All along The Watchtower
Bob Dylan(巴布狄倫) Lyrics


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There must be some way out of here
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
There are many here among us who feel that life is but a joke
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

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Bob Dylan's song All Along the Watchtower seem to describe a state of confusion and a desire to find a way out of it. The joker and the thief appear to be in a difficult situation and the joker is asking for help. There is a sense of unease, with the joker feeling overwhelmed by the confusion and not being able to get any relief. The "businessmen" and "plowmen" are also mentioned and they seem to be oblivious to the value of what they are doing.


The thief responds with a sense of calm and understanding, suggesting that life is a joke to some but to others like them it is serious business. They have both been through difficult times and have emerged stronger, and they should not waste time with false talk. The hour is getting late and they should focus on what is important.


The last stanza seems to describe a powerful scene with princes keeping watch over the land while women come and go as servants. There is an ominous growl in the distance and two riders are approaching accompanied by the howling wind. The imagery is vivid and suggests a sense of impending danger.


Line by Line Meaning

There must be some way out of here
The situation is unbearable and the joker cannot find a solution.


Said the joker to the thief
The joker is speaking to the thief, but the thief's response is not mentioned.


There's too much confusion, I can't get no relief
The joker is overwhelmed by the confusion around him and can't find any peace.


Businessmen, they drink my wine
The joker is bitter about the businessmen who are benefiting from his work.


Plowmen dig my earth
Even the lowest workers are still using the joker's land for their benefit.


None of them along the line know what any of it is worth
The people who are using the joker's resources don't understand their true value.


No reason to get excited, the thief, he kindly spoke
The thief is trying to calm the joker down and remind him there's no need to panic.


There are many here among us who feel that life is but a joke
A lot of people around the joker believe life is meaningless and don't take it seriously.


But you and I, we've been through that, and this is not our fate
The joker and the thief have experienced a tough life, but they believe they can change their future.


So let us not talk falsely now, the hour is getting late
They need to speak honestly and directly, without wasting any time.


All along the watchtower, princes kept the view
The princes are overlooking everything from their privileged position.


While all the women came and went, barefoot servants, too
The women and servants are just going about their business unnoticed.


Outside in the distance a wildcat did growl
Something dangerous is approaching in the distance.


Two riders were approaching, the wind began to howl
The two riders might be able to bring change, but it's accompanied by some chaos.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, AUDIAM, INC
Written by: Bob Dylan

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@gerru_san

Lyrics:

"There must be some way out of here"
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
"There are many here among us
Who feel that life is but a joke
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 comments from YouTube:

@anthonybramante2921

Dylan's version is for the morning, and Hendrix's version is for the evening

@elkeesandoval2877

neil youngs version for lunch

@reynewdawn

Yes the vibes it is

@ajaypalsinghbhatti8901

Me thinking it's the other way around

@albertgrant1017

So true !

@claudesaintpierre7352

Bryan Ferry's 10 pm; Neil Young's 12 pm; etc

183 More Replies...

@Velleosu

"It's Jimi's song, I just wrote it" - Bob Dylan

edit: both songs are good in their own ways!

@farkoduomah5120

thing is,this is a lyrical masterpeice,and jimi's guitar didn't really let the lyrics shine,check the forest rangers cover mate,a real midnight treat.

@nickmeale1957

@@farkoduomah5120 I will do that, thanks youtuber

@liamryan7239

But this one is better tho

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