"Blowin' in the Wind" by Bob Dylan was written in about ten minutes and at its peak, it was widely recognized as an anthem for protest movements all around the world. Mostly famous for its use in the civil rights movement, the song was played at almost all activist gatherings. It was also played moments before Martin Luther King made his dream speech. The cannonball reference in the song brought to light the acts of war that were being committed all around the world. Anti-war activists also adopted the song in their protests.
Before the release of this song, Dylan had made other protest songs but none of them had the impact and broad range of "Blowin' in the Wind." The song does not simply support only one cause, but its general use of words made it efficient for any kind of revolution. Dylan sings about freedom, war, peace, equality, love, and unity.
At the time of its release, the type of music that dominated the radio was pop songs that failed to address the political tensions and economic instability of the time. "Blowin' in the Wind" changed the way music was made and pushed more artists to realize that they needed to make music that would bring real change in society.
"Blowin' in the Wind" could not have arrived at a better time. It eventually became the defining song of the 1960s. The country was in dire need of something that could unite America regardless of color or background. A song about the civil rights movement by a Caucasian man was designed to bridge the gap between black and white America. Its broad subject allowed the song to be openly interpreted by every single listener in their way.
