All Along The Watchtower
Ed and Matt Lyrics

There must be some kind of way out of here
The singer feels trapped and is desperately seeking a way to escape their current situation.

Said the joker to the thief, yeah
The singer uses the imagery of a joker and a thief to convey the idea of deceit and manipulation. It is unclear who is the joker and who is the thief.

There's too much confusion
The situation is chaotic and bewildering, making it difficult for the singer to make sense of things.

Mmm I can't get no relief
The artist is unable to find any solace or comfort in their current situation.

Business men, they drink my wine
The artist feels taken advantage of by those who hold power and wealth.

Plowman dig my earth
The singer is referring to their own humble roots and the hard work they had to put in to get where they are now.

None were level on the mind
The singer feels that those around them do not possess a balanced perspective or fairness in their thinking.

No one up at his word
The artist feels that others cannot be trusted to follow through on their promises or commitments.

Yeah, I see jokers on my left, thieves upon my right
The artist feels surrounded by dishonorable people who cannot be trusted.

You'd find me in the middle if I picked a different life
The artist feels like they are stuck between two undesirable options and cannot escape their current circumstances.

Before my name started tripling in size
The singer is referring to their rise to fame and how it has changed their life.

But I'm still showing signs all attributed to mine
Despite their change in circumstances, the artist still feels a connection to their past and their origins.

In the pitch black, it's too cold
The singer feels hopeless and alone.

I'm all alone take me back to the roads I had to roam to get here and I'll hitch back
The singer wishes they could return to a simpler time before fame and fortune changed their life.

Get a cab to my mother's house see my old man and grab a six pack
The singer wishes for the comfort of home and the love of family.

Tell my brother I love him
The artist wants to express their affection for their family, particularly their sibling.

And give him something that will see him through the hard times
The artist wants to provide support and encouragement to their brother.

What's a brother for?
The singer believes that supporting their family is one of the most important things in life.

When I'm sick of this life I see
The singer expresses a sense of disillusionment with their current situation.

It has to be my family who lift me off the floor
The artist believes that their family is the only thing that can provide them with true comfort and support.

Make sense of all the madness in a world full of money
The artist feels that the world is often characterized by greed and materialism rather than true human connection.

Full of tears, full of war
The artist acknowledges the many hardships and tragic events that occur in the world.

I was a plowman and worked from the earth up
The singer is reminding themselves of their humble roots and the hard work it took to get where they are.

Save your wine for the entrepreneurs
The artist is implying that they no longer wish to indulge in frivolous pursuits like drinking, preferring instead to focus on work and success.

Take away the treasure of a man
The singer is suggesting that true happiness cannot be achieved through riches or material possessions.

Convinced that he holds heaven in his hands
The singer is referring to the idea of materialism as a false sense of security or comfort.

Even though I ain't religious I'm a little superstitious
The singer is acknowledging their own reluctance to rely on faith or organized religion.

Maybe there is a promised land
The artist recognizes the possibility of a better life or world beyond their current circumstances.

But will I make it or not is a different matter
The artist expresses a sense of uncertainty about their own future.

I've been a joker, I've been a thief, I've been a rapper
The singer is reflecting on their various roles and identities over the course of their life.

I've been the only enemy that I can never beat
The singer recognizes that they are their own worst enemy and cannot escape themselves.

Give me a piece of mind upon a platinum platter
The artist longs for peace of mind and a sense of fulfillment or success that cannot be achieved through money or material goods.

Well all along the watchtower
The watchtower is a symbol of both power and observance, suggesting that those in power are always watching.

Princes kept the view
The princes in the watchtower represent those in power who maintain a sense of control over society and culture.

While all the women came and went
The women in this line represent those who are undervalued and oppressed in society.

Barefoot servants, too yeah
The servants in this line represent the working class and those in lower social strata.

Outside in the cold distance
The distance in this line represents the divide between those in power and those who are marginalized.

A wildcat did growl
The wildcat in this line represents a sense of danger or disorder that threatens those in power.

Two riders were approaching
The riders in this line represent a sense of change or danger that threatens the established order.

And the wind begins to howl
The howling wind in this line represents a sense of chaos and uncertainty that threatens the established order.