All Along The Watchtower by Jimi Hendrix

When it comes to 1960's guitar heroes there are few names that rival Jimi Hendrix. He only lasted four years in mainstream stardom, but Hendrix is widely regarded as one of the most influential electric guitarists in the history of popular music, and one of the most celebrated musicians of the 20th century. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame describes him as "arguably the greatest instrumentalist in the history of rock music."

Jimi Hendrix wrote many songs, like Foxy Lady, Purple Haze, and Fire, but my favorite song by him is a cover of Bob Dylan's All Along The Watchtower. Dylan was an inspiration to a great many rock artists. His songwriting, his searching, his prophetic powers moved a generation. Songwriters aspired to move away from simple pop songs about puppy love and one night stands to more serious material dealing with bigger questions.

Give this gem a listen   http://youtu.be/9lPXiID4JtY

All Along The Watchtower

Jimi Hendrix's
"Electric Ladyland" Album Cover
(1968)

Songwriter: Bob Dylan

"There must be some kind of way out of here"
Said a joker to the thief
"There is too much confusion, I can't get no relief
Businessmen, they drink my wine
Plow men dig my earth

None with a level on the vine
Nobody out of it is worth, hey

"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 stop talkin' falsely now
The hour is getting late"

All along the watchtower, princess kept the view
While all the women came and went, barefoot servants too
Outside in the cold distance, a wildcat did growl
Two riders were approaching and the wind began to howl

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Some have said that at least a portion of the lyrics are taken from a passage out of the prophet Isaiah.

They set the tables,
they spread the rugs,
they eat, they drink!
Get up, you officers,
oil the shields!

This is what the Lord says to me:

“Go, post a lookout
and have him report what he sees.
When he sees chariots
with teams of horses,
riders on donkeys
or riders on camels,
let him be alert,
fully alert.”

And the lookout shouted,

“Day after day, my lord, I stand on the watchtower;
every night I stay at my post.
Look, here comes a man in a chariot
with a team of horses.
And he gives back the answer:
‘Babylon has fallen, has fallen!
All the images of its gods
lie shattered on the ground!’” (Isa 21:5-9)

These words were written as an oracle against Babylon. Babylonia or Kedar (modern Iraq) was a strong nation to the east of Israel. Isaiah writes during the reign of King Hezekiah. Events shaping the times included the rise of the Assyrian Empire's dominance under King Sennacherib. Babylonia allied with Aramenean and Elamite forces and rebelled against Assyrian control in 703 BC. The Babylonian Marduk-apla-iddina II seized the throne of Babylon. Sennacherib, while fighting against Egypt on one front, split his army in half and put down the Babylonian uprising. There were further rebellions against Assyria in Babylon, and the Assyrians successfully stopped them. In 689 BC Sennacherib completely destroyed the city of Babylon and it remained unoccupied for several years.

What does this history have to do with Dylan? My guess is, if he was in fact drawing ideas from Isaiah for his song, that he was thinking of social upheaval. The biblical oracle is about political change. The city of Babylon which was trying to remain independent of Assyria was prophesied to be destroyed.  God revealed to the prophet what was to happen and to warn the Israelites to be aware and watchful.

How does Isaiah's oracle begin? It begins by decrying the eating and drinking of the leadership of Israel. While they feast, danger is on the horizon. Wake up and get ready. The world is changing. This is the intent, I believe behind the prophet's oracle.

The same spirit is in Dylan's lyrics. Dylan was a modern day prophet of sorts. He wrote songs about the social change in the wind of the late 1950's and early 1960's. His songs probably fueled change. The old order, the so called establishment, was going to be overthrown, just like Babylon.

The joker and thief are chatting about the malcontent of living under an established order led by people who are not on the level, and not worth a penny. The world of the joker is overrun by drunken businessmen and nature falls to the progression of agri-business. Common to the 1960's was desire to live a simpler life enjoying nature, and unplugging from the trappings of corporation driven life. The joker could even be interpreted as Mother Nature as she laments farmers digging up her forests.

The first verse basically communicates the discontent of the younger generation with the established order which is so fixated on progress, economic power, and social homogeneity.

In the second verse the thief responds to the joker's discontent. The thief represents the counter culture of the time of Dylan. They are organizing for the social change that must come. Instead of wasting time bickering and complaining, the thief acknowledges there's been enough talking. Now is the time for action. The hour has come to begin the revolution. So thief and joker go off to join in an organized attempt to overthrow the establishment.

The third verse is where Isaiah may come in. The princess represents the established order. She belongs to the royal family in control. She is watching along the watchtower. Is she alert to the coming revolution? Does she want to see cahnge come, like so many young people wish to throw off the yoke of their parents authority? Is she part of the plot to overthrow her own father and mother?

Or is the princess simply watching from her towered bedroom, with the usual activities of being attended to by servants. As she gazes out the window she notices two riders approaching. The riders are the joker and the thief, perhaps. They bring with them the howling winds of change.

Anytime social upheaval hit the ancient world, prophets claimed God was behind it. The bible depicts God as the shaper of nations and Lord over our our times. It is God's sovereign will being carried out by kings and armies. If this worldview held true for today, we would be thinking that the current social change, to an increasingly liberal society, is the hand of God at work. Some would say America is being punished by God for its decadence. Some would say that the new liberalism is a welcome change, and the hand of God has finally brought liberty and justice to the land. Whatever the case, change is upon us. Choose sides or be like those who drop out and think that life is but a joke.

My response to all this is to faithfully develop micro communities that reflect the love and righteousness of God revealed to us in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. For I am banking on God, the shaper of nations, to fulfill His great promises. I am fully convinced that God is sovereign and involved in what happens on earth. I do not know all that God is planning, nor do I pretend to understand each event. I do trust that God is good and God is faithful. I have faith that God will accomplish all He has promised...a new world free of evil and death.

Here's a slice of Christian hope from Paul's letter to the Philippians.

Therefore God exalted him (Jesus) to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father. (Php 2:9-11)

Change is coming. Choose sides. Be a part of the change by becoming part of the body of Christ, His church. Build holy community that reflects His love and goodness. The church is light in an otherwise dark world. The church is yeast within the dough. Just a pinch causes the whole batch to rise. We are the salt of the earth bringing flavor to an otherwise bland existence. Let's not talk in falsehood anymore. The time is at hand. Wake up, watch, and engage yourself...for the kingdom of God is near.

“The time has come,” he (Jesus) said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mk 1:15)

Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Amen