Joker and the theif
Wolfmother Lyrics

I said the joker is a wanted man,
The singer states that the joker is being pursued for his actions by authorities.

He makes his way all across the land,
The joker moves through various locations and evades capture.

See him sifting through the sand,
The joker is searching for something.

So I'll tell you all the story,
The artist intends to share a tale with the listener.

About the joker and the thief of the night,
The story to be shared is about two individuals, the joker and the thief of the night.

Always laughing in the midst of power,
The joker finds humor in situations where others might feel threatened or inferior.

Always living in the final hour,
The joker lives recklessly and is unconcerned with consequences, even as the stakes grow higher.

There is always sweet in the sour,
The joker finds positives in even the bleakest of circumstances.

We are not goin' home,
The artist and/or subjects are not finished with their current situation and will not retreat yet.

Can you see the joker flying over,
The joker is depicted as a whimsical, possibly supernatural figure.

As she's standing in the field of clover,
Another person, potentially female, is present in the same location.

Watching out everyday,
The subject is observant and wary of danger.

I wonder what would happen is he took her away,
The singer considers the potential consequences of the joker's interference with the other individual.

What you see well you might not know,
Appearances can be deceptive, and there is more to the situation than immediately meets the eye.

You get the feelin' comin' after the glow,
After an initial period of excitement or success, there may be a sense of letdown or aftermath to deal with.

The vagabond is moving slow,
The joker is depicted as a wandering, carefree figure who moves at his own pace.

All the people that he see in the night,
The joker encounters various individuals during his nocturnal activities.

Hold their dreams up to the light,
These individuals are shown as aspiring or hopeful for something better, like shining a light on their goals.

The wild beast is searching for sight,
The joker is likened to a wild animal or roguish figure who seeks adventure or fulfillment.

Tell you the story 'bout the the joker and the thief,
Reiteration that the forthcoming story will be about the two individuals named in the title.

I said, I'll tell you the story 'bout the the joker and the thief,
Further reiteration of the aforementioned promise.

Of the night
The tale takes place mostly or entirely during nighttime hours.