we can visualize the senators and congressmen holed up in the capitol. Outside the capitol, as other lyrics in the song show, the common people are massing and becoming like flood that will sweep in change, whether the politicians like or not.

The image of the congresspeople standing in doorways and halls suggests they are part of the group trying to block and prevent change. Dylan's song says that is not possible to do that, for there is too much force behind the movement for transformation:

There's a battle outside and it is ragin'
It'll soon shake your windows and rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'

The song was written late in 1963 and released in 1964. Because this was the time of the civil rights movement, and because folk music singers like Dylan were often supporters of that movement, some have argued that it is a song in support of civil rights. Others contend that its lyrics and themes are universal and refer to political change in general.

Generally, this song's lyrics seem to point to the state of flux of the U.S during the 60s, as traditional roles of geneder, race, government and religoin were being challenged to their cores. 

The song in stanza one asks for all people to "gather round" and "admit" and "accept." These word choices, or diction, are demands to all Americans to come together and see what is actually happening around them and to admit "the waters have grown" or things have changed. The growing waters can also be seen as a reference to a cleansing flood approaching to wash out the old and bring in a new life, so Dylan goes on to warn that you better be ready to swim.

The rest of the lyrics are call outs by Dylan to the old regime in charge who need to recognize and help with a change for the better.  He calls out to "writers and critics", "senators, congressmen", and "mothers and fathers" to do what they can to help the youth bring in a bette world or else for this old regime to accept the change and get out of the way.