The Times They Are a-Changin' Quotes

Context

This line is from the song "The Times They Are a-Changin'" by Bob Dylan from the album The Times They Are a-Changin' (1964).

Like Lena Dunham in the 2010s, Bob Dylan was the voice of a generation in the 1960s, a time of great turmoil—and not just in fashion. The 1960s saw Civil Rights struggles, presidential assassinations, and war. A busy decade, indeed, prompting Bob Dylan to sing, "You better start swimming or you'll sink like a stone, 'cause the times they are a-changing." 

In other words, you better keep up.

Where you've heard it

You'll hear this quote if someone is telling you that you need to adapt to change, whether it's as big as new advances in social justice or as simple as leaving Wordpress for Tumblr.

Oh, and the song was memorably covered by Tracy Chapman.

Pretentious Factor

If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.

Nothing pretentious about change.