“How Many?”
On this, Bob Dylan’s 78th birthday coinciding with Memorial Day weekend, I thought it apropos once again to reference a song that is representative of the anti-war, folk genre and peace movement of the 60’s. As long as there is war, as long as soldiers and civilians die as the result of war, the lyrics will be relevant and the questions will remain: How many times, how many deaths. how long before there is peace? Nobody can answer it but ironically we, the human race, holds the answer.
Blowing In The Wind
How many roads must a man walk down
Before you call him a man?
How many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand?
Yes, ‘n’ 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
Yes, ‘n’ how many years can a mountain exist
Before it’s washed to the sea?
Yes, ‘n’ how many years can some people exist
Before they’re allowed to be free?
Yes, ‘n’ 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
Yes, ‘n’ how many times must a man look up
Before he can see the sky?
Yes, ‘n’ how many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry?
Yes, ‘n’ how many deaths will it take till he knows
That too many people have died?
The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind
The answer is blowin’ in the wind
We don’t say “Happy Memorial Day” because it is not a day of happiness. We may have mixed feelings of grief, sadness pride and honor but not happiness. Not as long as we have brave soldiers sacrificing their lives, not as long as the question remains: “How many deaths will it take till he knows that too many people have died?”
What do you think? How does it make you feel?
Shalom, Steven