“The Changing of the Guard” 

Many consider the lyrics of Bob Dylan’s “Changing of the Guards” to be a vague, autobiographical impression of the groundbreaking singer-songwriter’s early career. This typescript also represents the confluence of Dylan’s poetic draft with workaday editorial and production demands, as evidenced by the variety of handwritten alterations the record production team made. The most notable edit is the alteration of the title to “Changing of the Guards,” finalized in advance of the song’s inclusion on Dylan’s 1978 Columbia Records release, Street-Legal. These revisions, revealing the evolution of Dylan's lyrics, provide a rare glimpse into his working process, particularly as he responds to the collaborative aspects of album production.