“Blowin’ in the Wind”

 

 

06a. [4/16/62] Gerde’s Folk City, New York City

(BDCD05.15) [2:35], (BD010a.6)

“This is, uh, I wrote this one. This is, uh . . . this is just sort of . . . I didn’t actually write it. I just sort of recorded it. It was there already before I came around, and I just sort of took a look and that’s all and I wrote it down. This is one of the songs that I wrote down so I can remember it to sing to you. (plays a few chords) This is here . . . this is just uh . . . its a . . . it ain’t a protest song or anything like that ’cause I don’t wrote protest songs. I try to make ’em, I mean I’m just writing it as something sorta . . . that’s somethin’ to be said for somebody . . . by somebody.”

 

(harp intro)

 

1. How many roads must a man walk down before he is called a man?

And how many seas must the white dove sail before he sleeps in the sand?

And how many times must the cannon balls fly before they’re forever banned?

The answer my friend is blowin’ in the wind, the answer is blowin’ in the wind.

 

(harp interlude)

 

2. And how many years must a mountain exist before it is washed in the sea?

And how many years can some people exist before they’re allowed to be free?

And how many times can a man turn his head and pretend that he just doesn’t see?

The answer my friend is blowin’ in the wind, the answer is blowin’ in the wind.

 

(harp exit)

 

 

06b. [5/?/62] Broadside Reunion, Broadside Demos I, (WBAI-FM), New York City

(BDCD06.3) [2:29]

(others harmonize beginning at end of 2nd verse)

 

1. How many roads must a man walk down before he is called a man?

And how many seas must the white dove sail before he sleeps in the sand?

And how many times must the cannon balls fly before they’re forever banned?

The answer my friend is blowin’ in the wind, the answer is blowin’ in the wind.

 

2. And how many years must a mountain exist before it is washed in the sea?

And how many years can some people exist before they’re allowed to be free?

And how many times can a man turn his head and pretend that he just doesn’t see?

The answer my friend is blowin’ in the wind, the answer is blowin’ in the wind.

 

3. And how many times must a man look up before he can see the sky?

And how many ears must one man have before he can hear people cry?

And how many deaths will it take ’til he knows that too many people have died?

The answer my friend is blowin’ in the wind, the answer is blowin’ in the wind.

 

 

06c. [7/2/62] Finjan Club, Montreal, Canada

(BD014a.4)

“I need a C harmonica. Here’s one. It’s called ‘How Many Roads Must a Man Walk Down.’ [            ] Gimme D instead. Here’s a song that’s sort of in a set pattern of songs that say, uh, that say a little more than I love you and you love me and let’s go over to the banks of Italy and we’ll raise a happy family . . . you for me and me for me . . . .”

 

(harp intro)

 

1. How many roads must a man walk down before you call him a man?

How many seas must the white dove sail before she sleeps to the sand?

How many times must the cannon balls fly before they’re forever banned?

The answer my friend is blowin’ in the wind, the answer is blowin’ in the wind.

 

(harp interlude)

 

2. How many years must a mountain exist before it is washed to the sea?

How many years can some people exist before they’re allowed to be free?

And how many times can a man turn his head and pretend that he just doesn’t see?

The answer my friend is blowin’ in the wind, the answer is a-blowin’ in the wind.

 

3. And how many times must a man look up before he can see the sky?

And how many ears must one man have before he can hear people cry?

And how many deaths will it take ’til he knows that too many people have died?

The answer my friend is blowin’ in the wind, the answer is blowin’ in the wind.

 

(harp exit)

 

 

06d. [7/9/62 3C] The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan Session III, Columbia Studio A, New York City

(CK 8786) [2:46]

1. How many roads must a man walk down before you call him a man?

How many seas must the white dove sail before she sleeps in the sand?

Yes and how many times must the cannon balls fly before they’re forever banned?

The answer my friend is blowin’ in the wind, the answer is a-blowin’ in the wind.

 

(harp interlude)

 

2. Yes and how many years can a mountain exist before it is washed to the sea?

Yes and how many years can some people exist before they’re allowed to be free?

Yes and how many times can a man turn his head and pretend that he just doesn’t see?

The answer my friend is blowin’ in the wind, the answer is blowin’ in the wind.

 

(harp interlude)

 

3. Yes and how many times must a man look up before he can see the sky?

Yes and how many ears must one man have before he can hear people cry?

Yes and how many deaths will it take ’til he knows that too many people have died?

The answer my friend is blowin’ in the wind, the answer is blowin’ in the wind.

 

(harp exit)

 

 

06e. [7/?/62] Witmark Demos I, The Witmark Studio, New York City

BCD01.1 [2:40]

1. How many roads must a man walk down before you call him a man?

How many seas must the white dove sail before she sleeps in the sand?

Yes and how many times must the cannon balls fly before they’re forever banned?

The answer my friend is blowin’ in the wind, the answer is a-blowin’ in the wind.

 

2. Yes and how many years must a mountain exist before it is washed to the sea?

And how many years can some people exist before they’re allowed to be free?

Yes and how many times can a man turn his head and pretend that he just doesn’t see?

The answer my friend is blowin’ in the wind, the answer is blowin’ in the wind.

 

3. Yes and how many times must a man look up before he can see the sky?

And how many ears must one man have before he can hear people cry?

Yes and how many deaths will it take ’til he knows that too many people have died?

The answer my friend is blowin’ in the wind, the answer is a-blowin’ in the wind.

 

 

06f. [12/30/62] Madhouse on Castle Street, BBC Studios, London, England

(BD026a.13)

1. / How many years can some people exist before they’re allowed to be free?

Yes and how many times can a man turn his head and pretend that he just doesn’t see?

The answer my friend is a-blowin’ in the wind, the answer is a-blowin’ in the wind.

 

2. Yes and how many times must a man look up before he can see the sky?

Yes and how many ears must one man have before he can hear people cry?

Yes and how many deaths will it take ’til he knows that too many people have died?

The answer my friend is a-blowin’ in the wind, the answer is a-blowin’ in the wind.

 

(harp exit)

 

 

06g. [4/26/63] Studs Terkel’s Wax Museum, (WFMT-FM), Chicago, IL

(BDCD03.8) [2:33]

1. How many roads must a man walk down before you call him a man?

Yes and how many seas must the white dove sail before she sleeps in the sand?

Yes and how many times must the cannon balls fly before they’re forever banned?

The answer my friend is a-blowin’ in the wind, the answer is a-blowin’ in the wind.

 

2. How many years can a mountain exist before it is washed to the sea?

Yes and how many years can some people exist before they’re allowed to be free?

Yes and how many times can a man turn his head and pretend that he just doesn’t see?

The answer my friend is a-blowin’ in the wind, the answer is a-blowin’ in the wind.

 

3. How many times must a man look up before he can really see the sky?

Yes and how many ears must one man have before he can hear people cry?

Yes and how many deaths will it take ’til he knows that too many people have died?

The answer my friend is a-blowin’ in the wind, the answer is a-blowin’ in the wind.

 

 

06h. [7/26/63] Newport Folk Festival, Evening Concert, Newport, RI

(BD028a.7), (LC RWD 8676a)

“I wanna introduce. I’d like to sing a song. I want to introduce some people who are going to sing a song for you. Is Pete there? Pete. This is Pete Seeger, first. Where’s Pete? Pete Seeger. The Freedom Singers who were on before. The Freedom Singers. Joan Baez. And Peter, Paul, and Mary. We’re gonna sing ‘Blowin’ in the Wind.’ ”

 

1. How many roads must a man walk down before you call him a man?

How many seas must the white dove sail before she sleeps in the sand?

Yes and how many times must the cannon balls fly before they’re forever banned?

The answer my friend is a-blowin’ in the wind, the answer is blowin’ in the wind.

 

2. How many years can a mountain exist before it’s washed to the sea?

How many years can some people exist before they’re allowed to be free?

Yes and how many times can a man turn his head and pretend that he just doesn’t see?

The answer my friend is blowin’ in the wind, the answer is blowin’ in the wind.

 

3. How many times must a man look up before he can really see the sky?

Yes and how many ears must one man have before he can hear people cry?

Yes and how many deaths will it take ’til he knows that too many people have died?

The answer my friend is blowin’ in the wind, the answer is blowin’ in the wind.

The answer my friend is blowin’ in the wind, the answer is blowin’ in the wind.

 

 

06i. [7/30/63] Songs of Freedom, (WNEW-TV), New York City (Broadcast 8/26/63)

(BD029a.5)

(harp intro)

 

1. How many roads must a man walk down before you call him a man?

How many seas must the white dove sail before she sleeps in the sand?

Yes and how many times must the cannon balls fly before they’re forever banned?

The answer my friend is a-blowin’ in the wind, the answer is blowin’ in the wind.

 

(harp interlude)

 

2. How many years can a mountain exist before it’s washed to the sea?

How many years can some people exist before they’re allowed to be free?

Yes and how many times can a man turn his head pretendin’ that he just doesn’t see?

The answer my friend is blowin’ in the wind, the answer is blowin’ in the wind.

 

(harp interlude)

 

3. How many times must a man look up before he can really see the sky?

How many ears must one man have before he can hear people cry?

How many deaths will it take ’til he knows that too many people have died?

The answer my friend is blowin’ in the wind, the answer is blowin’ in the wind.

 

(harp exit)

 

 

06j. [8/17/63] Forest Hills Stadium, Forest Hills, NY (Joan Baez concert)

(BD033a.2)

1. How many roads must a man walk down before you can call him a man?

How many seas must the white dove sail before she sleeps in the sand?

How many times must the cannon balls fly before they’re forever banned?

The answer my friend is a-blowin’ in the wind, the answer is blowin’ in the wind.

 

2. How many years can a mountain exist before it’s washed to the sea?

How many years can some people exist before they’re allowed to be free?

How many times can a man turn his head /