C ome gather 'ro und people
Where ver you r oam
And adm it that the w aters
Ar ound you have g rown
And acc ept it that s oon
You'll be d renched to the b one.
If your t ime to y ou
Is worth s avin'
Then you b etter start s wimmin'
Or you'll s ink like a s tone
For the t imes t hey are a-c hang in'.
C ome wr iters and critics
W ho prophes ize with your pen
A nd keep your eyes wide
T he chan ce won't come again
A nd do n't speak too soon
F or the w heel's still in spin
A nd there' s no tellin' who
T hat it's namin'.
F or th e loser now
W ill be later to win
F or the times they are a-changin'.
C ome se nators congressmen
P lease heed the call
D on't stand in the doorway
D on't bl ock up the hall
F or he that gets hurt
W ill be h e who has stalled
T here's a battle outside
A nd it is ragin'.
I t'll soon shake your windows
A nd r attle your walls
F or the times they are a-changin'.
C ome mo thers and fathers
T hroughout the land
A nd don't crit icize
W hat you can't understand
Y our s ons and your daughters
A re beyon d your command
Y our old r oad is
R apidly agin'.
P lease get out of the new one
I f yo u can't lend your hand
F or the times they are a-changin'.
T he lin e it is drawn
T he curse i t is cast
T he slow one n ow
W ill lat er be fast
A s the present now
W ill late r be past
T he order is
R apidly fadin'.
A nd th e first one now
W ill later be last
F or the times they are a-changin'.