Ok, we should put some things in contest. The song is written in 1967,a year before the great social uprising throughout the world. Dylan was obviously left oriented but was also raised in a religious enviorment, thus the biblical imagery.
The joker and the thief represent two sorts of social outcasts. The joker represents the class of people which denounce the system because they realise it's flaws and find it unjust. This is probably a more middleclass and intelectual stand. The thief on the other hand is also an outcast but he is not an outcast by choice. Thievery is in most cases a result of poverty. The majority of those who steal do it because they need to eat and feed their families so the thief here represents the more down-to-earth proletarian ,working class side of the social outcasts. They are obviously the two riders approaching the watchtower. It is suggested here that they are in a silent march towards something which symbolises the capitalist/social darwinist society. The princes are concerned. They observe the situation from their watchtowers, the princes being the capitalist, those who own the wine and the earth mentioned in the first verse. That is a reference to the unjustness of private property. The land and its fruits should be for everyone, including the jokers and the theives of the world. So,the princes are concerned,yet not that much,here Dylan realises that the social movements only managed so far to stir the structure, the watchtowers,but not yet to endanger it. Yet the last verse is essential. It somewhat gives a glimpse of things to come. The wildcat growl and the wing that howls give you an unsettling sentiment,it sends goosebumps up your spine. You can feel a tension. The two riders are approaching. And when they come too close to the wathctowers there will be conflict.
Great! So, you're basically saying that this song anticipates the great social uprising of 1968... that makes sense and in this case, Dylan is much more than a genious, he is a visionary! and this song (with all its biblical references) is prophetic!
"The wind began to howl" definitely suggests that an uprising is coming!
Great! So, you're basically saying that this song anticipates the great social uprising of 1968... that makes sense and in this case, Dylan is much more than a genious, he is a visionary! and this song (with all its biblical references) is prophetic!
"The wind began to howl" definitely suggests that an uprising is coming!
@watchman I disagree with you because this song has enough evidence to know that it is talking about Jesus Christ.
Did you read these lines "Bussinesmen, they drink my wine, Plowmen dig my earth" I think that should be enough to understand the meaning of this song.
@watchman I disagree with you because this song has enough evidence to know that it is talking about Jesus Christ.
Did you read these lines "Bussinesmen, they drink my wine, Plowmen dig my earth" I think that should be enough to understand the meaning of this song.
@watchman I have to disagree with your comment because if you actually listen to the song i says that this man or the "Joker" is Jesus because he turns water into wine and also has the guts to go with just the thief to face the troops at the Watchtower which is only reasonable if you have supernatural powers.
@watchman I have to disagree with your comment because if you actually listen to the song i says that this man or the "Joker" is Jesus because he turns water into wine and also has the guts to go with just the thief to face the troops at the Watchtower which is only reasonable if you have supernatural powers.
@watchman i dont know nothing about bob Dylan and what songs he has made but im going to summer school and here is what i learned so far my understanding is that its related to Christianity i see that the joker is jesus and the thief is the other guy bieng crucified next to him and at the end the two rider is jesus and dismas riding toward iternal heaven
@watchman i dont know nothing about bob Dylan and what songs he has made but im going to summer school and here is what i learned so far my understanding is that its related to Christianity i see that the joker is jesus and the thief is the other guy bieng crucified next to him and at the end the two rider is jesus and dismas riding toward iternal heaven
Ok, we should put some things in contest. The song is written in 1967,a year before the great social uprising throughout the world. Dylan was obviously left oriented but was also raised in a religious enviorment, thus the biblical imagery. The joker and the thief represent two sorts of social outcasts. The joker represents the class of people which denounce the system because they realise it's flaws and find it unjust. This is probably a more middleclass and intelectual stand. The thief on the other hand is also an outcast but he is not an outcast by choice. Thievery is in most cases a result of poverty. The majority of those who steal do it because they need to eat and feed their families so the thief here represents the more down-to-earth proletarian ,working class side of the social outcasts. They are obviously the two riders approaching the watchtower. It is suggested here that they are in a silent march towards something which symbolises the capitalist/social darwinist society. The princes are concerned. They observe the situation from their watchtowers, the princes being the capitalist, those who own the wine and the earth mentioned in the first verse. That is a reference to the unjustness of private property. The land and its fruits should be for everyone, including the jokers and the theives of the world. So,the princes are concerned,yet not that much,here Dylan realises that the social movements only managed so far to stir the structure, the watchtowers,but not yet to endanger it. Yet the last verse is essential. It somewhat gives a glimpse of things to come. The wildcat growl and the wing that howls give you an unsettling sentiment,it sends goosebumps up your spine. You can feel a tension. The two riders are approaching. And when they come too close to the wathctowers there will be conflict.
Great! So, you're basically saying that this song anticipates the great social uprising of 1968... that makes sense and in this case, Dylan is much more than a genious, he is a visionary! and this song (with all its biblical references) is prophetic! "The wind began to howl" definitely suggests that an uprising is coming!
Great! So, you're basically saying that this song anticipates the great social uprising of 1968... that makes sense and in this case, Dylan is much more than a genious, he is a visionary! and this song (with all its biblical references) is prophetic! "The wind began to howl" definitely suggests that an uprising is coming!
@watchman your analysis of this literally changed my life and blew my mind and I am thoroughly convinced this is the most brilliant song ever written
@watchman your analysis of this literally changed my life and blew my mind and I am thoroughly convinced this is the most brilliant song ever written
@watchman Isaiah 21:8
@watchman Isaiah 21:8
And the lookout shouted, "Day after day, my lord, I stand on the watchtower; every night I stay at my post."
And the lookout shouted, "Day after day, my lord, I stand on the watchtower; every night I stay at my post."
@watchman I disagree with you because this song has enough evidence to know that it is talking about Jesus Christ. Did you read these lines "Bussinesmen, they drink my wine, Plowmen dig my earth" I think that should be enough to understand the meaning of this song.
@watchman I disagree with you because this song has enough evidence to know that it is talking about Jesus Christ. Did you read these lines "Bussinesmen, they drink my wine, Plowmen dig my earth" I think that should be enough to understand the meaning of this song.
@watchman I have to disagree with your comment because if you actually listen to the song i says that this man or the "Joker" is Jesus because he turns water into wine and also has the guts to go with just the thief to face the troops at the Watchtower which is only reasonable if you have supernatural powers.
@watchman I have to disagree with your comment because if you actually listen to the song i says that this man or the "Joker" is Jesus because he turns water into wine and also has the guts to go with just the thief to face the troops at the Watchtower which is only reasonable if you have supernatural powers.
@watchman i dont know nothing about bob Dylan and what songs he has made but im going to summer school and here is what i learned so far my understanding is that its related to Christianity i see that the joker is jesus and the thief is the other guy bieng crucified next to him and at the end the two rider is jesus and dismas riding toward iternal heaven
@watchman i dont know nothing about bob Dylan and what songs he has made but im going to summer school and here is what i learned so far my understanding is that its related to Christianity i see that the joker is jesus and the thief is the other guy bieng crucified next to him and at the end the two rider is jesus and dismas riding toward iternal heaven