A quote from one of my personal favorite songs, “It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)” written and performed by Bob Dylan and featured on his album Bring It All Back Home, has struck a chord in me that I have not been able to shake off since I heard it. In the song, when discussing the inner conflict that can occur when occupied with any sort of societal problem, as, Bob Dylan exclaims, “…you feel to moan but unlike before you discover that you’d just be one more person crying.”

This specific line from the song was able to make me evaluate more that I have in a long time. Unlike many other songs that Bob Dylan has written concerning politics and current events, “It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)” is extremely pessimistic. From the man who had written the song, “The Times They Are A-Changin’” which discuses how the peace and love movement during the 1960s would change society for the best, “It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)” is a major contrast, as the song focuses on feelings of hopelessness in personal and societal destiny. What truly strikes me when ever I listen to this song is that the pessimism that Bob Dylan expresses in the song are feelings that we all come into tie with.

Our world that we inhabit can turn make everyone become apathetic for some time or another. All of us on a daily basis face constant issues that overbear our society that all of us much acknowledge and accept. Because of this acceptance we start to speak out and protest, in order to make lives better as well as change issues that hurt our society. However, the fight for justice can be at times a cause that can never further itself.

We live in a society were we can speak out publicly against those who are doing us wrong, and most causes end up having a wide base group. This leads to protests where the pubic can speak out and let our complaints be heard, but truthfully, the protests can sometimes fall on deaf ears. Unfortunately many of the times when calls have been shouted at the oppressor, they, because they hold the power, shut those raising their voices down, thereby continuing the vicious cycle. This is where the pessimism begins to ensue.

As a society most of the time all we can do in the name of protest is to call out and demand change, hoping that the cries are heard and justice is served; however, most of the time our cries are not heard, and the injustice continues, leaving us to feel that we are just another person yelling for a cause that others are trying to suppress. However, this cannot let our spirit be taken away from us.

We all have our moments when we feel that everything is hopeless, but, as a whole society as a group, we have the power to combat those who suppress us, thereby helping the world for the greater good.