Blowin' In The Wind

I was not quite four years old when Bob Dylan walked into a studio on this date in 1962 and recorded “Blowin’ In The Wind”.

It wouldn’t be released until a full year later, one of the tracks on “The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan” (seems like it was cool in the 60’s to drop the “g” in “ing”) When Bob Dylan first performed it at Gerde’s Folk City in Greenwich Village, he introduced the song as follows:

“This here ain’t no protest song or anything like that, ‘cause I don’t write no protest songs”. He then proceeded to play one of the most eloquent protest songs ever written.

It could be that “Blowin’ In The Wind” struck a chord because it was so…well…vague. Protest songs as a genre were certainly emerging at that time, but most were very literal and specific. That this one was not—lent an air of mystery and depth to the lyrics—which made it perfect for protesting war, racial inequality—and a host of other social ills that the lyrics at least marginally addressed.

Most of America first heard the song not from Dylan, but rather from Peter, Paul and Mary, who recorded it and released it in June of 1963, just three weeks after Dylan’s album came out. While covered by literally hundreds of artists, it was the Peter, Paul and Mary version that became a smash pop hit.

I also think their version is the best.

Of course, I cannot be impartial. Noel Paul Stookey (“Paul”) lives in Maine and sang his solo hit “The Wedding Song” at St. Joseph's in Ellsworth for Peggy and I at our wedding 25 years ago. I had the honor of returning the favor some years later by acting as the DJ at Noel’s daughter’s wedding at their beautiful home near Blue Hill. It was there that I met the incredible Mary Travers (God rest her soul!)—picking up trash left by the revelers at the reception. When I asked her why a “star” was cleaning up, she matter-of-factly replied, “I may be a star, but I’m a Mom first!” I later met Peter Yarrow here at the WHOM studios when he arrived for an interview. It’s hard not to be star-struck when you think about their collective contributions.

The impact of Peter, Paul and Mary on the music scene—and in the social conscience of America—cannot be overstated. And, they would be first to admit that Dylan’s song, “Blowin’ In The Wind”—was the spark that really defined who they were as a trio. While “If I Had A Hammer” and “Puff The Magic Dragon” had been released prior—and were hits, it was “Blowin’ In The Wind” that elevated Peter, Paul and Mary into the lofty position (along with Dylan) as “spokespersons for a generation”.

Dylan’s video performances of the song are copyrighted by Sony Music and therefore unavailable here—however, here are Peter, Paul and Mary—performing this huge hit on TV in 1966:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3t4g_1VoGw4



The very first track on Dylan’s album, “Blowin’ In The Wind” became the unofficial anthem of the Civil Rights movement and was admitted to the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999. It also sits at #14 on Rolling Stone Magazine’s list of “The 500 Greatest Songs Of All Time”.

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