All Along The Watchtower
Bob Dylan & Tom Petty 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
"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
The lyrics of Bob Dylan & Tom Petty’s song All Along the Watchtower are haunting and enigmatic. The song opens with the joker speaking to the thief and expressing the need to find a way out of their current situation. They are both incensed with the confusion in the world and the fact that they can’t escape from it. They speak of the lack of any tangible relief and the lack of value attached to things in the world. The reference to businessmen drinking the joker’s wine and plowmen digging his earth highlights the theme of the disparity inherent in the capitalist system. The words convey the frustration and angst of two people lost in a chaotic world.
The line “no reason to get excited,” spoken by the thief in response to the joker’s frustration, could be mistaken as a moment of calm, but it is instead a stark reminder of the despondency that surrounds them. The thief acknowledges that many around them feel that life is meaningless – a joke. However, the singer and the joker are not of this clock, which speaks to their outcast status. They are looking for a way out of this reality, and they recognize that they must not be insincere in their dialogue with each other if they wish to achieve their goal. The final lines of the song describe the view from the watchtower, with women coming and going and barefoot servants moving about their business. In the distance, a wildcat growls, and two riders approaches as the wind begins to howl. It’s a mysterious and foreboding ending to a song full of uncertainty and turmoil.
Line by Line Meaning
There must be some way out of here
The singer is feeling trapped and searching for a solution to their problem.
Said the joker to the thief
The two characters are engaging in dialogue about their situation.
There's too much confusion
I can't get no relief
The situation is overwhelming and the singer cannot find any respite from it.
Businessmen, they drink my wine
The artist is frustrated by the wealthy who enjoy the fruits of their labor.
Plowmen dig my earth
Even those who work the land do not truly understand its value.
None of them along the line
Know what any of it is worth
Those in power and those who work have different perspectives on the value of the world around them.
The thief, he kindly spoke
"No reason to get excited"
One character is trying to calm the other and remind them to stay level-headed.
There are many here among us
Who feel that life is but a joke
Some present do not take life seriously and find humor in everything.
But you and I, we've been through that
And this is not our fate
The two speakers have had experiences that have taught them to take life seriously and they feel that they will not suffer the same fate as those around them.
So let us not talk falsely now
The hour is getting late
They should speak honestly and not waste time living in pretense since time is running out.
All along the watchtower
Princes kept the view
The watchtower is a place of power and wealth, and those who have this power must maintain their vigilance.
While all the women came and went
Barefoot servants too
The lower classes come and go, while the powerful remain in their positions.
Outside in the distance
A wildcat did growl
The natural world, outside of human control, is still fraught with danger.
Two riders were approaching
The wind began to howl
Something ominous is on the horizon, a potential threat to the status quo.
Contributed by Hannah I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.