This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
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
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
Lyrics submitted by oofus, edited by CrimsnEdge, Dartman, Backstage
All Along the Watchtower Lyrics as written by Bob Dylan
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I like what JESPERD said.... I think that when Dylan wrote this song, he was a little bit away from the world of music. I don't know by heart the dates, but in the mid 60's he was in an accident and he retreated from the music for a while. And we know that Dylan doesn't consider himself as a prophet ... so it may be seen that way.
@dylanrocks i don't agree with you because Dylan wrote this song about Joker (Jesus) and thief (us people) telling us we should change the perspective of what we thought about this world and redeem our sin to be save from it.
@dylanrocks i don't agree with you because Dylan wrote this song about Joker (Jesus) and thief (us people) telling us we should change the perspective of what we thought about this world and redeem our sin to be save from it.<br />
@dylanrocks i don't agree with you because Dylan wrote this song about Joker (Jesus) and thief (us people) telling us we should change the perspective of what we thought about this world and redeem our sin to be save from it. It even said in the second stanza that "But you and I, we've been through that, and this is not our fate" saying we don't decide our fate but Jesus decide what the right fate we should be taking
@dylanrocks i don't agree with you because Dylan wrote this song about Joker (Jesus) and thief (us people) telling us we should change the perspective of what we thought about this world and redeem our sin to be save from it. It even said in the second stanza that "But you and I, we've been through that, and this is not our fate" saying we don't decide our fate but Jesus decide what the right fate we should be taking
@dylanrocks i don't agree with you because Dylan wrote this song about Joker (Jesus) and thief (us people) telling us we should change the perspective of what we thought about this world and redeem our sin to be save from it. It even said in the second stanza that "But you and I, we've been through that, and this is not our fate" saying we don't decide our fate but Jesus decide what the right fate we should be taking
@dylanrocks i don't agree with you because Dylan wrote this song about Joker (Jesus) and thief (us people) telling us we should change the perspective of what we thought about this world and redeem our sin to be save from it. It even said in the second stanza that "But you and I, we've been through that, and this is not our fate" saying we don't decide our fate but Jesus decide what the right fate we should be taking