Bob Dylan, who moved to New York in the 1960s to participate in the Urban folk movement, was one of the most significant figures to emerge during this era. Listen to “Only a Pawn in Their Game”. Answer the following questions: A. How do the lyrics in this compare/contrast with those of earlier ballads? B. Why does the Listening Guide describe this as “overtly political” but “without a call to action?” C. What is the story being relayed? D. How is the murder portrayed in this presentation of the story?

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The song “Only a Pawn in Their Game,” performed by Bob Dylan, has elements similar to and different from earlier ballads. Like most other ballads, the song’s lyrics represent a story with political and social subtext.

However, the earliest ballads, such as “Sweet Betsy from Pike,” were dedicated to love and adventures rather than social activism. The song is described as “overtly political” since it contains lines about some politicians and even uses real names such as Medgar Evers.

Nevertheless, there is no call to action, and the singer seems to believe that people cannot change the fact that they are just pawns in someone’s game. The song’s overall story is relayed through five verses, each telling a separate piece of the story.

The murdered in the song are portrayed as people who cannot take the blame for what has happened to them as they are only pawns.

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Messages in Bob Dylan’s Songs and Performances

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Academic.Tips. (2023) 'Bob Dylan, who moved to New York in the 1960s to participate in the Urban folk movement, was one of the most significant figures to emerge during this era. Listen to “Only a Pawn in Their Game”. Answer the following questions: A. How do the lyrics in this compare/contrast with those of earlier ballads? B. Why does the Listening Guide describe this as “overtly political” but “without a call to action?” C. What is the story being relayed? D. How is the murder portrayed in this presentation of the story'. 15 May.

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Academic.Tips. (2023, May 15). Bob Dylan, who moved to New York in the 1960s to participate in the Urban folk movement, was one of the most significant figures to emerge during this era. Listen to “Only a Pawn in Their Game”. Answer the following questions: A. How do the lyrics in this compare/contrast with those of earlier ballads? B. Why does the Listening Guide describe this as “overtly political” but “without a call to action?” C. What is the story being relayed? D. How is the murder portrayed in this presentation of the story? https://academic.tips/question/bob-dylan-who-moved-to-new-york-in-the-1960s-to-participate-in-the-urban-folk-movement-was-one-of-the-most-significant-figures-to-emerge-during-this-era-listen-to-only-a-pawn-in-their-game/

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Academic.Tips. 2023. "Bob Dylan, who moved to New York in the 1960s to participate in the Urban folk movement, was one of the most significant figures to emerge during this era. Listen to “Only a Pawn in Their Game”. Answer the following questions: A. How do the lyrics in this compare/contrast with those of earlier ballads? B. Why does the Listening Guide describe this as “overtly political” but “without a call to action?” C. What is the story being relayed? D. How is the murder portrayed in this presentation of the story?" May 15, 2023. https://academic.tips/question/bob-dylan-who-moved-to-new-york-in-the-1960s-to-participate-in-the-urban-folk-movement-was-one-of-the-most-significant-figures-to-emerge-during-this-era-listen-to-only-a-pawn-in-their-game/.

1. Academic.Tips. "Bob Dylan, who moved to New York in the 1960s to participate in the Urban folk movement, was one of the most significant figures to emerge during this era. Listen to “Only a Pawn in Their Game”. Answer the following questions: A. How do the lyrics in this compare/contrast with those of earlier ballads? B. Why does the Listening Guide describe this as “overtly political” but “without a call to action?” C. What is the story being relayed? D. How is the murder portrayed in this presentation of the story?" May 15, 2023. https://academic.tips/question/bob-dylan-who-moved-to-new-york-in-the-1960s-to-participate-in-the-urban-folk-movement-was-one-of-the-most-significant-figures-to-emerge-during-this-era-listen-to-only-a-pawn-in-their-game/.

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Academic.Tips. "Bob Dylan, who moved to New York in the 1960s to participate in the Urban folk movement, was one of the most significant figures to emerge during this era. Listen to “Only a Pawn in Their Game”. Answer the following questions: A. How do the lyrics in this compare/contrast with those of earlier ballads? B. Why does the Listening Guide describe this as “overtly political” but “without a call to action?” C. What is the story being relayed? D. How is the murder portrayed in this presentation of the story?" May 15, 2023. https://academic.tips/question/bob-dylan-who-moved-to-new-york-in-the-1960s-to-participate-in-the-urban-folk-movement-was-one-of-the-most-significant-figures-to-emerge-during-this-era-listen-to-only-a-pawn-in-their-game/.

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"Bob Dylan, who moved to New York in the 1960s to participate in the Urban folk movement, was one of the most significant figures to emerge during this era. Listen to “Only a Pawn in Their Game”. Answer the following questions: A. How do the lyrics in this compare/contrast with those of earlier ballads? B. Why does the Listening Guide describe this as “overtly political” but “without a call to action?” C. What is the story being relayed? D. How is the murder portrayed in this presentation of the story?" Academic.Tips, 15 May 2023, academic.tips/question/bob-dylan-who-moved-to-new-york-in-the-1960s-to-participate-in-the-urban-folk-movement-was-one-of-the-most-significant-figures-to-emerge-during-this-era-listen-to-only-a-pawn-in-their-game/.

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