It has been said that Bob Dylan visited the Crossroads and could've potentially made a deal with the devil.
"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."
The first verse could be him basically regretting the deal he made him being the joker/fool the devil being the thief (of his soul) and how the people enjoy what he does but none of them understand what he is going through to give them it.
"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."
This verse could go back to when he made the deal. The Thief/Devil tells him not to get excited about the fame he just sold his soul for. The people around him don't know how lucky they are not to be in his position. But the Devil and him know more than the others know, and a regular safe life is no longer his fate. So let's not drag on the conversation, we both know what you just did.
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.
The final verse as expected is the end of his life, the princes are the Devils guards keeping watch because Bob doesn't want to go to hell. The second line once again refers to his euphoric lifestyle that he's locked in. The last to lines seem to allude to Robert Johnson's "There's a hell hound on my trail" only this time it's a wild cat and two riders.
Robert Johnson was the original person known for the Deal with the devil, but there have been a few people throughout musical history who have been said to have made the same deal. Bob Dylan seems to hint this in a few interviews but never states it outright.
Robert Johnson was the original person known for the Deal with the devil, but there have been a few people throughout musical history who have been said to have made the same deal. Bob Dylan seems to hint this in a few interviews but never states it outright.
@brendangarofalo Bob believes totally 100% in God, follows his Jewish faith, is grateful beyond measure for all God has granted him, and did not make a pact with the devil, okay. That is utter preposterous nonsense.
@brendangarofalo Bob believes totally 100% in God, follows his Jewish faith, is grateful beyond measure for all God has granted him, and did not make a pact with the devil, okay. That is utter preposterous nonsense.
@peterpaul I understand that Bob had a very strong faith but that doesn't mean that he can't make metaphorical allusions to stories where he finds parallels in his own life. He was a part of an industry where life becomes very different. I didn't suggest that Bob sat down with Satan with a pen in hand, and signed away his soul.
@peterpaul I understand that Bob had a very strong faith but that doesn't mean that he can't make metaphorical allusions to stories where he finds parallels in his own life. He was a part of an industry where life becomes very different. I didn't suggest that Bob sat down with Satan with a pen in hand, and signed away his soul.
It has been said that Bob Dylan visited the Crossroads and could've potentially made a deal with the devil.
"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."
The first verse could be him basically regretting the deal he made him being the joker/fool the devil being the thief (of his soul) and how the people enjoy what he does but none of them understand what he is going through to give them it.
"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."
This verse could go back to when he made the deal. The Thief/Devil tells him not to get excited about the fame he just sold his soul for. The people around him don't know how lucky they are not to be in his position. But the Devil and him know more than the others know, and a regular safe life is no longer his fate. So let's not drag on the conversation, we both know what you just did.
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.
The final verse as expected is the end of his life, the princes are the Devils guards keeping watch because Bob doesn't want to go to hell. The second line once again refers to his euphoric lifestyle that he's locked in. The last to lines seem to allude to Robert Johnson's "There's a hell hound on my trail" only this time it's a wild cat and two riders.
Of course this is just my opinion :)
It has been said that Rovert Johnson did a deal with the devil at the Crossroads, not Dylan.
It has been said that Rovert Johnson did a deal with the devil at the Crossroads, not Dylan.
Robert Johnson was the original person known for the Deal with the devil, but there have been a few people throughout musical history who have been said to have made the same deal. Bob Dylan seems to hint this in a few interviews but never states it outright.
Robert Johnson was the original person known for the Deal with the devil, but there have been a few people throughout musical history who have been said to have made the same deal. Bob Dylan seems to hint this in a few interviews but never states it outright.
@brendangarofalo Bob believes totally 100% in God, follows his Jewish faith, is grateful beyond measure for all God has granted him, and did not make a pact with the devil, okay. That is utter preposterous nonsense.
@brendangarofalo Bob believes totally 100% in God, follows his Jewish faith, is grateful beyond measure for all God has granted him, and did not make a pact with the devil, okay. That is utter preposterous nonsense.
@peterpaul I understand that Bob had a very strong faith but that doesn't mean that he can't make metaphorical allusions to stories where he finds parallels in his own life. He was a part of an industry where life becomes very different. I didn't suggest that Bob sat down with Satan with a pen in hand, and signed away his soul.
@peterpaul I understand that Bob had a very strong faith but that doesn't mean that he can't make metaphorical allusions to stories where he finds parallels in his own life. He was a part of an industry where life becomes very different. I didn't suggest that Bob sat down with Satan with a pen in hand, and signed away his soul.
@brendangarofalo The Joker and the Theif are positioned as people who are direct victims of demanding social expectations.
@brendangarofalo The Joker and the Theif are positioned as people who are direct victims of demanding social expectations.