George McGovern: The Times Are Still A Changin

In this election year, as in so many others when times were less than ideal, many look for a change. And just as many hope the experience of the past four years will provide a clearer path for our future. 1972 was one of those years. Viet Nam, the Civil Rights movement...the country was tired of conflict of every type. The presidency of Richard Nixon, while improving international relationships, did little to quell the unrest here in the States.

The hope that year was a young Senator from South Dakota...George McGovern. A dove in a time of war, McGovern represented the change the country so badly needed.

George McGovern died today. The promise of his presidency never achieved. In his memory, today we offer another song from the 60's as relevant today as the day it was written. Released in 1964 as the title track of his album, this Bob Dylan song also showed the promise of an incredible songwriter.

A beautiful cover by Eddie Vedder.

"The Times They Are A Changin"

"Come gather 'round people

Wherever you roam

And admit that the waters

Around you have grown

And accept it that soon

You'll be drenched to the bone

If your time to you

Is worth savin'

Then you better start swimmin'

Or you'll sink like a stone

For the times they are a-changin'.

Come writers and critics

Who prophesize with your pen

And keep your eyes wide

The chance won't come again

And don't speak too soon

For the wheel's still in spin

And there's no tellin' who

That it's namin'

For the loser now

Will be later to win

For the times they are a-changin'.

Come senators, congressmen

Please heed the call

Don't stand in the doorway

Don't block up the hall

For he that gets hurt

Will be he who has stalled

There's a battle outside

And it is ragin'

It'll soon shake your windows

And rattle your walls

For the times they are a-changin'.

Come mothers and fathers

Throughout the land

And don't criticize

What you can't understand

Your sons and your daughters

Are beyond your command

Your old road is

Rapidly agin'

Please get out of the new one

If you can't lend your hand

For the times they are a-changin'.

The line it is drawn

The curse it is cast

The slow one now

Will later be fast

As the present now

Will later be past

The order is

Rapidly fadin'

And the first one now

Will later be last

For the times they are a-changin'"

Easy journey George.

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