All Along The Watchtower
Phil Lesh Ft. John Scofield 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 song "All Along the Watchtower" by Phil Lesh featuring John Scofield is a cover of Bob Dylan's classic song. The lyrics start with the joker and the thief having a conversation about their situation. The joker seems to be feeling trapped and confused with no relief in sight. He points out the futility of his situation and how no one around him seems to understand the value of their work. The thief tries to calm him down and urges him to not get too excited because there are many people around them who feel the same way. The thief and the joker have been in similar situations before and have come out of them, and they feel that they will find a way out of this one as well. They urge each other to not deceive themselves and be truthful about the situation as the hour is getting late. The song then moves on to the watchtower where princes are keeping a lookout while women and servants come and go barefoot. In the background, a wildcat growls, and two riders approach with the wind howling.

The song is a commentary on the human situation and different perspectives that people can have on the same situation. The joker represents the trapped and confused, while the thief represents a more pragmatic approach to life. The watchtower represents elevated positions of authority, while the barefoot servants and women represent the common people. The wildcat and the approaching riders represent the uncertainty of life and the changes that can come at any time. The song is a reminder that life is unpredictable, and it is essential to maintain a positive and truthful outlook in the face of adversity.

Line by Line Meaning

There must be some way out of here
The singer is feeling trapped and stuck in a confusing and overwhelming situation, and they are searching for a way to escape it.

Said the joker to the thief
This line introduces two characters in the song, but may also be symbolic of how humor can be a coping mechanism for someone who may feel powerless, like the joker.

There's too much confusion I can't get no relief
The amount of disorder and chaos is making it impossible for the singer to find any comfort or respite from their troubles.

Businessmen, they drink my wine
This line could represent the exploitation of someone's resources or hard work for the gain of others who don't fully understand or appreciate them.

Plowmen dig my earth
This line could refer to the hardworking people who make a living off the land, and the ways in which they are used and taken advantage of by those in power.

None of them along the line Know what any of it is worth
No one involved in this system really understands the value of the things they are dealing with or taking from each other.

"No reason to get excited" The thief, he kindly spoke
The thief tries to calm the joker down and remind him that many people are struggling with the same feelings of despair and hopelessness as he is.

"There are many here among us Who feel that life is but a joke
Many people may find life meaningless or absurd, and humor can be a way to cope with this realization.

But you and I, we've been through that And this is not our fate
The thief is telling the joker that they have experienced these feelings before, but they have persevered and have not let them define their fate.

So let us not talk falsely now The hour is getting late
The thief urges the joker to be honest and authentic with himself and others, as time is running out and there is no more time to waste on pretense.

All along the watchtower Princes kept the view
This line depicts the watchtower as a symbol of power and control, with the princes surveying and guarding the land below them.

While all the women came and went Barefoot servants too
The women and servants were seen as peripheral figures in this system of patriarchy and classism, and were likely exploited as well.

Outside in the distance A wildcat did growl
This line suggests that danger and chaos are never too far away, even as the powerful try to maintain control and order.

Two riders were approaching The wind began to howl
This line could symbolize the approach of change or upheaval, as represented by the riders and the howling wind.

Contributed by Hannah I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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