"A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall"
Oh, where have you been, my blue-eyed son ?
And where have you been my darling young one ?
I've stumbled on the side of twelve misty mountains
I've walked and I've crawled on six crooked highways
I've stepped in the middle of seven sad forests
I've been out in front of a dozen dead oceans
I've been ten thousand miles in the mouth of a graveyard
And it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, and it's a hard
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.
Oh, what did you see, my blue eyed son ?
And what did you see, my darling young one ?
I saw a newborn baby with wild wolves all around it
I saw a highway of diamonds with nobody on it
I saw a black branch with blood that kept drippin'
I saw a room full of men with their hammers a-bleedin'
I saw a white ladder all covered with water
I saw ten thousand takers whose tongues were all broken
I saw guns and sharp swords in the hands of young children
And it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, and it's a hard
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.
And what did you hear, my blue-eyed son ?
And what did you hear, my darling young one ?
I heard the sound of a thunder, it roared out a warnin'
I heard the roar of a wave that could drown the whole world
I heard one hundred drummers whose hands were a-blazin'
I heard ten thousand whisperin' and nobody listenin'
I heard one person starve, I heard many people laughin'
Heard the song of a poet who died in the gutter
Heard the sound of a clown who cried in the alley
And it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard
And it's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.
Oh, who did you meet my blue-eyed son ?
Who did you meet, my darling young one ?
I met a young child beside a dead pony
I met a white man who walked a black dog
I met a young woman whose body was burning
I met a young girl, she gave me a rainbow
I met one man who was wounded in love
I met another man who was wounded and hatred
And it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard
And it's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.
And what'll you do now, my blue-eyed son ?
And what'll you do now my darling young one ?
I'm a-goin' back out 'fore the rain starts a-fallin'
I'll walk to the deepths of the deepest black forest
Where the people are a many and their hands are all empty
Where the pellets of poison are flooding their waters
Where the home in the valley meets the damp dirty prison
Where the executioner's face is always well hidden
Where hunger is ugly, where souls are forgotten
Where black is the color, where none is the number
And I'll tell and think it and speak it and breathe it
And reflect it from the mountain so all souls can see it
Then I'll stand on the ocean until I start sinkin'
But I'll know my songs well before I start singin'
And it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, and it's a hard
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.
Meredith Davern
“A Hard Rain’s A Gonna Fall”
Transitioning from a curios to bleak mood, Bob Dylon uses morbid oxymoron, silent paradox, and striking irony to show how life is changing and that “a hard rains a-gonna fall.”
Bob Dylon uses oxymoron’s to show the change and differences. The contrasting ideas portrayed in Dylon’s song show difference in race and between people. “I met a white man who walked a black dog.” The white man symbolizes a controller, and the black dog is on a leash chained to the white man like a slave. The line is a statement against slavery. Bob Dylon also talked of life and death. “I met a young child besides a dead pony.” As a child everyone wanted a pony. It is a dream, and the child being next to the pony sees all of its dreams dead. It is a message to children that not all of their dreams will come true. The singer also “Heard the sound of a clown who cried in the gutter.” The oxymoron is that a clown is happy, and no one would picture a clown crying. The clown proves that everyone goes through hard times and struggles. The hard times turn into crying then silence.
The silence is a paradox. Many people can be saying many things, but if there is no one around to listen; does the voice get heard? “Heard ten thousand whisperin’ and nobody listening” whispering is almost silent, but with no one there it is not heard at all. The entire song raises questions because many of the phrases just appear like random babble, but when they come together it creates a message. The words and lyrics portray the idea that everything is changing. Life is not forgiving, and it does not stand still. “A hard rain’s a gonna fall.”
Bob Dylons play with irony proves how the world is full of confusion. “I met a man how was wounded in love” Love is usually an emotion that fills anyone with happiness. People get butterflies, and act like they are in a trance. To see a man wounded in love does not make sense. It is an enigma. “I saw ten thousand talkers whose tongues were all broken.” Talkers bring to mind mouths, but no one can talk without a tongue. The line also shows how many people are being stifled in their ability to voice an opinion. Many will not be quiet, and they have to be forced to. Their world is changing, and they want to be apart of the change.
Bob Dylons’ combination of irony, paradox, and oxymoron sends a message to the world. Everything is changing, and much of it is confusing. Humans start off with a curiosity that is enlightening. Taking on new tasks and technologies, but not everyone can keep up with new technology, and humans taking advantage of every resource out there can lead to danger. Humans need to take control, and be cautious to what we are all stumbling into because if we aren’t careful “a hard rains a gonna fall.”
