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


Lyrics submitted by oofus, edited by CrimsnEdge, Dartman, Backstage

All Along the Watchtower Lyrics as written by Bob Dylan

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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All Along the Watchtower song meanings
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    General Comment

    first stanza is partly taken from isiahs prophecy about rich man who plunder the country without them knowing what theyve done.they drink my wine, they plow my lands`

    Now Dylan had some interest in tarot cards even though he did not believe in them. he did take some imigary from them. The joker refers to Jesus. The thief revers to the thief on the cross, or all sinners, lets say mankind.

    Then there is some more reference to the book of isiah. the prophecy about the betrayal by Judas iscariot. God is paid 30 silverlings. the did not know what JHWH was worth.

    So stanza 1: God is crying and getting angry.

    in the second stanza the thief comforts the joker and is trying to convince him that there still is some good left in the world, just like abraham used to do before God destroyed soddom and gommorah.

    So stanza 2:: God is being persuaded not to bring down his judgement.

    then, in the 3rd stanza the song takes a shift. This part is completely taken from the book of kings. It tells the story of Jehu. Who killed all who kneeled before Baal and after that rides up to Achab to murder him for his transgressions. The sons of Achab (princes) see, while standing on a watchtower, that Jehu is aproaching. Barefoot servants of Achab try to convince Jehu to stop, but Jehu ignors them and keeps on riding. He is unstopable, for noone rides like Jehu.

    So stanza 3: God will send his judgement if evil man continue to live the way they did.

    Now the moral of this story is: God does not approve of evil man and even though he listens to our prayers and is mild and meek in his judgement. In the end He is the Righteous one and will not let evil triumph.

    The_Baronon May 14, 2008   Link

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