I never really knew much about the song All Along The Watchtower,originally recorded by Bob Dylan. So I did a search and found some interesting information which I can see why the song appeals to Prince on more than just one level! First is just an amazing piece of music, second it combines biblical and apocalyptic references and third it talks about record company executives cheating the artist(Dylan) and lining their own pockets!

Dylan, recovering from a motorcycle accident which had marked a shift in his career, had been seen reading the Bible on a daily basis. As with many of the lyrics to the songs on this album, the words to "Watchtower" contain biblical and apocalyptic references.

"The Book of Isaiah, Chapter 21, verses 5-9, contains the following: "Prepare the table, watch in the watchtower, eat, drink: arise ye princes, and prepare the shield./For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go set a watchman, let him declare what he seeth./And he saw a chariot with a couple of horsemen, a chariot of asses, and a chariot of camels; and he hearkened diligently with such heed./...And, behold, here cometh a chariot of men, with a couple of horsemen. And he answered and said, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, and all the graven images of her gods he hath broken unto the ground."

The song depicts a conversation between two people, a "joker" and a "thief", about the difficulties of getting by in life ("There's too much confusion"). The joker is concerned about losing his property, while the thief observes that some individuals among them aren't taking life as seriously as they should: "There are many here among us who feel that life is but a joke." It has been said that Dylan was complaining about record company executives cheating him out of royalties and making themselves rich[citation needed] with the lines "Businessmen they drink my wine/Plowmen dig my earth". The joker then suggests that time is running out, which may hint of their own mortality or foreshadow a change in society. In the last verse the viewpoint of the song switches abruptly. The ruling princes stand guard in a watchtower over their women and servants as an unnamed pair approach amid ominous sounds"

DigMeNow said:

Girl look at what happens when U and I start checking out things together

I guess it's a good thing we started a conversation about this song. See finally found out something interesting.

DigMeNow said:

We're not as silly as we look

DigMeNow said:

Very interesting indeed! Thanks for the insight!

yah one problem is Dylan was anti-christian when he wrote the song
It wasn't until Oh Mercy that the lord struck him with a lightning bolt

EmbattledWarrior said:

Well somtimes it takes a the smallest of things to give someone the largest of revelations

chillichocaholic said:

huh?

EmbattledWarrior said:

nevermind. I knew what I meant and that's what counts Least I think I did Typos dont help me do they?
[Edited 9/10/07 3:44am]

fact of the matter is Watch tower doesn't have anything to do with record companies or the bible,
Watch tower like many of Dylans song is about changing society,
both the thief amd the joker want to change their roles etc...
tired of stealing and tired of being forced to make people laugh
The castle is society which is guarded by a watch tower, where everyone in high society with footservents live in lavish luxury.
the two riders approaching being the theif and the joker are sneaking into it so they can change it...
its simple
once you start complicating it with religion and other stiff
your just pointingout YOURs or other peoples views of it, which weren't his...
which is cool, but just not his own
[Edited 9/10/07 3:57am]

EmbattledWarrior said:

Ummm Im actually not what u would call religious myself We are all looking for meaning in something I suppose and Dig always has interesting views on things

chillichocaholic said:

U r sooo right.

4bjb said:

EmbattledWarrior said:

..nope...much earlier...1979/Slow Train Coming...1980/ Saved...1981/ Shot of Love...then he kind of tapered off...thank goodness...although there are some gems (IMO) on these albums...for example, Every Grain of Sand...The Groom's Still Waiting at the Altar...

Very cool combination of thinking and research.

And very often, especially with lyrical geniuses such as Dylan, a song will be written with multiple meanings, some of which maybe too personal for anyone to ever fully uncover; but the fun can be in the effort.

Thanks...