From Woody Guthrie to Billy Bragg:!

Poetry and protest song as a weapon to fight against social struggles in the second half of the

20th century

Outline What is a protest song? Common features in Bob Dylans songs Bob Dylans protest songs: Blowin in the Wind The Times They Are A-Changin Masters of War

The spokesman gone wrong Like a Rolling Stone

Conclusion

What is a protest song?

R. Serge Denisoffs approach: protest-propaganda songs of persuasion

Message (issue of dislike in society) Sympathy and support Moral unity Solution magnetic No solution rhetorical

Common features in Dylans songs Some are magnetic, some rhetorical Everyday language The title is often repeated at the end of

every stanza Biblical allusions

Bob Dylans protest songs:

Blowin in the Wind (1963)

How many years can a mountain exist"Before its washed to the sea?"Yes, n how many years can some people exist"Before theyre allowed to be free?"Yes, n how many times can a man turn his head"Pretending he just doesnt see?The answer, my friend, is blowin in the wind"The answer is blowin in the wind

The Times They Are A-Changin (1964)Come senators, congressmen"Please heed the call"Dont stand in the doorway"Dont block up the hall"For he that gets hurt"Will be he who has stalled"Theres a battle outside and it is ragin"Itll soon shake your windows and rattle your walls

For the times they are a-changin

Masters Of War (1963)

You fasten the triggersFor the others to fireThen you set back and watchWhen the death count gets higherYou hide in your mansionAs young peoples bloodFlows out of their bodiesAnd is buried in the mud

Let me ask you one questionIs your money that goodWill it buy you forgivenessDo you think that it couldI think you will findWhen your death takes its tollAll the money you madeWill never buy back your soul

The spokesman gone wrong: Newport Festival

Like A Rolling Stone (1965)

How does it feel"How does it feel"To be on your own"With no direction home"Like a complete unknownLike a rolling stone?

Conclusion A protest song is one of the many acts that

exists of protesting Progressive increase of other methods of

protest Social networks, online petitions, demonstrations

It is in the hands of the society to react against injustices

Bob Dylan writes protest songs and some of those can be contextualised in a present time

All I can do is be me, whoever that is.""-Bob Dylan