Blowin' in the Wind is a song written by Bob Dylan and released on his 1963 album The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan.

It is a premier example of the protest song, posing as it does philosophical questions about peace, war and freedom. Its popularity and timelessness can perhaps be attributed to the fact that while the song asks these questions, it does not refer specifically to any particular political event (such as the Vietnam War, which was almost certainly one of the inspirations for the lyrics).

It has been covered by literally hundreds of artists. Just a few of the better-known acts who have done so are folk music trio Peter, Paul and Mary (who actually released their version a few months before Dylan); country guitar virtuoso Chet Atkins; folk chanteuse Judy Collins; soul singer Sam Cooke; blues belter Etta James; Elvis Presley; Stevie Wonder; and was done by Jenny on award winning movie Forrest Gump.

In 2004, this song was named the #14 greatest song of all time by Rolling Stone Magazine

Lyrics

How many roads must a man walk down before they call him a man?

How many seas must a white dove sail before she sleeps in the sand?

How many times must the cannonballs fly before they're forever banned?

Chorus: The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind.

The answer is blowin' in the wind.

How many years can a mountain exist before it is washed to the sea?

How many years can some people exist before they're allowed to be free?

How many times can a man turn his head pretending he just doesn't see?

Chorus

How many times must a man look up before he can see the sky?

How many ears must one man have before he can hear people cry?

How many deaths will it take 'til he knows that too many people have died?

Chorus