Bob Dylan and Social Consciousness: Timeline

(Go to the timeline database)

Throughout the past forty-years, Bob Dylan has devoted much time and made individual progress in spreading social consciousness to the masses. Social consciousness is the term given to describe an awakening of society to vital social issues that may have initially been dormant or undetected. In spreading social consciousness to society, Dylan exposed many issues that had a direct impact on one or many lives.

Presented here is a timeline specifically devoted to Dylan which chronicles his album release dates over the past four decades and the release of five songs that he designed to spread social consciousness on various issues. In the sixties Dylan devoted many songs to issues that had large-scale implications, such as the Cuban missile crisis and Vietnam. The seventies was a time when he devoted many songs to issues with both large and small implications. The topic we chose was the incarceration of Rubin Hurricane Carter in Paterson, New Jersey. Although this topic had great individual consequence, the outcome would effect all of society by exposing a clear violation of civil rights. Finally, we chose to select two songs from Dylan's album Oh Mercy, released on September 19, 1989, which look at the overall problems of American society during the eighties. The timeline is devoted to all of these issues and can be researched further by selecting any of the links which we have provided on our links page.

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Go to the full timeline database for this project, which allows for interactive browsing and searching and is paired with a related database of annotated links to online resources.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bob Dylan’s music has survived many decades. He has an inapt talent, which allows him to include and discuss current issues within the lyrics of his music. For instance, during the 1980’s Dylan, along with virtually every other musician of this time, made the transition from radio to television. This allowed for a different type of communication. People from all over the world were now able to watch cultural and musical movements through their televisions. Dylan’s music found a new popularity with the introduction of MTV. His music reflected these cultural changes.

In 1989, Dylan introduced an album entitled Oh Mercy. This album included many tracks which can be related to the changing times. "Everything is Broken", is one song on the album which I interpret to have much relevance to sociological and political events. Each verse of the song has tremendous symbolism. Each of the verses start with general statements, discussing "broken lines, and strings," although this is followed by concepts of "broken idols". Dylan’s reference to broken idols is one which addresses the diminished sense of idols which children of this time felt. This is an issue which has plagued Americans for many decades, the fact that there are few individuals honorable enough for the recognition of innocent children. Dylan goes on to say that, there are "People sleeping in broken beds". This is an obvious reference to America’s continuing homeless problem. To end this verse, Dylan concludes his statements by saying, there "Ain’t no use jiving," and their "Ain’t no use joking". This is a reference to the seriousness of such issues as homelessness and lack of people to honor. Dylan obviously views these issues as crucial to the success of society and is voicing his opinion through his music.

Another song which was written and performed by Bob Dylan that held extreme relevance to current sociological times is "Political World". This song, like many others found on the album No Mercy, holds extreme relevance to current sociological times. Released in 1989, Dylan makes references to the diminishing nature of society. Through the use of different verses, Dylan relates the concept of an upset balance in society to the perfect harmonies found in nature. He looks deeper than surface images, for he dares to blame the actions of criminals upon their upbringings rather than blaming them. "Wisdom is thrown in jail, Its rots in a cell, is misguided as hell, Leaving no one to pick up the trail." In this one verse, Dylan makes references to the breaking of the home, as well as the nature of parenting in the late 1980’s. He goes on to say that the government controls everything in which we see and feel, making us all numbers rather than individuals. Dylan’s tone is one of a cynical nature. He has compressed many of societies ills within the lyrics of this song. He does this so that millions of people can hear his perspective.