The song describes how social and political change is coming and people need to accept and adapt to it. Over 3 verses, Dylan urges various groups - the people, writers and critics, mothers and fathers, and politicians - to recognize that the old ways are passing and a new order is emerging. The final lines reinforce the message that the present is fleeting and those who do not accept change will be left behind.
The song describes how social and political change is coming and people need to accept and adapt to it. Over 3 verses, Dylan urges various groups - the people, writers and critics, mothers and fathers, and politicians - to recognize that the old ways are passing and a new order is emerging. The final lines reinforce the message that the present is fleeting and those who do not accept change will be left behind.
The song describes how social and political change is coming and people need to accept and adapt to it. Over 3 verses, Dylan urges various groups - the people, writers and critics, mothers and fathers, and politicians - to recognize that the old ways are passing and a new order is emerging. The final lines reinforce the message that the present is fleeting and those who do not accept change will be left behind.
G Em C G Come gather 'round people whereer you roam G Am C D And admit that the waters around you hae grown G Em C G And accept it that soon you'll be drenched to the bone G Am D !" your time to you is worth sain' D D# G D Then you better start swimmin' or you'll sin$ li$e a stone% G C D G &or the times% they are a chang - in' Come writers and critics who propheci'e with your pen And $eep your eyes wide the chance won't come again And don't spea$ too soon "or the wheel's still in spin And there's no tellin' who that it's namin' &or the loser now will be later to win &or the times they are a-changin' Come mothers and "athers throughout the land And don't critici'e what you don't understand (our sons and your daughters are beyond your command (our old road is rapidly agin' )lease get out o" the new one i" you can't lend a hand &or the times they are a-changin' Come senators% congressmen please heed the call Don't stand in the doorway% don't bloc$ up the hall &or he that gets hurt will be he who has stalled There's a battle outside and it's ragin' !t'll soon sha$e your windows and rattle your walls &or the times they are a-changin' The line it is drawn the curse it is cast The slow one now will later be "ast As the present now will later be past The order is rapidly "adin' And the "irst one now will later be last &or the times they are a-changin'