How to Format Lyrics:

  • Type out all lyrics, even repeating song parts like the chorus
  • Lyrics should be broken down into individual lines
  • Use section headers above different song parts like [Verse], [Chorus], etc.
  • Use italics (<i>lyric</i>) and bold (<b>lyric</b>) to distinguish between different vocalists in the same song part
  • If you don’t understand a lyric, use [?]

To learn more, check out our transcription guide or visit our transcribers forum

About

Genius Annotation

A classic song from Dylan’s John Wesley Harding. The meaning is cryptic; there have been theories of it being about everything from the Vietnam War to Armageddon. Some critics have noted parallels with Isaiah 21:5-9:

5: Prepare the table, watch in the watchtower, eat, drink: arise, ye princes, and anoint the shield.
6: For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he seeth.
7: And he saw a chariot with a couple of horsemen, a chariot of asses, and a chariot of camels; and he hearkened diligently with much heed:
8: And he cried, A lion: My lord, I stand continually upon the watchtower in the daytime, and I am set in my ward whole nights:
9: 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.

Only Mr. Dylan will ever really know.

Jimi Hendrix covered this song, and it led to one of the greatest cover versions of all time. Even Dylan said he was a huge fan.

Credits
Produced By
Written By
Additional Production
Mixing Engineer
Phonographic Copyright ℗
Guitar
Vocals
Harmonica
Cover Photo
Management
Photography
Remastering Engineer
Designed At
Record Company
Recorded At
Columbia Records (Studio A) - New York City, NY
Release Date
December 27, 1967
All Along the Watchtower Covers
All Along the Watchtower by Wilton Felder, D’en haut de la tour du guet by Francis Cabrel, All Along the Watchtower by Indigo Girls, All Along the Watchtower by Ronnie Romero, All Along the Watchtower by The Fratellis, All Along the Watchtower by Affinity, All Along the Watchtower by Michael Hedges, All Along the Watchtower by Jerry Garcia Band, All Along The Watchtower by Brian Bromberg, All Along the Watchtower by Thomas Naim, All Along the Watchtower - Live at Isle of Wight by Jimi Hendrix, All Along the Watchtower by Spirit, All Along The Watchtower (Live at Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford, NJ, April 1, 1988) by The Grateful Dead, All Along the Watchtower by Chris De Burgh, All Along the Watchtower (Live at Pine Knob Music Theater, Clarkston, MI, June 20, 1991) by The Grateful Dead, All Along the Watchtower (Live at Oakland Coliseum Arena, Oakland, CA, December 16, 1992) by The Grateful Dead, All Along the Watchtower by Richie Havens, All Along the Watchtower by Paul Weller, All Along the Watchtower by John Wetton (Ft. The Les Paul Trio), All Along the Watchtower by XTC, All Along the Watchtower by Lucifer Cast (Ft. Tom Ellis), Lungo i merli di vedetta by Tito Schipa Jr., All Along the Watchtower - Live at Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, NJ - September 1999 by Dave Matthews Band, (All Along the) Watchtower (Instrumental) by Devlin, All Along The Watchtower by Siamese, All Along the Watchtower by Manny Charlton, All Along the Watchtower by Bryan Ferry, All Along The Watchtower (Dylan 30th Anniversary) by Neil Young, All Along the Watchtower by Dave Mason, All Along the Watchtower (Live at Knickerbocker Arena, March 1990) by The Grateful Dead, All Along The Watchtower by Envy on the Coast, All Along the Watchtower by HOGNI, All Along the Watchtower by Brewer & Shipley, All Along the Watchtower by Common, All Along the Watchtower by The Jimi Hendrix Experience, All Along the Watchtower by Eddie Vedder (Ft. The Million Dollar Bashers), All along the watchtower by Jess Greenberg, All along the watchtower by John Mayer, All Along the Watchtower by Lenny Kravitz (Ft. Eric Clapton), All Along The Watchtower by Eric Johnson, All Along the Watchtower by Neil Young (Ft. Chrissie Hynde), All Along the Watchtower by Barbara Keith, (All Along the) Watchtower by IamTidus_ (Ft. Harry Adams), All Along the Watchtower by The Grateful Dead, All Along The Watchtower by Pearl Jam, All Along the Watchtower by Bruce Springsteen & All Along the Watchtower by U2
View All Along the Watchtower samples
Tags
Comments