Michael Hedges was a conservatory composition major who applied his classically trained musical background in combination with radical innovation to “reinvent” the steel string acoustic guitar. He combined many unusual techniques on the acoustic guitar with a wide range of musical styles, and was also considered a dynamic performer in concert - in short, a “Paganini” of the guitar.
He is known for extensive use in several pieces of two handed tapping techniques (nearly a contrapuntal style of multiple voices). He used the fingers of his right (typically picking) hand to slap harmonic "chords" at the 12th, 7th or 5th fret (or elsewhere). He made use of right hand hammer-ons, particularly on bass notes, and often used the left hand for melodic or rhythmic hammer-ons and pull offs, as well as unusual strummings, that played, as mentioned, independent voices to the right hand. These techniques tended to convert the guitar into a quasi-keyboard like instrument for certain musical purposes. He also made extensive use of string dampening as employed in classical guitar, and was known to insist strongly on the precise duration of sounds and silences in his pieces. Other facets to his playing were percussive slapping on the guitar body and extensive use of artificial harmonics. He also played guitar-variants like the Harp Guitar (an instrument with additional bass strings that Hedges used to play Bach's Prelude to Cello Suite #1 in G Major in its intended key), and the Trans-Trem Guitar.
Michael Hedges was discovered by William Ackerman who heard him performing in a Palo Alto cafe (the former Varsity Theater) and immediately signed him to a recording contract (1980). For several years Hedges toured and performed in concert with Ackerman. He also appeared on several of Ackerman's albums. In turn William Ackerman produced Hedge's first two albums.
The first two records Michael Hedges made - Breakfast in the Field and Aerial Boundaries - were milestones for the acoustic guitar. He then branched out into singing and performing more popular forms of music, although he would periodically make a return to more guitar-centred music. His record Oracle won the 1998 Grammy for Best New Age Album. Hedges was in fact quite a multi-instrumentalist, playing piano, percussion, tin whistle, harmonica, and flute, among others on his albums. Bassist Michael Manring contributed to many of Michael's records.
Many acoustic guitarists claim a very broad range of influences and will not fit into any genre, but this was truer of Hedges than of any other. His musical education was largely in modern 20th century composition. He listened to Leo Kottke, Bruce Cockburn, Martin Carthy, John Martyn, John Fahey, and the Beatles, but his approach to composition owed much to Stravinsky, Varèse, Webern, and experimental composers such as Morton Feldman. He saw himself as a composer who played guitar, rather than a guitarist who composed music. He was often categorized as New Age due to his association with the Windham Hill record label. Somewhat in reaction to this, he would describe his music as "Heavy Mental", "New Edge", ""Thrash Acoustic", "Deep Tissue Gladiator Guitar" or "Savage Myth Guitar," amongst other terms.
Hedges was killed in a car accident in 1997 at the age of 43. His unfinished last recordings were brought to completion in the album Torched, with the help of his friends David Crosby and Graham Nash.
All Along The Watchtower
Michael Hedges Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
"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,
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.
In this song, the joker and the thief are two characters that are seeking a way out of their current state of confusion and inaction. The joker expresses his frustration at the meaningless nature of his existence, the fact that people take from him without understanding his worth. The thief tries to offer some perspective, stating that many people feel the same way, but they must not let this nihilism rule them. The two have been through trials before and must continue to navigate them.
The image of the watchtower suggests a sense of foreboding, as if something important is being guarded. Princes sit atop it, surveying the world below while women and servants come and go. The final lines suggest that something is about to happen - a wildcat growling, two riders approaching, and the wind howling. At this moment, the joker and the thief must be wary and prepared for whatever is coming.
Line by Line Meaning
There must be some way out of here," said the joker to the thief,
The Joker and the Thief are feeling trapped and hope for a way out of their current situation.
"There's too much confusion, I can't get no relief.
Their current situation is causing too much confusion and they are unable to find any relief from it.
Businessmen, they drink my wine, plowmen dig my earth,
They are surrounded by people who take advantage of what they have to offer.
None of them along the line know what any of it is worth."
The people who take advantage of them don't understand the true worth of what they offer.
"No reason to get excited," the thief, he kindly spoke,
The Thief tries to calm the Joker down and advise him to stay levelheaded.
"There are many here among us who feel that life is but a joke.
Others around them also feel as though life is meaningless and without purpose.
But you and I, we've been through that, and this is not our fate,
The Thief and Joker have already gone through this realization and know that they have a different fate than those around them.
So let us not talk falsely now, the hour is getting late."
They should not deceive themselves any longer, as time is running out for them to make a change.
All along the watchtower, princes kept the view
The princes were watching over everything from the safety of their position.
While all the women came and went, barefoot servants, too.
Everyone else was going about their business, including the women and servants who had no say in what was happening.
Outside in the distance a wildcat did growl,
Nature is calling out to them, and it is not a welcoming sound.
Two riders were approaching, the wind began to howl.
Change is coming, and it is not going to be easy or comfortable.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bob Dylan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Laura Sefchik
All Along the Watchtower
WRITTEN BY🎻 BOB DYLAN
“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's 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 cold distance a wildcat did growl
Two riders were approaching, and the wind began to howl
Thelonious Coltrane
Quotations about Hedges
"I feel I can always hear his heart when he plays. He respected my playing too, and that simply thrills me." – Pete Townshend
"Michael was unique. His music transcends genre and trend. It's truly musical, fun and enlightening." – Steve Vai
"His playing has a feel and timbre all its own – technically brilliant, but always organic and true." – Joe Satriani
"One of the most brilliant musicians in America." – David Crosby
"I considered him to be a genius and when he died I lost a great friend." – Graham Nash
"There was simply no one like him." – Bonnie Raitt
"He was a real musician who remained humble even through stardom. A rare breed indeed." – Alvin Lee
Bidyut Datta
There are many hero among us
He is one of them
Matthew Hamersly
Thank you for those wonderful quotes.
Bassel Kateeb
If Satriani gives praise to another guitarist, you know they're good.
Long Lost
back in the late 80s, I took several of my musician friends to see michael at the bottom line in nyc, explaining to them that they were in for a treat. I'd already seen michael several times at this point, and to see their reactions was pure bliss. I got to see him 2 more times after that show, once in atlanta for a halloween concert that blew the audience (including several more of my musician friends) away. what beautiful memories these videos produce for one so fond of his performances....
Karen Nyere
pure talent, pure spirit, pure passion, an angel who was too briefly on this earth. Music embodied. Love.
Uwe Kasten
great comment!!!
Alex Tseng
Amen
Jim Babwe
Hedges version of All Along the Watchtower is my all time favorite.
Truth Matters
Jim Babwe : It's the harmonics, thumps, rhythm, vocal treatment - can't hear it without FEELING something. I saw him at a very small venue in 1983, I think it was. Braids & all. TALENT. 🌱