All along The Watchtower
Bob Dylan; Dylan & The Dead; The Grateful Dead Lyrics
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Said the joker to the thief
There's too much confusion, I can't get no relief
Businessmen, they drink my wine
Plowmen dig my earth
None of them along the line know what any of it is worth
No reason to get excited,the thief, he kindly spoke
But you and I, we've been through that, and this is not our fate
So let us not talk falsely now, the hour is getting late
All along the watchtower, princes kept the view
While all the women came and went, barefoot servants, too
Outside in the distance a wildcat did growl
Two riders were approaching, the wind began to howl
"All Along The Watchtower" is a song that was originally written and recorded by Bob Dylan in 1967. The song has been covered by several artists, but the version by The Grateful Dead and Bob Dylan on their tour in 1987, which was later released as the album "Dylan & The Dead," is particularly notable. The song's lyrics are cryptic and open to interpretation, but there are a few key themes that can be gleaned from them.
The song begins with the joker talking to the thief and expressing the need to find a way out. The confusion and lack of relief mentioned in the lyrics suggest a sense of unease and discontent with the world. The next stanza suggests that there are people who think life is a joke, but the joker and thief have been through enough to know that there is more to life than that. The chorus seems to speak of a watchtower where the princes keep watch while the horsemen come and go, all while the lower-class workers are also present. This image suggests a power dynamic where the powerful control and watch over the powerless.
The song's repeated refrain emphasizes the importance of truth, particularly in the face of late-hour urgency. The song's meaning is ultimately elusive – what the characters are trying to escape from and where they're headed next is left open to interpretation. However, the song's enduring popularity suggests that its themes of unease, urgency, and the search for meaning are resonant with listeners even today.
Line by Line Meaning
There must be some way outta here
The joker is expressing his need for a way to escape the current situation.
Said the joker to the thief
The conversation is between two different people with different perspectives.
There's too much confusion here
The current situation is unclear and chaotic.
I can't get no relief
The artist is unable to find any solace from the situation.
Businessmen, they drink my wine
Those in power take what is rightfully the artist's.
Plowmen dig my earth
The common man works to maintain what the singer has built.
None of them know along the line
No one seems to understand the true value of what the singer has created.
What any of this is worth, yeah
The artist questions whether any of his work and efforts hold any true worth or value.
No reason to get excited
The thief is urging the other person to not become overly emotional or upset by the current situation.
There are many among us
There is a large group of people who view life as a joke or meaningless.
Who think that life is but a joke
Those people view life as being without purpose or meaning.
But you and I, we've been through that
The two people have already experienced and overcome this way of thinking.
And that is not our fate
The singer and the other person are not destined to believe that life is a joke without meaning.
So let us not talk falsely now
The singer is urging honesty and an end to any falsehoods in their conversation.
Because the hour is getting late, hey, hey, hey
The situation is growing more urgent and serious by the minute.
All along the watchtower
The setting is a watchtower where people are keeping watch and paying attention to their surroundings.
Princes kept the view
Those in power are the ones watching and monitoring things from the top.
While horsemen came and went
Others come and go, but the ones in power remain in control.
Barefoot servants, too
Even those with no power or shoes are still present and aware of what is happening around them.
All I got is a red guitar
The artist has very little in the way of possessions or material goods, but does have a guitar.
Three chords and the truth
The artist's simple guitar playing is about raw truth and honesty.
The rest is up to you
The artist is relying on someone else to take his simple guitar playing and create something more meaningful and lasting with it.
You and I, we've been through that
The two people have already gone through the experience of viewing life as meaningless or a joke.
And that is not our fate, at least today
The artist and the other person are not destined to live their lives without purpose or meaning.
Late, late, yeah
The situation has become even more urgent and serious, adding to the sense of tension and danger present.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bob Dylan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Iron Horse
Personally I think this is a great album, I read negative reviews about it , one review said that the dead fans were taken back with Dylan raspy voice with the dead backing him , when I first heard this album it gave me chills, the heavy bass line, Jerry’s guitar guitar playing, Dylan’s singing, am hoping a remastered cd comes out next
charles knapp
Most Fantastic cover of this Bob Dylan's song,"All Along The Watchtower", bar none 💙🌎🌕🌞⭐Chuck Knapp 3/18/21
מאיר איפרגן
Best version of dylan to this song and also garcia
Paulocesar Gomespassos
Eu também achei muito bom a performance dos arranjos e a voz de Dylan estáva ótima naquele dia.