ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER

Original Bob Dylan version



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

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

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


Info

ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER is a song written by Bob Dylan and originally released on his 1967 album John Wesley Harding. The above lyrics are for the original Bob Dylan version of ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER as released in 1967.

Bob Dylan -- John Wesley Harding
Bob Dylan -- John Wesley Harding

LP - Columbia (CS 9604) - USA, 1967

Mono version.
Bob Dylan -- John Wesley Harding
Bob Dylan -- John Wesley Harding

LP - Columbia (CL 2804) - USA, 1967

Stereo version.

Bruce Springsteen's Version

Bruce Springsteen has performed ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER live a few times during his career. See the live 20 Jan 1988 version for more details.

Available Versions

List of available versions of ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER on this website:

ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER [Live 20 Jan 1988 version]
ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER [Original Bob Dylan version]

Page last updated: 19 Aug 2015