All along The Watchtower
George Lynch 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 to George Lynch's song "All Along the Watchtower" are both introspective and contemplative, and are rich with symbolism and metaphor. The opening lines, "There must be some way out of here...there's too much confusion, I can't get no relief," give the impression that the singer is feeling trapped and overwhelmed in a world that doesn't make sense.


As the song continues, the imagery evokes a sense of social upheaval and revolutionary unrest. The businessmen who drink the singer's wine and the plowmen who dig his earth are symbols of the wealthy and working classes, respectively, who are both complicit in the societal systems that oppress the masses. The line "none of them along the line know what any of it is worth" could refer to the futility of the materialistic pursuits that drive much of modern society.


Later in the song, the thief consoles the joker, expressing the idea that life can often feel like a joke, but that he and the joker have already experienced this and are moving beyond it. The refrain "All along the watchtower, princes kept the view, while all the women came and went, barefoot servants too" creates a vivid picture of a hierarchical society where those in power are content to simply observe the goings-on of the lower classes.


Finally, the imagery of the approaching riders and the howling wind suggest that change is coming, and that the world as it exists is on the brink of some sort of transformation.


Line by Line Meaning

There must be some way out of here said the joker to the thief
The joker and the thief are both looking for a way out of their current situation


There's too much confusion, I can't get no relief
There is so much chaos that it is impossible to escape and find peace


Businessmen, they drink my wine, plowmen dig my earth
Both people of high and low status take advantage of me and my resources


None of them along the line know what any of it is worth
No one truly understands the value of anything they possess


"No reason to get excited", the thief he kindly spoke
The thief is trying to calm down the joker and not get too hopeful


"There are many here among us who feel that life is but a joke
Many people believe that life is meaningless or not to be taken seriously


But you and I, we've been through that, and this is not our fate
The joker and the thief have experienced the meaninglessness of life, but don't believe that's their destiny


So let us not talk falsely now, the hour is getting late"
They must be truthful about their situation and not waste time or play games


All along the watchtower, princes kept the view
The princes have been keeping guard over this area for a long time


While all the women came and went, barefoot servants, too.
The women and servants are always around, but they come and go without notice or significance


Outside in the distance a wildcat did growl
There is danger and unpredictability in the surrounding area


Two riders were approaching, the wind began to howl.
Two people are coming towards the joker and the thief, and tension is building




Contributed by Adrian G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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