Blowin' in the Wind is a folk song by American singer-writer Bob Dylan and produced by John Hammond. The song was released in 1963 by Columbia Records after recording took place a year earlier in New York. The song was eventually included in Dylan's second studio album titled The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan as a single which was also released that same year.
The song was inspired by the autobiography titled Bound for Glory by Woody Guthrie who was famous for his intense political statements that he often described as the wind blowing into the streets of New York and newspapers from newsstands blowing all over the place.
Dylan was a clear fan of Guthrie's work and when he began making more political statements in his music, it was clear whose works influenced him the most at the time.
Clocking in at 2 minutes and 48 seconds, the song contains elements of protest and riot as it tackles themes such as war, peace, and the civil rights movement. Dylan championed the efforts of Black America in fighting for their freedom and rights. The Music Academy inducted the song in 1994 into its Hall of Fame. It is highly regarded as one of the greatest songs of all time and one of Dylan's masterpieces.
