The Jimi Hendrix Experience – All Along the Watchtower – 1968

About The Song

“All Along the Watchtower” is a song by The Jimi Hendrix Experience, released in 1968 on their album “Electric Ladyland.” Originally written by Bob Dylan, Hendrix’s interpretation of the song has become one of the most iconic and celebrated cover versions in the history of rock music.

Five facts about The Jimi Hendrix Experience’s “All Along the Watchtower”:

1. Cover Version: “All Along the Watchtower” is a cover of Bob Dylan’s song of the same name, originally released in 1967 on his album “John Wesley Harding.” Hendrix’s rendition transformed the song, infusing it with his distinctive guitar style and creating a version that is often considered superior to the original.
2. Recording Speed: The song was recorded quickly at Olympic Studios in London. Hendrix and his band, The Experience, reportedly laid down the basic tracks in just a few takes, capturing the raw energy and spontaneity that characterizes the recording.
3. Use of Slide Guitar: Hendrix’s slide guitar work on “All Along the Watchtower” is particularly noteworthy. He used a glass slide to create the haunting, atmospheric sounds that contribute to the song’s unique and evocative quality.
4. Unusual Time Signature: The song features an unusual time signature, alternating between 6/8 and 4/4 time. This rhythmic complexity adds to the song’s distinctive feel and contributes to its enduring appeal.
5. Influence on Popular Culture: Hendrix’s version of “All Along the Watchtower” has been widely praised and has had a significant impact on popular culture. It has been featured in numerous films, TV shows, and commercials, solidifying its status as one of the most iconic rock songs of all time.

Video

Lyrics

There must be some kind of way outta here
Said the joker to the thief
There’s too much confusion
I can’t get no relief

Business men, they drink my wine
Plowmen dig my earth
None will level on the line
Nobody offered his word
Hey, 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, uh, but you and I, we’ve been through that
And this is not our fate
So let us stop talkin’ falsely now
The hour’s getting late, hey

Hey

All along the watchtower
Princes kept the view
While all the women came and went
Barefoot servants, too
Well, uh, outside in the cold distance
A wildcat did growl
Two riders were approaching
And the wind began to howl, hey

All along the watchtower

All along the watchtower