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Things Have Changed
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"Things Have Changed"
CD single cover
Single by Bob Dylan
from the album Wonder Boys
B-side"Blind Willie McTell" (Live)
ReleasedMay 1, 2000
RecordedMay or July 1999
Genre
Length
  • 3:37 (radio edit)
  • 5:09 (video version)
  • 5:25 (full-length version)
LabelColumbia
SongwriterBob Dylan[1]
ProducerBob Dylan
Bob Dylan singles chronology
"Love Sick"
(1998) 		"Things Have Changed"
(2000) 		"Someday Baby"
(2006)
Audio sample
"Things Have Changed"

"Things Have Changed" is a song from the film Wonder Boys, written and performed by Bob Dylan[1] and released as a single on May 1, 2000. It won the Academy Award for Best Original Song[2] and the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song.[3] It was included in the compilation albums The Essential Bob Dylan in 2000,[4] The Best of Bob Dylan in 2005[5] and Dylan in 2007.[6]

Brian Hiatt, writing in Rolling Stone, where the song placed first on a 2020 list of "The 25 Best Bob Dylan Songs of the 21st Century", saw it as a stylistic about-face from 1997's Daniel Lanois-produced Time Out of Mind and the beginning of an important new chapter in Dylan's career: "The effortless feel of the playful-yet-ominous, hard-grooving, utterly dazzling 'Things Have Changed' was an early indication of the renewed friskiness of Dylan’s 21st-century work — and the vividly live-in-the studio creations he would achieve as his own producer, with the help of engineer Chris Shaw".[7]

Background and recording

[edit]

The song was inspired by a meeting with country musician Marty Stuart and Stuart's song "The Observations of a Crow" from the concept album The Pilgrim.[8] Dylan critics disagree about when this song was recorded. According to Olof Björner, "Things Have Changed" was recorded in May 1999 at Sterling Sound studios in New York.[9] Clinton Heylin, in his account of Dylan's songs between 1974 and 2008, believes the song was recorded at Sony Studios, New York, probably on July 25 and 26, 1999. On these latter dates, Dylan was touring the US with Paul Simon.[10]

The musicians who accompanied Dylan were his touring band at the time: Charlie Sexton and Larry Campbell on guitar, Tony Garnier on bass and David Kemper on drums and percussion.[9] Kemper said, "We were touring and had a day off in New York. Bob said, 'Tomorrow let's go into the studio. I got a song I want to record.' We went in and played "Things Have Changed" with only an engineer. We did two takes. The first was a New Orleans thing. The second was what you hear. So in about five hours we learned it, recorded it, mixed it."[10]

The engineer Chris Shaw has confirmed there was another version, which "was really great, which had a kind of New Orleans shuffle to it". Shaw hoped to include this unreleased version on Volume 8 of Dylan's Bootleg Series, Tell Tale Signs. When the studio recording could not be located, it was replaced by a live version recorded in Portland, Oregon, on June 15, 2000. The song was recorded in the key of G minor.[11]

Mixing

[edit]

Chris Shaw did a rough mix of the song the same day it was recorded, which became the final mix. As he explained to Uncut, "We did 'Things Have Changed' in one afternoon, and when we were done we did a very quick mix of it, and I thought it was just going to be a rough mix to give to Bob who’d maybe give it to someone else, like Daniel Lanois, who’d wind up engineering and mixing the final thing. But it turned out that that rough mix ended up being the final mix. And that was pretty funny, because the very last thing Bob did was raise the shaker up like 10db, making it ridiculously loud, and that was the mix he wanted to go with."[12]

Themes

[edit]

Clinton Heylin has written that "Things Have Changed" demonstrates a close knowledge of the film Wonder Boys, for which it was written. The lyrics make reference to "dancing lessons", "the jitterbug rag" and dressing "in drag", all of which feature in the plot of the film.[10]

Curtis Hanson, the director of Wonder Boys, has recalled: "I learned that Dylan might be interested in contributing an original song… So when I came back from filming in Pittsburgh, Bob came by the editing room to see some rough cut footage. I told him the story and introduced him to the characters. We talked about Grady Tripp and where he was in life, emotionally and creatively. Weeks later a CD arrived in the mail".[10]

Dylan critic Kees de Graaf places "Things Have Changed" in the context of the Biblical teaching Dylan encountered when he studied with the Vineyard Fellowship in the late 1970s. For de Graaf, the sense that "the world may come to an end at any moment" pervades the song. De Graaf notes the images of "the last train", "all hell may break loose", "standing on the gallows with my head in a noose", all contributing to a sense of impending Armageddon: "the last battle of the end times when all powers from hell will explode in one final outburst of violence".[13]

Dylan critic Michael Gray has commented on the wide range of cultural resources in the song's lyrics, describing it as unique in the way it synthesises the worlds of Percy Bysshe Shelley and Duane Eddy.[14]

Gray sees Dylan's line "I'm looking up into the sapphire-tinted skies" as an allusion to Shelley's phrase "sapphire-tinted skies" in line 71 of "Written among the Euganean Hills, North Italy".[15] "Forty Miles of Bad Road" was a 1959 instrumental hit for Duane Eddy. According to Gray, Eddy's producer Lee Hazlewood heard one Texan say to another, "Your girl has a face like forty miles of bad road", and immediately recognised the remark's potential as a song title.

Reception

[edit]

2001 Academy Award

[edit]

On March 25, 2001, at the 73rd Academy Awards, "Things Have Changed" was awarded Best Original Song.[2] At the time, Dylan was touring Australia. He and his band performed the song in a segment recorded in Sydney, that was inserted into the Academy Awards broadcast via a satellite link.[16]

In his awards speech, broadcast from Sydney, Dylan said: "I want to thank the members of the Academy who were bold enough to give me this award for this song, which obviously is a song that doesn't pussyfoot around nor turn a blind eye to human nature".[16]

Music video and chart position

[edit]
Bob Dylan in the music video for "Things Have Changed"

Curtis Hanson, who directed Wonder Boys, also directed the music video for "Things Have Changed". He intercut footage of Dylan with sequences from the feature film, to suggest that Dylan was interacting with the film's characters. The video appears on the bonus DVD included in the Limited Edition version of Dylan's 2006 album Modern Times.[17]

The single did not enter the Billboard Hot 100 but peaked at No. 2 on Billboard's Adult Alternative Songs chart in May 2000.[18] The single reached No. 58 in the UK Singles Chart in October 2000.[1]

Critical response

[edit]

Spectrum Culture included the song on a list of "Bob Dylan's 20 Best Songs of the '90s". In an article accompanying the list, critic Jacob Nierenberg noted that "'Things Have Changed' packages familiar themes—love gone wrong, the inevitability of time, Judgment Day—in a bluesy stomp that begins with Dylan receiving a lap dance from an assassin-eyed woman and peaks with him hauling another off in a wheelbarrow. Is this the same Dylan who sounded like a total doofus on 'Wiggle Wiggle' just a decade earlier? Because this grown-ass man sounds like the coolest cat on the block".[19]

Ultimate Classic Rock critic Matthew Wilkening rated it as the 2nd best song Dylan recorded between 1992 and 2011, saying that it "occupies a nearly perfect middle ground between 1997's pessimistic 'Time Out of Mind' and the then yet-to-be released, more hopeful 2001 album 'Love and Theft'."[20]

The Guardian placed the song 14th on a list of "Bob Dylan's 50 Greatest Songs", calling it "superb" and saying that it sees Dylan "casting a jaundiced eye over a world he feels out of step with, its insistent, shuffling music a backdrop for a series of vibrant portents of impending doom, all dismissed with a grouchy shrug".[21]

In a New Yorker article celebrating Dylan's winning the 2016 Nobel Prize in Literature where different writers were asked to name their favorite Dylan lyrics, critic Amanda Petrusich wrote about being "particularly enamored" with the song's opening verse.[22]

Keith Negus, in a 2021 essay on Bob Dylan's single releases, praised his vocal performance on the track for being perfectly married to the subject matter of the song: "The deceptively quirky production of a lilting, minor-key, country-blues shuffle enhances the way Dylan delivers the lyrics in keeping with the character's world-weariness and increasingly stoned and cynical outlook. As the song progresses it's as if the narrator is becoming too tired to finish a phrase, leaving a pregnant pause before dropping the final words—but, then again, Dylan may also be adopting a trick performed by Sinatra when stretching lines and hesitating before singing the final word or phrase".[23]

A 2021 Guardian article included it on a list of "80 Bob Dylan songs everyone should know".[24]

Commercial use

[edit]

On February 2, 2014, an arrangement of "Things Have Changed" was used in a commercial for the Chrysler 200, aired during Super Bowl XLVIII.[25] Dylan narrated and starred in the commercial, saying "When it's made here, it's made with the one thing you can't import from anywhere else—American pride ... So let Germany brew your beer, let Switzerland make your watch, let Asia assemble your phone. We will build your car".[26]

Live performances

[edit]

As of September 17, 2024, Dylan had performed the song 1,001 times. This makes it his tenth most frequently performed live song ever and the only Dylan song since the 1970s on the list of his top 10 most performed songs.[27] A live version from Portsmouth, England was included on the live album Live 1961–2000: Thirty-Nine Years of Great Concert Performances. Dylan also made a surprise televised appearance to perform the song at the American Film Institute Awards 2009 where Wonder Boys star Michael Douglas received the Lifetime Achievement award.[28][29] The last performance of the song (to date) took place in Buffalo, New York, on September 17, 2024.[30]

Cover versions

[edit]

"Things Have Changed" has been covered by many artists. Among the very first was country singer Waylon Jennings who made it a staple of his final live shows in 2000 and 2001.[31] Other notable versions include those by Barb Jungr on her 2002 album Every Grain of Sand: Barb Jungr Sings Bob Dylan, The Persuasions on their 2010 album Knockin' on Bob's Door, Curtis Stigers on his 2012 album Let's Go Out Tonight and Bettye LaVette on her 2018 album Things Have Changed, which takes its name from the song. Both Margo Price and Adia Victoria also have performed the song live in arrangements inspired by LaVette's.[32][33]

Track listings

[edit]

7-inch vinyl (COL 669379 7) – Limited numbered edition[34]

A "Things Have Changed" – 5:08
B "Blind Willie McTell" (Live version) – 7:01

CD promo single (CSK 46489) – U.S. ["Wonder Boys" motion picture promo][35]

  1. "Things Have Changed" – 5:10 [CD misprint reads 5:25]

CD promo single (COL 669333 1) – Europe[35]

  1. "Things Have Changed" (Radio Edit) – 3:37
  2. "To Make You Feel My Love" (Live) – 4:10

CD single (COL 669333 2)[35]

  1. "Things Have Changed" (Radio Edit) – 3:37
  2. "To Make You Feel My Love" (Live) – 4:10
  3. "Hurricane" – 8:33
  4. "Song to Woody" (Live) – 4:26

Things Have Changed / Dylan Alive Vol. 3 (SRCS 2306) – Japanese extended play CD[35]

  1. "Things Have Changed" – 5:09
  2. "Highlands" (Live) – 11:19
  3. "Blowin' in the Wind" (Live) – 7:10
  4. "To Make You Feel My Love" (Live) – 4:11

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Things Have Changed

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
"Things Have Changed" is a song written and performed by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan for the soundtrack of the 2000 comedy-drama film Wonder Boys, directed by Curtis Hanson. Released as a single on May 1, 2000, by Columbia Records, the track features Dylan's signature gravelly vocals over a bluesy rock arrangement, with lyrics exploring themes of disillusionment, existential anxiety, and the inexorable passage of time in a chaotic modern world. The song marked a significant moment in Dylan's late-career resurgence, following his critically acclaimed album Time Out of Mind (1997) and preceding Love and Theft (2001), and it achieved commercial success by peaking at number two on Billboard's Adult Alternative Songs chart. At the 73rd Academy Awards on March 25, 2001, "Things Have Changed" won the Oscar for Best Original Song, with Dylan accepting the award via satellite from during his ongoing tour; he also received the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song earlier that year. Critically, the track was praised for its poignant cynicism and Dylan's raw delivery, often cited as a standout in his vast catalog, and it has since become a staple in his live performances, including during his . The song's inclusion in Wonder Boys—starring , , and —underscored its narrative fit, accompanying scenes of personal turmoil and reinvention that mirrored Dylan's own artistic evolution.

Production

Background

"Things Have Changed" was commissioned by director Curtis Hanson for the soundtrack of his 2000 film Wonder Boys, an adaptation of Michael Chabon's novel about a struggling writer. Hanson, a longtime admirer of Bob Dylan, incorporated several of the artist's existing songs into the movie and specifically requested an original contribution to capture the protagonist Grady Tripp's sense of disillusionment and chaos. Dylan, who had recently experienced a creative resurgence with his 1997 album Time Out of Mind, agreed after viewing a rough cut of the film and discussing its themes with Hanson. The song's composition drew inspiration from the film's narrative, with lyrics alluding to elements like "dancing lessons" and a "jitterbug rag," mirroring the story's blend of and existential fatigue. Dylan reportedly borrowed the bluesy melody from Marty Stuart's 1999 track "The Observations of a Crow," obtaining permission for its use. Written in a concise burst reflective of Dylan's late-period efficiency, the track embodies a weary that aligns with both the movie's plot and Dylan's own career reflections at age 58. Recording took place in New York, with sources dating the session to either May or late July 1999. Dylan self-produced the track, working with his touring band at the time: on guitar, Larry Campbell on guitar, Tony Garnier on bass, and David Kemper on drums and percussion. Engineered by Chris Shaw—who was recommended by 's Steve Berkowitz—the session lasted just one afternoon at either Studios or Sterling Sound. Two complete takes were captured, including an unreleased New Orleans-style shuffle version; the selected take featured a barroom shuffle arrangement that Shaw mixed on the spot, with Dylan insisting on boosting the shaker's volume by 10 dB as the final adjustment. This rough mix became the definitive version, bypassing further polishing and exemplifying Dylan's hands-on, instinctive production approach during this era. The track was mastered by , first appeared on the Wonder Boys soundtrack album on February 15, 2000, and was released as a single on May 1, 2000, following the film's February premiere.

Recording and mixing

"Things Have Changed" was recorded in 1999 specifically for the soundtrack of the film , with serving as the producer. The session, engineered by Chris Shaw, took place over a single afternoon and featured a minimalist approach, beginning with just two basic takes of Dylan on vocals and guitar. Following an arrangement adjustment suggested by Dylan, additional takes were recorded, including guitar overdubs by and shaker overdubs by an unnamed drummer. Vocal punch-ins were used for select lines to refine the performance. Mixing was completed swiftly in approximately 30 minutes, resulting in a that became the final version. Shaw employed a microphone for Dylan's vocals and routed the +4 signal through an Graphic Fuzz pedal—a six-band EQ device—to create , blending elements like the snare, bass, and vocals into a "murky" texture. At Dylan's direction, the shaker was emphasized by boosting its volume by 10 dB in the mix. The tracks were printed to DAT for preservation. This efficient process exemplified Dylan's streamlined recording style during this period, prioritizing raw energy over extensive production.

Composition and themes

Lyrics

The lyrics of "Things Have Changed," written by for the 2000 film , consist of four verses and a repeating chorus, structured in a straightforward, ballad-like form that emphasizes detachment and existential reflection. The song opens with imagery of isolation and impending uncertainty, as in the first verse: "A worried man with a worried mind / No one in front of me and nothing behind / There’s a woman on my lap and she’s drinking champagne / Got white skin, blood in my eyes / I’m looking up into the sapphire-tinted skies / I’m well dressed, waiting on the last train." This sets a tone of quiet apprehension amid superficial luxury. The chorus, which appears after each verse, serves as the song's and encapsulates its central sentiment of : " and times are strange / I’m locked in tight, I’m out of range / I used to care, but things have changed." This repeated line underscores a shift from engagement with the world to emotional withdrawal, reflecting Dylan's portrayal of a narrator who has outgrown former concerns. Subsequent verses build on this through fragmented, vignette-style scenes that evoke personal and societal decay. The second verse explores and social disconnection: "This place ain’t doing me any good / I’m in the wrong town, I should be in Hollywood / Just for a second there I thought I saw something move / Gonna take dancing lessons, do the rag / Ain’t no shortcuts, gonna dress in drag / Only a fool in here would think he’s got anything to prove." Here, the narrator contemplates escape and in a flawed social landscape. The third verse introduces apocalyptic undertones: "I’ve been walking forty miles of bad / If the is right, the world will explode / I’ve been trying to get as far away from myself as I can / Some things are too hot to touch / The human mind can only stand so much / You can’t win with a losing hand," alluding to biblical end-times and mental strain. The final verse reinforces isolation and : "Feel like with the first I meet / Putting her in a and wheeling her down the street / I hurt easy, I just don’t show it / You can hurt someone and not even know it / The next sixty seconds could be like an eternity / Gonna get low down, gonna fly high / All the truth in the world adds up to one big lie / I’m in with a who don’t even appeal to me." Thematically, the lyrics convey disillusionment with a chaotic, unpredictable world, contrasting sharply with Dylan's earlier optimistic anthems like "The Times They Are a-Changin'" from 1964, and instead aligning with the darker introspection of his late-1990s work on Time Out of Mind. Critics note the disjointed narrative as deliberate, creating a series of surreal, unconnected images—like , rag, and biblical explosions—that mirror a "worried mind" navigating without panic. Biblical allusions, such as references to world-ending judgment, suggest an apocalyptic resignation, where the narrator observes societal madness from a detached vantage. These elements tie directly to the film's themes of and lost ideals. Overall, the lyrics prioritize vivid, impressionistic snapshots over linear storytelling, emphasizing emotional numbness as a response to unrelenting change.

Full Lyrics

A worried man with a worried mind No one in front of me and nothing behind There’s a woman on my lap and she’s drinking champagne Got white skin, blood in my eyes I’m looking up into the sapphire-tinted skies I’m well dressed, waiting on the last train Standing on the gallows with my head in a [noose](/page/Noose) Any minute now I’m expecting all hell to break loose People are crazy and times are strange I’m locked in tight, I’m out of range I used to care, but things have changed This place ain’t doing me any good I’m in the wrong town, I should be in Hollywood Just for a second there I thought I saw something move Gonna take dancing lessons, do the [jitterbug](/page/Jitterbug) rag Ain’t no shortcuts, gonna dress in drag Only a fool in here would think he’s got anything to prove Lot of [water under the bridge](/page/Water_Under_the_Bridge), lot of other stuff too Don’t get up gentlemen, I’m only passing through People are crazy and times are strange I’m locked in tight, I’m out of range I used to care, but things have changed I’ve been walking forty miles of bad road If the [Bible](/page/Bible) is right, the world will explode I’ve been trying to get as far away from myself as I can Some things are too hot to touch The human mind can only stand so much You can’t win with a losing hand Feel like [falling in love](/page/Falling_in_love) with the first woman I meet Putting her in a [wheelbarrow](/page/Wheelbarrow) and wheeling her down the street People are crazy and times are strange I’m locked in tight, I’m out of range I used to care, but things have changed I hurt easy, I just don’t show it You can hurt someone and not even know it The next sixty seconds could be like an eternity Gonna get low down, gonna fly high All the truth in the world adds up to one big lie I’m in love with a woman who don’t even appeal to me Mr. Jinx and Miss Lucy, they jumped in the lake I’m not that eager to make a mistake People are crazy and times are strange I’m locked in tight, I’m out of range I used to care, but things have changed

A worried man with a worried mind No one in front of me and nothing behind There’s a woman on my lap and she’s drinking champagne Got white skin, blood in my eyes I’m looking up into the sapphire-tinted skies I’m well dressed, waiting on the last train Standing on the gallows with my head in a [noose](/page/Noose) Any minute now I’m expecting all hell to break loose People are crazy and times are strange I’m locked in tight, I’m out of range I used to care, but things have changed This place ain’t doing me any good I’m in the wrong town, I should be in Hollywood Just for a second there I thought I saw something move Gonna take dancing lessons, do the [jitterbug](/page/Jitterbug) rag Ain’t no shortcuts, gonna dress in drag Only a fool in here would think he’s got anything to prove Lot of [water under the bridge](/page/Water_Under_the_Bridge), lot of other stuff too Don’t get up gentlemen, I’m only passing through People are crazy and times are strange I’m locked in tight, I’m out of range I used to care, but things have changed I’ve been walking forty miles of bad road If the [Bible](/page/Bible) is right, the world will explode I’ve been trying to get as far away from myself as I can Some things are too hot to touch The human mind can only stand so much You can’t win with a losing hand Feel like [falling in love](/page/Falling_in_love) with the first woman I meet Putting her in a [wheelbarrow](/page/Wheelbarrow) and wheeling her down the street People are crazy and times are strange I’m locked in tight, I’m out of range I used to care, but things have changed I hurt easy, I just don’t show it You can hurt someone and not even know it The next sixty seconds could be like an eternity Gonna get low down, gonna fly high All the truth in the world adds up to one big lie I’m in love with a woman who don’t even appeal to me Mr. Jinx and Miss Lucy, they jumped in the lake I’m not that eager to make a mistake People are crazy and times are strange I’m locked in tight, I’m out of range I used to care, but things have changed

Musical style

"Things Have Changed" is characterized by a blues-rock style infused with folk-rock and roots elements, reflecting Bob Dylan's late-career return to raw, American musical traditions. The track features a minimalist that emphasizes a gritty, driving energy, with a prominent twangy and a shuffling providing a loping, slightly off-kilter groove. This setup creates a sense of restless propulsion, underscoring the song's sardonic worldview without overwhelming Dylan's weathered vocal delivery. The instrumentation is sparse yet effective, highlighting the contributions of Dylan's touring band during the recording sessions at Clinton Recording Studios in New York in May 1999. Guitarists Larry Campbell and deliver jangly lines and sophisticated chord changes described as "relatively sophisticated for a song," adding a kaleidoscopic depth to the bluesy framework, with Sexton providing a guitar overdub. Tony Garnier and David Kemper anchor the track with a steady, insistent that evokes a pre-rock roots feel, while Dylan's production—under his pseudonym—imparts a polished yet raw cinematic quality suited to the song's origins in the Wonder Boys soundtrack. Engineer Chris Shaw noted the track was completed in one afternoon with two initial takes followed by overdubs. Overall, the musical style marks a bridge between Dylan's earlier folk-blues explorations and his 21st-century output, blending moody introspection with an upbeat that contrasts the ' cynicism. This combination has been noted for its insistent, backdrop, which propels the of detachment and forward with a wry, unhurried momentum.

Release

Commercial performance

"Things Have Changed" was released as a single on May 1, 2000, by , following the theatrical release of the film , for which it served as the theme song. The track achieved moderate commercial success, primarily driven by airplay and its association with the film , for which the song later won an Academy Award. In the United States, the song peaked at number 2 on the Adult Alternative Songs airplay chart dated May 13, 2000, marking one of Dylan's highest positions on a singles chart in the modern era. It did not enter the , reflecting the era's limited chart impact for non-top-40 radio hits. Internationally, "Things Have Changed" reached number 58 on the UK Singles Chart, spending two weeks in the top 200. The single saw limited charting elsewhere, with no significant positions reported in major markets like or . Sales figures for the physical single are estimated at approximately 20,000 units worldwide, underscoring its niche appeal rather than broad commercial dominance. No certifications were awarded by the RIAA or equivalent bodies, consistent with its modest streaming and digital performance in later years. As of 2025, the official music video has over 27 million views on .

Music video

The music video for "Things Have Changed" was directed by , the same filmmaker behind the 2000 movie for which the song was written. Released in 2000 as a promotional to the film's , the video features , then 59 years old, performing the track in a studio setting while intercut with scenes from the movie. This editing technique creates the illusion of Dylan interacting with the film's characters, blending his performance with the narrative of protagonist Grady Tripp, a struggling writer haunted by past successes. The video prominently includes cast members such as (as Tripp), Robert Downey Jr., , and , with Douglas's character serving as a symbolic stand-in for a younger, more tormented version of Dylan himself. Amusing and surreal sequences depict Dylan "appearing" in key film moments, such as awkward social encounters and creative blockages, which mirror the song's themes of existential unease and change. Visual nods to the lyrics— including references to "dancing lessons," the "jitterbug rag," and "dressing in drag"—further integrate the video with both the song and the movie's plot, enhancing its thematic cohesion. Hanson's direction emphasizes a straightforward, performance-driven style with classic montage editing, avoiding elaborate effects to focus on Dylan's raw delivery and the film's wry humor. Dylan's visit to Hanson's editing room during inspired the through discussions about the protagonist's mindset, after which Dylan sent a demo. The video represents a subsequent creative collaboration. Available on platforms like , the video has garnered over 27 million views and contributed to the 's visibility during its Academy Award campaign.

Reception and awards

Critical response

Upon its release as the theme for the 2000 film , "Things Have Changed" received widespread critical acclaim for its sardonic worldview and incisive lyrics, marking a highlight in Bob Dylan's late-career resurgence. Reviewers highlighted the song's brooding tone and its departure from Dylan's earlier optimistic anthems, positioning it as a cynical reflection on disillusionment. The track's shuffling rhythm and raspy delivery were praised for underscoring themes of existential detachment, with Dylan declaring, "I used to care, but things have changed." Critics noted the song's bitter edge as a deliberate to Dylan's 1960s protest material, such as "The Times They Are a-Changin'." In a ranking, it was described as "one of the bitterest songs in Dylan’s entire catalog," a "harsh " that confronts without evasion. Publications lauded its vivid imagery of —evoking clowns, gravestones, and cosmic unraveling—delivered with a "grouchy shrug" that captured Dylan's jaundiced perspective on a chaotic world. In subsequent years, "Things Have Changed" has been consistently ranked among Dylan's finest compositions, affirming its lasting impact. It placed 14th in The Guardian's 2020 list of his 50 greatest songs, celebrated as a "superb" work that exemplifies his enduring ability to blend foreboding prophecy with wry detachment. Similarly, Rolling Stone included it in its 2020 compilation of the 100 greatest Dylan songs, emphasizing its unsparing honesty and evolution from his protest-era idealism. These assessments underscore the track's role in revitalizing Dylan's reputation as a sharp chronicler of personal and societal shifts.

Academy Award and other honors

"Things Have Changed" received significant recognition in the film and music industries, culminating in major awards for its contribution to the soundtrack of Wonder Boys. At the 73rd Academy Awards on March 25, 2001, the song won the Oscar for Best Original Song, with Bob Dylan credited for both music and lyrics. Dylan accepted the award via satellite from Australia, where he was touring, and performed the song live during the ceremony. Earlier that year, on January 21, 2001, at the , "Things Have Changed" also secured the Golden Globe for Best Original Song – Motion Picture. This dual victory marked a rare achievement for Dylan, highlighting the song's impact beyond its musical roots into cinematic acclaim. In the music awards circuit, the song earned a nomination at the in 2001 for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance, though it did not win. Additionally, it was nominated for a Golden Satellite Award for Best Original Song, further underscoring its critical reception in film scoring circles.

Legacy

Commercial use

"Things Have Changed" was originally commissioned for the soundtrack of the 2000 film , directed by , where it serves as the end-credits song, underscoring the protagonist's sense of disillusionment and transformation. The track's inclusion in the movie propelled its release as a single and contributed to its Academy Award win for Best Original Song in 2001. The song has been licensed for use in several television series, enhancing dramatic moments with its themes of alienation and inevitability. In the Showtime series Brotherhood (2006), it appears in the episode "Matthew 12:25," providing a fitting backdrop to the narrative's exploration of family and political intrigue. Similarly, it features in the CBS procedural NCIS during Season 4's "Sharif Returns" (2007), playing over key scenes and later included on the official NCIS: The Official TV Soundtrack album, marking one of Dylan's songs integrated into the show's long-running format. One of the most prominent commercial applications occurred in a 2014 advertisement for , where himself appeared on camera, narrating about American innovation while the song's guitar riff and lyrics played in the background, emphasizing themes of change and resilience to promote the automaker's brand. This high-profile sync license, aired during , broadened the song's exposure to a massive audience of over 111 million viewers.

Live performances

"Things Have Changed" first entered Bob Dylan's live repertoire on March 10, 2000, during the early show at the Sun Theatre in , shortly after its recording for the Wonder Boys soundtrack. The song rapidly became a fixture in Dylan's ongoing , frequently opening concerts and accumulating over 1,000 performances by September 2024. By mid-2025, it had been played in nearly half of his shows (about 48%), ranking among his most frequently performed originals, with a total exceeding 1,088 performances as of 2025. A landmark rendition took place on March 25, 2001, at the 73rd Academy Awards, where Dylan performed via satellite from Sydney, Australia—while on tour there—following the song's win for Best Original Song. This broadcast appearance marked one of Dylan's rare televised live outings and highlighted the track's cultural impact. Throughout its live history, the arrangement of "Things Have Changed" has undergone subtle evolutions while preserving its cynical core. Initial 2000 versions conveyed detachment and world-weariness through measured vocals and a slight melodic lilt. By 2002, deliveries grew more intense, emphasizing despair in the lyrics. The mid-2000s introduced aggressive percussion and extended intros, as in 2005, shifting toward a harder edge; 2009 renditions adopted a marching rhythm with solid beats. Later iterations, like those in 2012, featured twisted melodies, rhythmic reinterpretations, and prominent harmonica solos, adding playfulness without altering the refrain "I used to care, but things have changed." In contemporary tours, the song remains a setlist mainstay, often launching performances with its brooding tone. Examples include openings at the North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre in Chula Vista on May 15, 2025, and the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles on May 16, 2025, during the Outlaw Music Festival leg, as well as during the 2025 Rough and Rowdy Ways European tour, such as at Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam on November 6, 2025. It also appeared in June 2024 shows, such as at Ameris Bank Amphitheatre in Alpharetta, Georgia.

Cover versions

Since its release, "Things Have Changed" has been covered by over 30 artists across various genres, as documented in specialized music databases. These interpretations range from arrangements to soulful reinterpretations, often highlighting the song's themes of disillusionment and change through diverse stylistic lenses. One of the most acclaimed covers is by soul vocalist , featured as the title track on her 2018 album Things Have Changed, a collection entirely devoted to compositions released by . LaVette's version infuses the song with raw emotional intensity and gospel-tinged vocals, transforming Dylan's wry detachment into a visceral expression of regret and resilience; it was praised for revitalizing the track within and soul contexts. The group offered a harmonious, vocal-only rendition on their 2009 album Knockin' on Bob's Door, emphasizing the song's rhythmic pulse and lyrical cadence without instrumental accompaniment. This cover, produced by , underscores the track's adaptability to vocal ensemble styles and was noted for its innovative take on Dylan's folk-rock original. singer also performed a live version in 2013 at the Jazz in Marciac festival, blending saxophone improvisation with smooth vocals to give the song a sophisticated, improvisational flair. Other notable interpretations include Barb Jungr's cabaret-style arrangement from her 2002 album Everyday Lives and Other Stories and Michel Montecrossa's folk-rock take from his 2000 release Things Have Changed, one of the earliest post-original covers.

Track listings

CD maxi-single (Columbia 669333 2, , 2000)

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Things Have Changed (Radio Edit)"Dylan3:37
2."To Make You Feel My Love (Live Version)"Dylan4:10
3."Hurricane"Dylan, Levy8:33
4."Song to Woody (Live Version)"Dylan4:26

References

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