Bob Dylan's 'All Along The Watchtower'

From the start of Bob Dylan’s original “All Along the Watchtower” there is this whiny, claustrophobic feeling. This contrasts the rebellious and loud cover that Jimi Hendricks made famous. Using the same lyrics these two musical mavericks created an atmosphere that perfectly represents the split personality of the late 60’s and early 70’s. A tale from two sides, using more of a classic folk style, Bob Dylan’s lyrical prowess is shown in full while Hendricks used his experience and skill to reinvent this narrative and use the guitar to carry and express the emotions of the song. Many of Dylan’s songs make illusions to Christianity. “All Along the Watchtower” starts with an introduction of our two characters, the Joker and the Thief. Though they could be looked at as outcasts, if parallels are drawn to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, they can be seen as righteous men who fear God. Their conversation starts with the Joker talking about others taking his wine and land, stating they do not understand its worth. The Thief replies in the second stanza with a quip at the other people saying they do not take life seriously and that they take what they have for granted. The Thief recognizes that is not what he and the Joker are like and knows what is about to happen to …show more content…
The emphasis Dylan puts on the lyrics makes the listener take them in and process. Unlike Jimi Hendricks, Dylan keeps the instrumentation very basic allowing it to settle in the background and point to the words being sung. Dylan sees this song as an examination of the world around him. As the psychedelics of the time molded and changed the artists and music around him, he stayed firm in himself. He understands that times have changed and now sees himself and the listener as the Joker and the Thief, as outsiders to the culture around him. This song is Dylan accepting who he is now and where he sits in the society around him, even if it means he does not fit