Search - Bob Dylan :: Times They Are A-Changin

Everybody Should be Free

Shane Shogren | Las Vegas, NV | 09/04/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The opening track, "The Times they are a-Changin'" is a call to arms. It was heeded in the Sixties when the streets were filled with protesters, kids who wanted an end to the war in Vietnam. Dylan has sung this song countless times over the years, talking about the battle that is outside raging, but somehow we've forgotten this message, though we sing the words with Dylan at almost every concert he's given on his never ending tour. Sadly there are almost no protesters today. And it seems if one does raise a voice, bad things could happen to him.



Lord, I have to wonder if God ever was on our side. Bob Dylan doesn't think he was, but there are so many today who are convinced he is, maybe they should listen to this record. At least we've done something about the horrible racism Dylan sings about on "Only a Pawn in Their Game" and the haunting "Ballad of Hollis Brown," but we have a long way to go. I think all those people who are so against those who only want to better themselves by coming to America should be forced to sit down and listen to this record. That's what I think."

My favorite Bob album of all time...

William E. Adams | Midland, Texas USA | 03/12/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"was also the first one I purchased, although it was his third release. It is dark, depressing in spots, bleak and bitter, but oh, so powerful back in 1963! Buying Dylan back then,even for a college sophomore was kind of a radical act in my somewhat racist family. We were lifelong denizens of New Jersey, but uncomfortable with all the civil rights agitation just the same. I bought the record because I had seen Bob perform "The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll" on the Steve Allen late-night TV variety show. To find out what made Dylan famous BEFORE he went to electrified rock, get this item."

(3.5 stars) Not brilliant, but pretty good

finulanu | Here, there, and everywhere | 08/06/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I don't get why so many people are quick to jump on this as the weakest disc of Dylan's acoustic period. I actually think it's pretty good myself - about as good as Freewheelin', which I find to be slightly overrated (good, though) - both are far behind my pick for the best acoustic disc, Another Side Of, but whatever. Onto the review.

Now, let's be fair, there are a couple weak songs on this album. I don't find either Ballad of Hollis Brown or North Country blues enlightening, well-intentioned as both protests surely are, they don't have any musical or lyrical interest. I'm not crazy about Boots of Spanish Leather, either; it's not nearly as touching as Girl from the North Country, nor is it as complex and insightful as Don't Think Twice, It's All Right, my favorite Dylan love song. Whereas Don't Think Twice has some clever, self-depricating humor to match its jibes at the former lover, Spanish Leather is merely morose and meandering (Alliteration is fun!), not making tis point until the end of the song - by that point, I've long since tuned out. And Restless Farewell left me, well... restless. Is that the most obvious insult in history for that song? Most likely. But it applies, because it's not a terribly exciting tune.

Now let's get to the good stuff. You don't need me here telling you the prophetic title track is great: just listen to it, because it's more than worth hearing. Even better is my personal favorite, One Too Many Mornings. Yes, subsequent live versions (particularly the Rolling Thunder version) gave it more cathartic power, but it's a moving song regardless. With God On Our Side is another undisputable highlight, probably the one with the strongest, most thought-provoking lyrics on the album: it's also a common target for the numerous people who don't like this disc. Yes, it's long, and no, the melody isn't all that exciting. But if you zone in on the lyrics, you'll find it's one of his best written songs. And I highly advise you focus on Only a Pawn in Their Game's lyrics, too, a strong protest against racism and how politicians use it for power. My issue with the song is the rambling, unfocused, downright distracting guitar part. The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll is a striking song about William Zantzinger's real-life racist murder of barmaid Hattie Carroll. The song digs pretty deep, deep enough for Zantzinger himself to be enraged by it: he denies its accuarcy to this day, but anyone who would commit a racist murder is bound to be wrong in the head. Anyone who knows anything should know that Zantzinger, and not Dylan, is the "No-account son of a b****". Enough tooting my own horn, though: good song right there. My favorite part is the last verse, where Dylan builds the suspense about the "fairness and justice" of our court system, only to reveal that Zantzinger somehow got off easy. A great move on Dylan's part, taking a swipe at the court system while he was at it. The last of my favorite songs is When the Ship Comes In. It's the only optimistic song on the album, and even then its optimism deals with the horrible death of Dylan's enemies. Maybe a bit unnecessarily spiteful, but a very solid song nonetheless, and anyway how many great Dylan songs aren't unnecessarily spiteful? Let's see, Positively 4th Street, Like a Rolling Stone, Maggie's Farm, Idiot Wind...

So that's my assessment, I guess. A pretty good work. Not in the first class of Dylan recordings, but with enough solid songs to make it a must for any serious Dylan fan who's heard the first-class recordings."