’, with many songs about racism, poverty and social change. I admire these songs, especially “The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll,” but I have to admit that my favorite on the album is probably “When The Ship Comes In.” The imagery is great, the melody is original and it takes a rather menacing turn in the last verses:

Oh the foes will rise
With the sleep still in their eyes
And they’ll jerk from their beds and think they’re dreamin’
But they’ll pinch themselves and squeal
And know that it’s for real
The hour when the ship comes in

Then they’ll raise their hands
Sayin’ we’ll meet all your demands
But we’ll shout from the bow your days are numbered
And like Pharoah’s tribe
They’ll be drownded in the tide
And like Goliath, they’ll be conquered





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