Changing of the Guards
Encyclopedia
"Changing of the Guards" is a song written by Bob Dylan
, released in 1978
as a single
and as the first track on his album Street -Legal. As an A-side single it failed to reach the Billboard Top 100. However, it was included on Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits Volume 3
, released in 1994.
in between verses, and a hauntingly dynamic chord progression
. The chord progression has a certain catch that is very noticeable: there is a repeating cadence, which, by landing on the dominant
chord, "begs" for resolution. However, rather than resolving it with the tonic
chord, it is resolved with the relative minor chord. This creates an almost tragic feel in the song: everything sounds as if there will be a normal, major and happy-sounding tonic chord; but instead, the song falls into the unusual and dark-sounding relative minor chord. Interestingly, the song speeds up slightly over the course of the song, only noticeable by playing the beginning and the end of the song back to back.
Lyrically, this song has provoked much critical insight, both positive and negative. According to Oliver Trager author of Keys to the Rain: The Definitive Bob Dylan Encyclopedia, "Changing of the Guards" has been criticized as a "song in which Dylan unsuccessfully and cynically parodies his anthemic self in haunting fashion..."
But many have found much depth and meaning in the song's lyrics. Noted Dylan expert Michael Gray
, author of The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia
, commented that "Changing of the Guards" is a thorough description of Dylan's journey, from the beginning of his musical career, about sixteen years prior (the opening line is "Sixteen years"), through his marriage and divorce with Sara Dylan
, up to his soon-to-be-announced conversion to Christianity
. Indeed, much religious and biblical imagery is readily apparent in this work, especially apocalyptic imagery—not new ground for Dylan). Dylan once commented: "It means something different every time I sing it. 'Changing of the Guards' is a thousand years old'". However, even the song's critical supporters admit that there is a good amount of opacity in this song's lyrics: "Like much in 'Changing of the Guards,' the intended meaning of this passage is opaque..."
The song is also lavish with imagery from the tarot
. The initial reference to the number sixteen evokes The Tower, the 16th trump card. Other cards are referenced directly: Fortune (the Wheel of Fortune), the "cold blooded moon" (The Moon), the "heart shaped tattoo" (the Three of Swords), "cruel death" (the Death card) and in the last line, the King and Queen of Swords. In this context, indirect references such as "a messenger arrived" make more sense as references to page cards.
This is the only song in Dylan's repertoire making use of tarot symbols in this way, though in the liner notes of Desire, his previous album, he depicts The Empress, suggesting that in addition to his biblical studies of that era he was also experimenting with tarot cards.
, though "Changing of the Guards" was not included.
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
, released in 1978
1978 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1978.-January–April:*January 14 – The Sex Pistols play their final show at San Francisco's Winterland Ballroom....
as a single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
and as the first track on his album Street -Legal. As an A-side single it failed to reach the Billboard Top 100. However, it was included on Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits Volume 3
Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits Volume 3
Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits Volume 3 is a compilation LP album by Bob Dylan, released on Columbia Records on compact disc in 1994, catalogue CK 66783. It peaked at #126 on the Billboard 200.-Content:...
, released in 1994.
Critique
Musically, "Changing of the Guards," like much of Street-Legal, has a strange sound, certainly unique for Dylan if not unique in general. This is in part effected by a trio of female back-up singers, a prominent saxophoneSaxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
in between verses, and a hauntingly dynamic chord progression
Chord progression
A chord progression is a series of musical chords, or chord changes that "aims for a definite goal" of establishing a tonality founded on a key, root or tonic chord. In other words, the succession of root relationships...
. The chord progression has a certain catch that is very noticeable: there is a repeating cadence, which, by landing on the dominant
Dominant (music)
In music, the dominant is the fifth scale degree of the diatonic scale, called "dominant" because it is next in importance to the tonic,and a dominant chord is any chord built upon that pitch, using the notes of the same diatonic scale...
chord, "begs" for resolution. However, rather than resolving it with the tonic
Tonic (music)
In music, the tonic is the first scale degree of the diatonic scale and the tonal center or final resolution tone. The triad formed on the tonic note, the tonic chord, is thus the most significant chord...
chord, it is resolved with the relative minor chord. This creates an almost tragic feel in the song: everything sounds as if there will be a normal, major and happy-sounding tonic chord; but instead, the song falls into the unusual and dark-sounding relative minor chord. Interestingly, the song speeds up slightly over the course of the song, only noticeable by playing the beginning and the end of the song back to back.
Lyrically, this song has provoked much critical insight, both positive and negative. According to Oliver Trager author of Keys to the Rain: The Definitive Bob Dylan Encyclopedia, "Changing of the Guards" has been criticized as a "song in which Dylan unsuccessfully and cynically parodies his anthemic self in haunting fashion..."
But many have found much depth and meaning in the song's lyrics. Noted Dylan expert Michael Gray
Michael Gray (author)
Michael Gray is a British author who has written extensively about popular music.Gray grew up on Merseyside, attended Birkenhead School, and read History and English Literature at the University of York. Gray subsequently lived and worked in North Devon, Birmingham, West Malvern, London and North...
, author of The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia
The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia
The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia is a compendium of articles written by Michael Gray covering the life and work of Bob Dylan. It includes reviews of varying length for each album and numerous songs in Dylan's musical output, but is not just a work of music criticism...
, commented that "Changing of the Guards" is a thorough description of Dylan's journey, from the beginning of his musical career, about sixteen years prior (the opening line is "Sixteen years"), through his marriage and divorce with Sara Dylan
Sara Dylan
Sara Dylan , born Shirley Marlin Noznisky and later known as Sara Lownds, was the first wife of singer-songwriter Bob Dylan and mother of singer Jakob Dylan. She was married to Bob Dylan from November 1965 until June 1977.-Early life:Little is known about Sara Dylan's early life or family...
, up to his soon-to-be-announced conversion to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
. Indeed, much religious and biblical imagery is readily apparent in this work, especially apocalyptic imagery—not new ground for Dylan). Dylan once commented: "It means something different every time I sing it. 'Changing of the Guards' is a thousand years old'". However, even the song's critical supporters admit that there is a good amount of opacity in this song's lyrics: "Like much in 'Changing of the Guards,' the intended meaning of this passage is opaque..."
The song is also lavish with imagery from the tarot
Tarot
The tarot |trionfi]] and later as tarocchi, tarock, and others) is a pack of cards , used from the mid-15th century in various parts of Europe to play a group of card games such as Italian tarocchini and French tarot...
. The initial reference to the number sixteen evokes The Tower, the 16th trump card. Other cards are referenced directly: Fortune (the Wheel of Fortune), the "cold blooded moon" (The Moon), the "heart shaped tattoo" (the Three of Swords), "cruel death" (the Death card) and in the last line, the King and Queen of Swords. In this context, indirect references such as "a messenger arrived" make more sense as references to page cards.
This is the only song in Dylan's repertoire making use of tarot symbols in this way, though in the liner notes of Desire, his previous album, he depicts The Empress, suggesting that in addition to his biblical studies of that era he was also experimenting with tarot cards.
Live performance history
"Changing of the Guards" was only played live during the tour following its 1978 release. This tour was documented on the double live album Bob Dylan at BudokanBob Dylan at Budokan
Bob Dylan at Budokan is a live album by Bob Dylan, released in 1979 by Columbia Records. It was recorded during his 1978 world tour and is composed mostly of the artist's "greatest hits"...
, though "Changing of the Guards" was not included.
Covers
"Changing of the Guards" has been covered by:- Frank BlackFrank BlackBlack Francis is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. He is best known as the frontman of the influential alternative rock band Pixies, with whom he performs under the stage name Black Francis. Following the band's breakup in 1993, he embarked on a solo career under the name Frank Black...
: All My GhostsAll My Ghosts"All My Ghosts" is a single from Frank Black & the Catholics, released in 1998. It is the first track on the group's self-titled first album.-Single track listing:All songs written by Frank Black except where noted.# "All My Ghosts" – 3:14...
(1998) - Juice LeskinenJuice LeskinenJuhani Juice Leskinen , better known as Juice Leskinen , was one of the most prominent Finnish singer-songwriters of the late 20th century. From the early 1970s onward he released nearly 30 full-length albums, as well as writing song lyrics for dozens of Finnish artists...
: "Vahdinvaihto" single (1999) - Rich Lerner and the Groove: Cover Down (2000) - as "Changing of the Guard"
- Chris WhitleyChris WhitleyChristopher Becker Whitley was an American blues singer-songwriter and guitarist.Whitley changed his sound frequently, and achieved modest mainstream success while maintaining a small but devoted following...
& Jeff LangJeff LangJeff Lang is an Australian songwriter, singer and slide guitarist. A leading performer in the Australian roots music scene and purveyer of his self-described "disturbed folk" style, which incorporates primarily folk, blues and rock...
: Dislocation BluesDislocation BluesDislocation Blues is a collaboration between singer-songwriters and guitarists, Chris Whitley and Jeff Lang.Jeff Lang produced, co-wrote, co-mixed, and played on the album. It was recorded live by Mick Wordley at Adelphia Studios in Melbourne, Australia...
(2006) - Patti SmithPatti SmithPatricia Lee "Patti" Smith is an American singer-songwriter, poet and visual artist, who became a highly influential component of the New York City punk rock movement with her 1975 debut album Horses....
: TwelveTwelve (Patti Smith album)Twelve is an album by Patti Smith, released April 17, 2007 on Columbia Records. As the title suggests, the album contains twelve tracks, all of which are cover versions. It debuted on Billboard 200 at number 60, with 11,000 copies sold in its first week...
(2007)