Released: 1988
When U2 took on “All Along The Watchtower” for their Rattle & Hum session, they dug into a song already steeped in rock legend, thanks to Bob Dylan’s pen and Jimi Hendrix’s fiery reinterpretation. This song is a cryptic short story of a conversation between a joker and a thief, wrapped in vivid imagery and symbols open for interpretation. It’s a narrative on the search for escape from confusion and unrest, with a hint of social commentary on power and control. U2’s live version brings its unique energy to the table, amplifying its message through their iconic sound.
The first verse plunges us into a conversation between the “joker” and the “thief”, hinting at a desire to find a way out of a situation filled with “too much confusion”. Here, the “joker” can be seen as every person who feels overwhelmed and desperate for relief in a world that doesn’t seem to make sense. The “thief”, on the other hand, responds with a calm wisdom, suggesting that getting “excited” or upset over the confusion of life is pointless, because many have felt that life is just a bad joke.
However, there’s a turn in the conversation, a moment of hope where it’s argued that succumbing to cynicism is not inevitable. “But you and I, we’ve been through that, and this is not our fate,” speaks to resilience and the possibility of overcoming despair. The mention to “stop talking falsely now” could be a call to honesty, to facing our situation with a clear eye rather than hiding behind false narratives.
The chorus, if it could be called that, paints an almost surreal picture: “All along the watchtower, Princess kept the view…”, perhaps symbolizing those in power watching from a safe distance, disconnected from the realities the common people face. The “barefoot servants,” the “wildcat” growling in the distance, and the “two riders approaching” with the “wind began to howl” all contribute to a sense of impending change or chaos, echoing the unsettling feeling of the era in which Dylan first penned these lyrics.
U2’s choice to cover “All Along The Watchtower” live at Rattle and Hum wasn’t just about playing a classic rock song. It was a declaration, a moment where they connected their own narrative of social and political awareness with the song’s timeless commentary on the human condition. Their version is a powerful testament to the song’s enduring relevance, and a reminder that the quest for understanding and change in a confusing world is a torch passed from generation to generation of artists.
So, when you dive into these lyrics, you’re not just listening to a song. You’re tapping into a conversation that spans decades, one that questions, challenges, and seeks meaning in the madness. U2’s live performance of “All Along The Watchtower” captures that essence brilliantly, blending their sound with the song’s profound narrative to stir the soul and provoke thought in the best way rock music knows how.
