Bob Dylan - Only a Pawn in Their Game (1964)

I love this song; and this album in general. Both are really starting to become relevant again lyrically, too! Bob Dylan was more or less the original punk artist, and I adore him.

For example on the "both are really starting to become relevant again lyrically" bit, here's a bit from this song in particular:

"The deputy sheriffs, the soldiers, the governors get paid,
and the marshals and cops get the same.
But the poor white man’s used in the hands of them all like a tool.
He’s taught in his school,
from the start, by the rule,
that the laws are with him,
to protect his white skin,
to keep up his hate,
so he never thinks straight,
'bout the shape that he’s in.
But it ain't him to blame;
he’s only a pawn in their game"

I don't want to use the term "Eternally Relevant" in regards to it, because that wouldn't be true; until a short while ago, voting racially was really something to be looked down on and scoffed at for decades now. I'm sure you can all see the parallels, if nothing else.

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For an example out of this song, here's a bit from With God On Their Side:

"But now we got weapons
of chemical dust;
if fire them we’re forced to,
then fire them we must.
One push of the button,
and a shot the world wide.
And ya' never ask questions
when God’s on your side."

The song also shows really well how names change, but situations never do; if you listen in for "Russia," you'll see how.

In terms of love songs, the album's got fantastic lyricism of losing it on tracks like Boots of Spanish Leather; a song still relatively relevant, albeit more in spirit now than in practice. That song makes my heart drop so much.

Honestly, I can't recommend this song - nor this album - enough.