All Along The Watchtower
Richie Havens 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.
Richie Havens's version of the iconic Bob Dylan song All Along the Watchtower is a haunting reminder of the never-ceasing societal issues that have plagued us for centuries. The opening verse sets the tone for the rest of the song as the joker and the thief seem lost in the middle of a conflict that leaves them helpless. Both the joker and the thief call for a way out of this endless cycle of confusion and exhaustion, where everyone seems to be engaged in a race that no one can win. The mention of businessmen and plowmen drinking his wine and digging the earth further reinforces the idea of societal inequality and how capitalism has driven mankind to a point of no return.
The next verse follows the same pattern, as the thief tries to comfort the joker by telling him that many people feel the same about the current state of affairs. But the joker counters this idea by pointing out that they have been through this before and cannot go down that road again. The thief then urges the joker to be truthful, for it is the only way out of this mess.
The third verse takes a departure from the previous two, giving us a glimpse of an apocalyptic world where princes are keeping watch over the remaining people. Women come and go, and servants are running around despite the chaos that surrounds them. As the song ends, two riders approach, and the wind begins to howl, leaving us wondering what comes next.
Line by Line Meaning
There must be some way out of here," said the joker to the thief,
The joker and the thief are in a bad situation and need a way out of it.
"There's too much confusion, I can't get no relief.
The joker feels that things are too complicated and overwhelming for him to handle.
Businessmen, they drink my wine, plowmen dig my earth,
People from all walks of life take advantage of the joker and thief's situation, using and exploiting them for their own benefit.
None of them along the line know what any of it is worth."
Nobody involved in this situation truly understands the value of what they are doing or gaining.
"No reason to get excited," the thief, he kindly spoke,
The thief tries to calm the joker down and keep the situation under control.
"There are many here among us who feel that life is but a joke.
There are many people involved in this situation who do not take things seriously and see life as meaningless.
But you and I, we've been through that, and this is not our fate,
The joker and the thief have experienced this before, and they do not believe that this is their destiny.
So let us not talk falsely now, the hour is getting late."
It is time to be honest and real about the situation at hand before it's too late.
All along the watchtower, princes kept the view
The joker and the thief are in a dangerous position, being watched by powerful people.
While all the women came and went, barefoot servants, too.
Among the people coming and going, there are many who are not powerful and are at the mercy of those who are.
Outside in the distance a wildcat did growl,
There are dangers lurking nearby, adding to the sense of urgency and danger.
Two riders were approaching, the wind began to howl.
Things are getting more intense and dangerous, with two mysterious riders on their way and the wind picking up.
Contributed by Madison V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.