"All Along the Watchtower" by Jimi Hendrix is a song that tells a cryptic and surreal story, drawing inspiration from the imagery of the Book of Isaiah and the Book of Revelation in the Bible. The lyrics depict a conversation between two characters, the joker and the thief, who are engaged in a mysterious and possibly existential dialogue. The joker seems to be searching for answers or guidance, while the thief offers cryptic responses that suggest a sense of foreboding and uncertainty.
The song's narrative is open to interpretation, with themes of existentialism, societal collapse, and the search for meaning prevalent throughout. Some interpretations suggest that the lyrics reflect the cyclical nature of human history or the struggle between good and evil. Musically, Hendrix's rendition of the song is characterized by his virtuosic guitar playing, featuring his iconic electric guitar solos and innovative use of effects.
Notes:
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"There must be some way out of here" 6 6 -6 6 -6 6 -6
said the joker to the thief
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"There's too much confusion",
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I can't get no relief
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Business men, they drink my wine,
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plowmen dig my earth
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None of them along the line
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know what any of it is worth.
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"No reason to get excited",
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the thief he kindly spoke
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"There are many here among us
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who feel that life is but a joke
-8 -8 7 -8 7 -8 -6 7 But you and I, we've been through that, -6 7 -6 -6 -6 -6
and this is not our fate
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So let us not talk falsely now,
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the hour is getting late".
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All along the watchtower,
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princes kept the view
-6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 6 -6 While all the women came and went, -6 -6 7 6 -6
barefoot servants, too.
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Outside in the distance
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a wildcat did growl
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Two riders were approaching, 6 -6 -6 -6 6 -6
the wind began to howl.
