The song is about The Record Industry. That is why other recording artists always want to record it. When explained correctly, all artists can identify with this track.
The Joker is the Artist--In This Case Bob Dylan
The Thief is his Manager-Agent-Label Contact...etc.--In This Case Albert Grossman (Dylan's manager at the time this song was penned)
In the first verse, the Joker is going to his confidant and pleading to get him out of his current lot in life. 'Businessmen Drink His Wine, Ploughmen Dig His earth means--but none of them along the line know what any of it is worth' means that the recording artist is unhappy with the standard businessperson's approach towards selling art. They bottle it like Coca Cola, and it hurts the creative artist.
Then in the Second verse, the Thief talks the Artist into not thinking about things so deeply (for to remain a Thief (or a leach, really), the Joker must continue to work). The Theif basically talks the Joker into getting back on Stage or in the Recording Studio or what have you. The Hour is Getting late means go be a professional and do your job, no matter what you think on a personal level.
The last verse is about the decadence of being a Pop Star. Barefoot Servants and all that, it ends with a reflection that someday all this decadence must end. Dylan reflects on this a lot (Slow Train Coming comes to mind). The 2 Riders are kinda like the horsemen of the coming apocalypse. And The Wind began to howl...
@blthompson I think this song has a much deeper meaning than that. In my opinion the joker in this song is actually Jesus Christ and yes I know it may sounds dumb but here's my explanation. In the first stanza the joker refers to the wine and earth as "my wine" and "my earth" (businessmen, they drink my mine. Plowmen dig my earth) which is why I think that the joker is Jesus because according to the bible Jesus turned the water into wine. So that's my explanation
@blthompson I think this song has a much deeper meaning than that. In my opinion the joker in this song is actually Jesus Christ and yes I know it may sounds dumb but here's my explanation. In the first stanza the joker refers to the wine and earth as "my wine" and "my earth" (businessmen, they drink my mine. Plowmen dig my earth) which is why I think that the joker is Jesus because according to the bible Jesus turned the water into wine. So that's my explanation
@blthompson A few years back,"ja734 corrected stated "in the first verse, the joker is talking to the thief". That is true. Dylan (the joker) is talking to his manager Albert Grossman (the thief). I incorrectly said Priest because this is Dylan's first work after becoming enamored with The Bible. [To whit: other titles include The Ballad of Frankie Lee and Judas Priest and I dreamt I saw St Augustine]
@blthompson A few years back,"ja734 corrected stated "in the first verse, the joker is talking to the thief". That is true. Dylan (the joker) is talking to his manager Albert Grossman (the thief). I incorrectly said Priest because this is Dylan's first work after becoming enamored with The Bible. [To whit: other titles include The Ballad of Frankie Lee and Judas Priest and I dreamt I saw St Augustine]
I'd also venture to say that this general religious imagery of the period is why the song is open to Hafidzarrazyon's religious interpretations.
I'd also venture to say that this general religious imagery of the period is why the song is open to Hafidzarrazyon's religious interpretations.
@blthompson i disagree with you i think it is more than that it has deep meaning other than just about a recording industry . It talks about God and Jesus
@blthompson i disagree with you i think it is more than that it has deep meaning other than just about a recording industry . It talks about God and Jesus
@blthompson Everyone has a different concept of this song, but I think that the right one is that the joker is Jesus, we have enough evidence to know it, for example in some lines the joker talks as if he owns the entire earth, which means that he is a god, and the wine refers to his blood, which means that he is Jesus Christ.
@blthompson Everyone has a different concept of this song, but I think that the right one is that the joker is Jesus, we have enough evidence to know it, for example in some lines the joker talks as if he owns the entire earth, which means that he is a god, and the wine refers to his blood, which means that he is Jesus Christ.
@blthompson I really don't think he is talking about his own situation i believe he is talking about Jesus. In my English class many decide that perhaps the song concludes to saying that at the end the "joke is on us" because we think life is a "joke" and perhaps it is true that many of us see life is a joke but as humans we all need a purpose to live and sometimes we lose track of that purpose and realize there's really no reason to keep going or keep trying because eventually you will die and it's...
@blthompson I really don't think he is talking about his own situation i believe he is talking about Jesus. In my English class many decide that perhaps the song concludes to saying that at the end the "joke is on us" because we think life is a "joke" and perhaps it is true that many of us see life is a joke but as humans we all need a purpose to live and sometimes we lose track of that purpose and realize there's really no reason to keep going or keep trying because eventually you will die and it's all for nothing. Many people have this mentality! In the song the joker is symbolizing Jesus and the thief can be symbolizing us humans. The joker claims that humans take from him by saying "they drink my wine" and "dig my earth" . Eventually the thief says that they should stop "talking falsely" because it's no joking matter and in all truths we can joke about life and see it as a joke but at the end of the day god has the last word when it comes to judging day and that is if you believe in religion.
@blthompson I think you're right. I always saw the "thief" as a reference to the crucifixion, (which it may also be), until I saw Neil Young cover the song in concert. The music industry interpretation suddenly jumped out at me.
@blthompson I think you're right. I always saw the "thief" as a reference to the crucifixion, (which it may also be), until I saw Neil Young cover the song in concert. The music industry interpretation suddenly jumped out at me.
In fact several of Dylan's songs around this time appear to refer to his professional situation - "Maggie's Farm" is another, and "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue".
In fact several of Dylan's songs around this time appear to refer to his professional situation - "Maggie's Farm" is another, and "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue".
OKAY, HERE IS THE STRAIGHT DOPE!
The song is about The Record Industry. That is why other recording artists always want to record it. When explained correctly, all artists can identify with this track.
The Joker is the Artist--In This Case Bob Dylan The Thief is his Manager-Agent-Label Contact...etc.--In This Case Albert Grossman (Dylan's manager at the time this song was penned)
In the first verse, the Joker is going to his confidant and pleading to get him out of his current lot in life. 'Businessmen Drink His Wine, Ploughmen Dig His earth means--but none of them along the line know what any of it is worth' means that the recording artist is unhappy with the standard businessperson's approach towards selling art. They bottle it like Coca Cola, and it hurts the creative artist.
Then in the Second verse, the Thief talks the Artist into not thinking about things so deeply (for to remain a Thief (or a leach, really), the Joker must continue to work). The Theif basically talks the Joker into getting back on Stage or in the Recording Studio or what have you. The Hour is Getting late means go be a professional and do your job, no matter what you think on a personal level.
The last verse is about the decadence of being a Pop Star. Barefoot Servants and all that, it ends with a reflection that someday all this decadence must end. Dylan reflects on this a lot (Slow Train Coming comes to mind). The 2 Riders are kinda like the horsemen of the coming apocalypse. And The Wind began to howl...
Get it?
in the first verse the joker is talking to the thief. FAIL -_-
in the first verse the joker is talking to the thief. FAIL -_-
@blthompson I think this song has a much deeper meaning than that. In my opinion the joker in this song is actually Jesus Christ and yes I know it may sounds dumb but here's my explanation. In the first stanza the joker refers to the wine and earth as "my wine" and "my earth" (businessmen, they drink my mine. Plowmen dig my earth) which is why I think that the joker is Jesus because according to the bible Jesus turned the water into wine. So that's my explanation
@blthompson I think this song has a much deeper meaning than that. In my opinion the joker in this song is actually Jesus Christ and yes I know it may sounds dumb but here's my explanation. In the first stanza the joker refers to the wine and earth as "my wine" and "my earth" (businessmen, they drink my mine. Plowmen dig my earth) which is why I think that the joker is Jesus because according to the bible Jesus turned the water into wine. So that's my explanation
@blthompson A few years back,"ja734 corrected stated "in the first verse, the joker is talking to the thief". That is true. Dylan (the joker) is talking to his manager Albert Grossman (the thief). I incorrectly said Priest because this is Dylan's first work after becoming enamored with The Bible. [To whit: other titles include The Ballad of Frankie Lee and Judas Priest and I dreamt I saw St Augustine]
@blthompson A few years back,"ja734 corrected stated "in the first verse, the joker is talking to the thief". That is true. Dylan (the joker) is talking to his manager Albert Grossman (the thief). I incorrectly said Priest because this is Dylan's first work after becoming enamored with The Bible. [To whit: other titles include The Ballad of Frankie Lee and Judas Priest and I dreamt I saw St Augustine]
I'd also venture to say that this general religious imagery of the period is why the song is open to Hafidzarrazyon's religious interpretations.
I'd also venture to say that this general religious imagery of the period is why the song is open to Hafidzarrazyon's religious interpretations.
@blthompson i disagree with you i think it is more than that it has deep meaning other than just about a recording industry . It talks about God and Jesus
@blthompson i disagree with you i think it is more than that it has deep meaning other than just about a recording industry . It talks about God and Jesus
@blthompson Everyone has a different concept of this song, but I think that the right one is that the joker is Jesus, we have enough evidence to know it, for example in some lines the joker talks as if he owns the entire earth, which means that he is a god, and the wine refers to his blood, which means that he is Jesus Christ.
@blthompson Everyone has a different concept of this song, but I think that the right one is that the joker is Jesus, we have enough evidence to know it, for example in some lines the joker talks as if he owns the entire earth, which means that he is a god, and the wine refers to his blood, which means that he is Jesus Christ.
@blthompson I really don't think he is talking about his own situation i believe he is talking about Jesus. In my English class many decide that perhaps the song concludes to saying that at the end the "joke is on us" because we think life is a "joke" and perhaps it is true that many of us see life is a joke but as humans we all need a purpose to live and sometimes we lose track of that purpose and realize there's really no reason to keep going or keep trying because eventually you will die and it's...
@blthompson I really don't think he is talking about his own situation i believe he is talking about Jesus. In my English class many decide that perhaps the song concludes to saying that at the end the "joke is on us" because we think life is a "joke" and perhaps it is true that many of us see life is a joke but as humans we all need a purpose to live and sometimes we lose track of that purpose and realize there's really no reason to keep going or keep trying because eventually you will die and it's all for nothing. Many people have this mentality! In the song the joker is symbolizing Jesus and the thief can be symbolizing us humans. The joker claims that humans take from him by saying "they drink my wine" and "dig my earth" . Eventually the thief says that they should stop "talking falsely" because it's no joking matter and in all truths we can joke about life and see it as a joke but at the end of the day god has the last word when it comes to judging day and that is if you believe in religion.
@blthompson I think you're right. I always saw the "thief" as a reference to the crucifixion, (which it may also be), until I saw Neil Young cover the song in concert. The music industry interpretation suddenly jumped out at me.
@blthompson I think you're right. I always saw the "thief" as a reference to the crucifixion, (which it may also be), until I saw Neil Young cover the song in concert. The music industry interpretation suddenly jumped out at me.
In fact several of Dylan's songs around this time appear to refer to his professional situation - "Maggie's Farm" is another, and "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue".
In fact several of Dylan's songs around this time appear to refer to his professional situation - "Maggie's Farm" is another, and "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue".