Blowin' in the Wind
Bob Dylan
We were introduced to Bob Dylan’s music by John Davies. I couldn’t overstate the significance of the influence he and Audrey had on us.
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 cannon balls fly
Before they're forever banned?
Refrain
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind.
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 till he knows
That too many people have died?
Refrain
How many years can a mountain exist
Before it's 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?
Refrain
Sniping at Americans
Australians showed some ambivalence in their attitude to us. Sometimes, they were interested in where we came from, and asked us questions about America, often to do with popular culture relating to the songs and TV shows that made it to Australia. At other times, we were discriminated against, often in subtle ways, usually triggered by the accent. One of the hallmark differences was on which syllable to put the emphasis. In Form 6, we were studying Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. There is a distinction made between Chaucer as one of the pilgrims and Chaucer as the narrator of the tales. When I spoke up in class and referred to “Chaucer the NARrator” the teacher would interject with “Chaucer the narRAtor”.
Conscription and the Vietnam War was a big issue not long after we arrived, and there were often taunts from other kids – and sometimes teachers – about America’s involvement. I wasn’t that politically savvy at the time, so it was a while before I understood the issues. I had some awareness of socio-political issues, largely thanks to songs from the likes of Bob Dylan, Pete Seeger, Peter, Paul & Mary and so on.
Coming from Boston, our accent didn’t have many of the hallmarks Australians associated with an American accent. In fact, it tended to sound a bit more like an English accent at times. Sometimes, when a stranger commented with something like, “Oh, you’re from England, are you?” I would acquiesce.
I remember a discussion my parents had with Danny Spooner about this, and he said, “Australians love Americans but they hate America. They love England but hate the English.”
That really described it. Australians were often using the expression “whinging Poms” while still lauding Mother England. America, as the self-proclaimed protector of the free world, was despised by many, but once people got to know you, you no longer represented the whole country.
Does that make sense?
