Song Lyric Sunday (21 June 2020) – Marie or Mary

Last week, Jim (NewEpicAuthor, A Unique Title For Me) set the boys’ names of Jack or John (my selection). This week, he gives us the girls’ names of Marie, Maria or Mary.

Another name prompt, this week I thought I’d go with the performer. This, of course, allows me to choose any of their songs, and I thought given the ongoing climate, another fiery song. Probably the ultimate protest song, but with a twist.

Ultimate? Because this song ranked #14 on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. And has been recorded by hundreds of artists over the years. It is almost always used in the context of protest, and one of its first roles was as an anti-Viet Nam war song.

This song was originally a Bob Dylan tune, written in 1963. Dylan recorded the first version himself, and the song featured on his album The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan. Since then, the song has been covered many times, and my twist is that I am presenting one of those covers today, from 1966. In fact, I always preferred this version to Dylan’s – and very few covers sound better than the original.

I’ve heard snippets from Peter, Paul and Mary over the years (lots of their music was released before I was born), but it was only quite recently that I bought some of their albums. They were a New York folk trio, formed in 1961, comprising Paul Stookey, Peter Yarrow, and Mary Travers. I always loved Mary’s crystal-clear voice, and this song is one that I remember from childhood.

This rendition of Blowin’ in the Wind, by Peter, Paul and Mary reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100, kept off #1 by Stevie Wonder. Funnily enough, Stevie Wonder also covered this song, although I didn’t think it was very good.

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, and how many times must the cannonballs fly
Before they’re forever banned?

The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind
The answer is blowin’ in the wind

Yes, and how many years can a mountain exist
Before it’s washed to the sea?
Yes, and how many years can some people exist
Before they’re allowed to be free?
Yes, and 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, and how many times must a man look up
Before he can see the sky?
Yes, and how many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry?
Yes, and how many deaths will it take ’til he knows
That too many people have died?

The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind
The answer is blowin’ in the wind