The most prevalent theme in this song is conflict. It's performed as a narrative with the first verse acting as an exchange between a joker and a thief: "There must be some kind of way out of here said the joker to the thief." The song begins with a sense of urgency, and it's apparent there is a sense of conflict. This first verse is the joker basically letting the thief know he's upset, and why he wishes to escape. The second verse begins with the thief consoling the joker. The thief sympathizes with and relates to the joker. The final verse shows a different image- with princes and servants, and ends with the two riders approaching.
The joker and the thief are shown as outsiders in this song, two people that don't fit in. It's possible that Dylan saw himself as the joker in the song- a creative type who is frustrated with people that don't understand or take advantage of his music and talent: "Businessmen they drink my wine/Plowmen dig my earth. None of them along the line/Know what any of it is worth."
The growl of the wildcat and the two riders in the night suggest even more conflict, tension building into something that will most likely end in collision. The song is about two people on the outside, who are no longer satisfied with the ways of society and their roles in it, who are most likely going to take action against it.
@jennawhitney I disagree with you, I think the song is about The crucification of Jesus. I think Jesus is the joker and the theif is Dismas, one of the theifs standing next to jesus when it happened. I think that Toward the end of the song, Jesus and the theif are getting ready to judge the living and the dead.
@jennawhitney I disagree with you, I think the song is about The crucification of Jesus. I think Jesus is the joker and the theif is Dismas, one of the theifs standing next to jesus when it happened. I think that Toward the end of the song, Jesus and the theif are getting ready to judge the living and the dead.
The most prevalent theme in this song is conflict. It's performed as a narrative with the first verse acting as an exchange between a joker and a thief: "There must be some kind of way out of here said the joker to the thief." The song begins with a sense of urgency, and it's apparent there is a sense of conflict. This first verse is the joker basically letting the thief know he's upset, and why he wishes to escape. The second verse begins with the thief consoling the joker. The thief sympathizes with and relates to the joker. The final verse shows a different image- with princes and servants, and ends with the two riders approaching.
The joker and the thief are shown as outsiders in this song, two people that don't fit in. It's possible that Dylan saw himself as the joker in the song- a creative type who is frustrated with people that don't understand or take advantage of his music and talent: "Businessmen they drink my wine/Plowmen dig my earth. None of them along the line/Know what any of it is worth."
The growl of the wildcat and the two riders in the night suggest even more conflict, tension building into something that will most likely end in collision. The song is about two people on the outside, who are no longer satisfied with the ways of society and their roles in it, who are most likely going to take action against it.
Thanks. I honestly thought it was just about keeping people on the outside. Seriously. Appreciate the explanation.
Thanks. I honestly thought it was just about keeping people on the outside. Seriously. Appreciate the explanation.
I very much prefer your explanation over the others i have read, thanks.
I very much prefer your explanation over the others i have read, thanks.
@jennawhitney I disagree with you, I think the song is about The crucification of Jesus. I think Jesus is the joker and the theif is Dismas, one of the theifs standing next to jesus when it happened. I think that Toward the end of the song, Jesus and the theif are getting ready to judge the living and the dead.
@jennawhitney I disagree with you, I think the song is about The crucification of Jesus. I think Jesus is the joker and the theif is Dismas, one of the theifs standing next to jesus when it happened. I think that Toward the end of the song, Jesus and the theif are getting ready to judge the living and the dead.