may 27, 1963 - "Masters of War" - Bob Dylan (Wes Reinhardt)

Description:

Bob Dylan was one of the most influential artists of the 1960s. He helped to bridge the gap between folk music and rock music. Dylan was most well known, however, for addressing social issues in his songs. Early in his career, he gained a large following from former rock ’n’ roll listeners who joined the folk music community (Schloss, Star, and Waterman 125). Specifically in "Masters of War," Dylan did not hold back in voicing his opinion on the social and political strife plaguing the world.
When this song was released in 1963, the world was filled with violence. The Cold War and tensions between the United States and USSR had recently culminated with the Cuban Missile Crisis. Following the crisis, Kennedy and Khrushchev both agreed to stand down and cease their threats of starting a nuclear war (Cuban Missile Crisis). Shortly after diffusing the situation, JFK was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswold. Lyndon John was tapped as his replacement (John F. Kennedy Assassinated). There was also growing concern over the United States’ involvement in the Vietnam War. At the time of this song’s release, the United States was observing the conflict and debated whether or not to deploy troops. Not long thereafter, Johnson decided to send over military personnel. At its peak, there were over 500,000 US soldiers in Vietnam. Of those troops, over 15,000 had been killed and over 100,000 had been injured. Nixon, who was elected after Johnson’s presidency, eventually gave into the domestic political pressures. In 1973, he had US troops removed from Vietnam (Vietnam War). Although the main aspects of the Vietnam War did not occur until after this song was released, “Masters of War” represents the opinion held by many Americans during this time period.
The form of “Masters of War” is simple verse. No choruses are present in the song. The texture is also very thin, consisting only of two acoustic guitars and Dylan’s vocals. This is critical because it allows the listener to hone in on the lyrics and hear the message. One word that is continually repeated by Dylan is “you.” The “you” that he is referring to is John F. Kennedy. Evidence of this is presented when Dylan sings the lyric: “When the death count gets higher, you hide in your mansion.” The mansion is representative of the White House. He also compares Kennedy to “Judas of old.” The opinion displayed by Dylan in “Masters of War” was similar to how many Americans felt during the Cold War and how they would eventually feel during the Vietnam War. There was a common belief that world leaders “[built] all the guns…[built] the death planes…[built] the big bombs… and [hid] behind desks.” Dylan used his voice to speak for millions of Americans.
This song was released during the time period when Bob Dylan was known primarily as a folk artist. People identified with and had a great appreciation for his creative lyrics. He would eventually transition to rock music, becoming one of the most prominent figures in rock ’n’ roll history (Schloss, Star, and Waterman 131). Folk music has traditionally been known as “music of ‘the people’” (Schloss, Star, and Waterman 125). Bob Dylan’s career and work represent the folk definition perfectly.
Works Cited:
Bob Dylan. “Masters of War.” The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan. Columbia Records, 1963.
History.com Staff. “Cuban Missile Crisis.” History.com, http://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/cuban-missile-crisis. Assessed 4 October 2017
History.com Staff. “John F. Kennedy Assassinated.” History.com,
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/john-f-kennedy-assassinated. Assessed
5 October 2017
History.com Staff. “Vietnam War.” History.com,
http://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/vietnam-war-history. Assessed 4 October 2017
Schloss, Starr, and Christopher Waterman. Rock Music, Cultures, and Business. Oxford University Press Inc., 2012.

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