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The Jimi Hendrix Experience — All Along The Watchtower
Album: Electric Ladyland
Avg rating:
9.1

Your rating:
Total ratings: 4807









Released: 1968
Length: 3:57
Plays (last 30 days): 0
There must be some kind of 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 will level on the line
Nobody offered his word, 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 not talk 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 wild cat did growl
Two riders were approaching
And the wind began to howl, hey!

All along the watchtower
All along the watchtower
Comments (576)add comment
 Stetsonman wrote:

Dylan sang backing vocals on this too. not many people know that.


Source, please
 Proclivities wrote:

"The Green Berets", maybe some others, but you specified "quick!".

The song's absence from "The Green Berets" is. likely due to the fact that the movie was mostly made in 1967 and the song was recorded in 1968
Godlike.
mâggÎÊ'$ fâ®m  ..... 
 xtree247 wrote:

Calling this a cover song doesn't do it justice. What Jimi did was to take one of Bob's uncut gems, polish it to shine and dazzle, and gifted it to us mortals to enjoy. And that's it. 



Janis did the same thing with Summertime and Ball & Chain.  
 bbbppp969 wrote:

Interesting, is there higher score? 9.1 for Hendrix, who has 9.2-9.9?



Probably some Chopin song.
Interesting, is there higher score? 9.1 for Hendrix, who has 9.2-9.9?
Calling this a cover song doesn't do it justice. What Jimi did was to take one of Bob's uncut gems, polish it to shine and dazzle, and gifted it to us mortals to enjoy. And that's it. 
 SuperWeh wrote:

who cares whether he was or was not, and what does it mean to be 'the best guitar player' anyway? he was a highly innovative player and an extraordinaly talented musician who made beautiful, ground breaking music that continues to be enjoyed by millions of people.



And, I've heard,  a maker of mighty dope music.
 thewiseking wrote:

i guess y'all eat what they fed ya but this is not one of Jimi's better works or covers and it really is doa from overplay


  And we all thought it was one of the greatest songs of all time. What a bunch of suckers! Thank God the unwise one came along to set us straight on what a steaming pile of crap it is.  
 palatin8 wrote:
Track Records' (some) Euro-Countries Album Cover:
 
Jimi Hendrix’s Banned ‘Electric Ladyland’ Album Cover
 


And time marches on. All of these ladies are now well into their 70's. I suspect a few of their grandchildren may be surprised about grandma's turn as a cover girl on a Hendrix album. Then again,  maybe not.
Radio Rock and 'The Saturday Sauna'.
To each their own I guess. To me this is the third best version of this song after the original and the U2 version. The music is wonderful, but in my opinion Hendrix puts no emotion into what are powerful lyrics.
i guess y'all eat what they fed ya but this is not one of Jimi's better works or covers and it really is doa from overplay
That opening riff has got to be one of the most recognizable ones in all of rock. Level: Godlike! All-day, every day.
GODLIKE!!! ICONIC!!!
Never….ever…. Gets old…..
Legendary and timeless✌️
ICONIC ...and GREAT!
For humor: 1974, Montreal Forum, Dylan and The Band - they start playing this and I say to my best bud, Adam, wow, they’re playing a Hendrix song ….. !!
Seiner Zeit weit voraus.
 MrStatenIsle wrote:

And the winner, for best cover ever, 51 years in a row, goes to...


What?!
You're not going with Captain and Tenille's version of Muskrat Love?!!
This is an outrage!
What do y'all want, more than 4 stunning solos in a row; more than a reimagining so profound that a Nobel prize-winning poet changed to playing it this way and, I believe, pays Jimi royalties, more than a rhythm change so weird that Noel Redding couldn't keep up for a bar or two.  Come now.  Maybe you should turn it up the next time you listen to it.
As a major dylan fan, I gotta say that jimi made this one his own!
 Rosstamon wrote:



So, that's where all the white women at!  
 tinypriest wrote:



Some shitty promoter's idea. Vulgar. I doubt Jimmy liked it.


he claimed not to like it.
the girls were prostitutes pulled off the streets around soho, thats soho london for you american dumbasses
 palatin8 wrote:
Track Records' (some) Euro-Countries Album Cover:
 
Jimi Hendrix’s Banned ‘Electric Ladyland’ Album Cover
 



Some shitty promoter's idea. Vulgar. I doubt Jimmy liked it.
Dylan sang backing vocals on this too. not many people know that.
Random:
- Dave Mason's on 12 string acoustic here
- The only studio recording Hendrix plays slide on
- Jimi's guitar run right before he sings - "No reason to get excited" 



Positively an Ultimate Godly connection renders this track - not Godlike - but - - then again! He is in touch with God? Right - so why not - Godlike?? It’s Godlike for me - and I’m a Christian !! Go figure y’all ... 🦋
Galactic guitar work from the man✌️
Genius, in the truest definition.
 SuperWeh wrote:

who cares whether he was or was not, and what does it mean to be 'the best guitar player' anyway? he was a highly innovative player and an extraordinaly talented musician who made beautiful, ground breaking music that continues to be enjoyed by millions of people.

 
Dude didn't know his name was Jimi.....  'nuff said
 1wolfy wrote:
One of my first experiences with Jimi's music was at a friends house.  His older brother had a room with black lights, strobe lights, and lots of cool posters.  there was a water bong in the room as well...I had no idea what it was at the time.  We put the music on and really enjoyed the visual aural experience.  Needless to say, It really "blew me away".  
 

1wolfy,  Did you go home and ask your parents for permission to tug on the bong?  
I do not think I have ever seen this. Thanks!  palatin8 wrote:
Track Records' (some) Euro-Countries Album Cover:
 
Jimi Hendrix’s Banned ‘Electric Ladyland’ Album Cover
 
 

Proof that a rock and roll song can be a towering magnificent work of art
 palatin8 wrote:
Track Records' (some) Euro-Countries Album Cover:
 
Jimi Hendrix’s Banned ‘Electric Ladyland’ Album Cover
 
 

 Highlowsel wrote:
Great comment. Well written and my thoughts exactly. This is the the Ultimate Cover!

The Apex.  The Pinnacle.  The very top of the highest mountain.  To my mind without question the very definition of ROCK AND ROLL..  Sublime and caustic, noisy yet harmonious.  It grabs your ears and pulls you in whether you want to go along or not.  You know it the moment you heard the first opening riff, and it stays with you in ephemeral fashion when it leaves.  As done by Hendrix it may be the ultimate cover tune but if this man had an opus moment this, this must be it. 

Highlow
American Net'Zen
 

 xavfitz wrote:
i take a lot of crap for this, but jimmy is/was not the best guitar player.  there are so many more..........
 
who cares whether he was or was not, and what does it mean to be 'the best guitar player' anyway? he was a highly innovative player and an extraordinaly talented musician who made beautiful, ground breaking music that continues to be enjoyed by millions of people.

i take a lot of crap for this, but jimmy is/was not the best guitar player.  there are so many more..........
nahhh 11
A 10 indeed
ElectryLadyland is an excellent album and this track is a highlight.
I seldom give a 10. but this all time Hendrix / Dylan classic deserves it . Fucking A
from My Sharonna to Jimi Hendrix, I love the station!
a perfect 10.
as with Janis Joplin, a great loss...........
So let us not talk falsely now
The hour's getting late, hey!


A-men.
 unclehud wrote:
Quick!  Name one Vietnam movie that does NOT include this tune...
 
...also the opening track to "Withnail and I",  an excellent film that has attained cult status. Paul McGann, Richard E. Grant, Richard Griffiths, director Bruce Robinson. If you haven't seen it, check it out; if you have, watch it again. Set in '69 in London and Penrith. In fact I'll dig out the DVD this evening me thinks.
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Withnail_and_I
And the winner, for best cover ever, 51 years in a row, goes to...
The best version ever,simply Godlike🙏
One of my first experiences with Jimi's music was at a friends house.  His older brother had a room with black lights, strobe lights, and lots of cool posters.  there was a water bong in the room as well...I had no idea what it was at the time.  We put the music on and really enjoyed the visual aural experience.  Needless to say, It really "blew me away".  
supposed go to bed, but one good song after the other ...
Track Records' (some) Euro-Countries Album Cover:
 
Jimi Hendrix’s Banned ‘Electric Ladyland’ Album Cover
 
Ha !  Just got done playing the whole album on vinyl.
 thewiseking wrote:

agreed, but that opening riff is a huge hook{#Bananajam}
Wonder why CLASSIC ROCK chose this one over all the others? So many better offerings from Jimi yet it was this they chose to kill

 


I have this sudden urge to watch "Watchmen" all over again.

When this was a current hit, we often went to our local Boston Pizza after a night of partying.  They had a juke box with great sound and had the volume cranked – this song was always played - bliss!

Here’s something I noticed while listening to a tribute album to Hank Williams:

Williams lyrics from “Alone and Forsaken”:

The darkness is falling, the sky has turned gray
A hound in the distance is starting to bay

Dylan lyrics from this song:

Outside in the cold distance 
A wildcat did growl
Two riders were approaching
And the wind began to howl

Maybe another example of one great artist taking something very good and making it even better?


 slikr wrote:
best cover ever?
 
  yes... and godlike at that.. {#Cheers}
Wonder why CLASSIC ROCK chose this one over all the others? So many better offerings from Jimi yet it was this they chose to kill
goosebumps... bumping from 9 to 10
 Skydog wrote:
still the number one rated RP song 

 
Which one is in last?
best cover ever?
I think this guy would have went places.
 westslope wrote:

Yes, I believe that he was right about the 'application'.  Dylan must find that amusing.  

 
But this is the most excellent cover by far!


Ok. Enough of the silliness. Give it a 10 and move along.
 unclehud wrote:
Was at a college baseball game last week when this came on.  Turned my my grad school buddy (son of a Navy colleague who's at school in town) and asked, "Do you know this song?"

"Sure, man.  Hendrix.  All Along the Watchtower.  Always comes on in a war movie when the shit's about to come down."

Well, he's sho'nuff right about the title and artist, and he may be right about the application.

 
Yes, I believe that he was right about the 'application'.  Dylan must find that amusing.  
Was at a college baseball game last week when this came on.  Turned my my grad school buddy (son of a Navy colleague who's at school in town) and asked, "Do you know this song?"

"Sure, man.  Hendrix.  All Along the Watchtower.  Always comes on in a war movie when the shit's about to come down."

Well, he's sho'nuff right about the title and artist, and he may be right about the application.
Nothing better!
Filmore East, New Years Eve 1969, pitch black and at the stroke of midnight, Jimi starts this song. Burned in my memory. I had a mind before then.
 SuperWeh wrote:

no amount of radio play will ever be able to kill the genius of this piece.

 
Right! And there are not many other songs in that league.
pure pleasure!
Immaculate.
 thewiseking wrote:
another one killed by overplay
give us Bold As Love
give us Rainy Day Dream Away
give us 1983
give us One Rainy Wish
leave this one to the CLASSIC ROCK schlockpile 

 
no amount of radio play will ever be able to kill the genius of this piece.
another one killed by overplay
give us Bold As Love
give us Rainy Day Dream Away
give us 1983
give us One Rainy Wish
leave this one to the CLASSIC ROCK schlockpile 
It took a while to warm up to Hendrix. More a combination of posthumous reviews, Belly Button Window (likely, the Cry of Love album) and general progression of rock (noise) into the 70's.
Favorite recording of the entire rock era.
 On_The_Beach wrote:

{#Yes}  {#Cheers}

 
Could not agree more.  It is absolute performance perfection. I only wish we could go back and capture this performance with today's technology.  It is both electrifying and an old friend whenever I hear it.
       You'd know If you reflect  more than usual on some house of cards.
My kiss. uhm keys was in the bowl, spring time wasted no time and kissed fish.
There's a version by Bear McCreary, that I also quite like. It was done for a Soundtrack and was so, so perfectly fitted to the scenes. So this is no "i like the cover better" but rather, "if you like the song, maybe check out the other. Sounds quite different, though."

nice btw - stevie, ye good ol ludwig van, hendrix and flogging molly. much wow.

and sixstringsamurai is such an awesome movie - too bad you didnt like the order of songs. 
 Highlowsel wrote:
The Apex.  The Pinnacle.  The very top of the highest mountain.  To my mind without question the very definition of ROCK AND ROLL..  Sublime and caustic, noisy yet harmonious.  It grabs your ears and pulls you in whether you want to go along or not.  You know it the moment you heard the first opening riff, and it stays with you in ephemeral fashion when it leaves.  As done by Hendrix it may be the ultimate cover tune but if this man had an opus moment this, this must be it. 
 
{#Yes}  {#Cheers}
 SixStringSamurai wrote:
Jimi Hendrix after Beethoven. "Our specialty is taking a diverse assortment of songs and making them flow together in a way that makes sense harmonically, rhythmically, and lyrically." I must have missed something ...

 
maybe it was just the seamless ooze of awesomeness that you missed.. shall I get my banjo? That might rectify things.
 Skydog wrote:
still the number one rated RP song 

 

quite rightly!
Bob Dylan out of step with the times releases this great song in December 1967 and somewhere over the next few months Jimi Hendrix hears it in some other magnificent way. To call this arrangement historic and transcendental at the same time does not seem an understatement. 
Jimi Hendrix after Beethoven. "Our specialty is taking a diverse assortment of songs and making them flow together in a way that makes sense harmonically, rhythmically, and lyrically." I must have missed something ...
Beethoven then this?
WOW

Superb{#Clap} 
The Apex.  The Pinnacle.  The very top of the highest mountain.  To my mind without question the very definition of ROCK AND ROLL..  Sublime and caustic, noisy yet harmonious.  It grabs your ears and pulls you in whether you want to go along or not.  You know it the moment you heard the first opening riff, and it stays with you in ephemeral fashion when it leaves.  As done by Hendrix it may be the ultimate cover tune but if this man had an opus moment this, this must be it. 

Highlow
American Net'Zen
 coloradojohn wrote:
The very voice of stoned guitar your mind thinks should be telling this and what a timeless verve this cat put into every little riff and, dig

 
upvote
 RiverOfLife wrote:
Beethoven 5 followed by Jimi - PERFECT!!!

Simply awesome programming ....

 
AND Stevie Ray's Pipeline before Ludwig Van.  Thanks Bill and Rebecca.  Now that's what I call eclectic! {#Clap}{#Notworthy}
still the number one rated RP song 
Beethoven 5 followed by Jimi - PERFECT!!!

Simply awesome programming ....
You wowed  with that seg
I was wondering what could follow a 9.2 Beethoven, I agree this makes sense!
 
The very voice of stoned guitar your mind thinks should be telling this and what a timeless verve this cat put into every little riff and, dig
 springof63 wrote:
i know what you mean, but I think you mean Bob Dylan, don't you? (except, as far as i know, he is still with us...)
 
Hmm, of course Dylan wrote the song, so maybe he needed to sign off on the deal as well?
I'm sure someone out there knows the answer? . . .
 On_The_Beach wrote:
My heart sank when I saw this was being used to sell Men's perfume . . . groan.
Jimi is no doubt rolling over in his grave.

At least when Pete Townshend and the rest sell their songs, it's their own decision.
Although I'm not sure who has the rights to the Beatles catalogue.
Michael Jackson's estate, or did Sir Paul buy 'em back?

 
i know what you mean, but I think you mean Bob Dylan, don't you? (except, as far as i know, he is still with us...)
My heart sank when I saw this was being used to sell Men's perfume . . . groan.
Jimi is no doubt rolling over in his grave.

At least when Pete Townshend and the rest sell their songs, it's their own decision.
Although I'm not sure who has the rights to the Beatles catalogue.
Michael Jackson's estate, or did Sir Paul buy 'em back?
A "9." At least. 
You know it's his vocals that are superb apart from maestro guitar
 phlattop wrote:

Jimi's version heavily influenced Dylan's live version for years according to Bob himself. The best cover of a Dylan tune and there's been some pretty damn good ones.

 
Dave Mason's version is better than this one.
Beethoven followed by Hendrix. One of the best composers followed by one of the best performers in music ever.
 alan278 wrote:
Outstanding segue from Beethoven.  Terrific Bill, Rebecca.

 
Agreed! Bravissimo!!
 alan278 wrote:
Outstanding segue from Beethoven.  Terrific Bill, Rebecca.

 
Ditto!
 kcar wrote:

I can see why Bob thought so. Even when you take the lyrics into account, this sounds a lot more like a Hendrix song than a Dylan song. Slightly surreal words suggesting fragments of worlds...and weaving through them you have Jimi's swirling sound rising up like a dust storm. Still amazing. 

 
Jimi's version heavily influenced Dylan's live version for years according to Bob himself. The best cover of a Dylan tune and there's been some pretty damn good ones.
From the best double album of all time the best cover of a Dylan tune ever. Still get tingly from this record. Used to play the 8-track and alternate with Beggars Banquet and a Moody Blues. Yeah, good times kids!             {#Yes}
Outstanding segue from Beethoven.  Terrific Bill, Rebecca.
Jimmy on a Sunday morning!  {#Sunny}
 justin4kick wrote:
Probably the best piece of music ever made and certainly the best cover ever.
 
Does that include "Muskrat Love" by The Captain & Tennille?
Probably the best piece of music ever made and certainly the best cover ever.
Hendrix and Dylan should have formed a band, just imagine...
{#Guitarist}
 Highlowsel wrote:
One of my few TENS!{#Guitarist} 

Highlow
American Net'Zen

 
I'm with you on that!
 mitykc wrote:

Dylan preferred this version over his own.

  

Rotterdam wrote:

Gosh, what a compliment. I agree with Dylan, by the way, and have always loved this version. Powerful.

 
I can see why Bob thought so. Even when you take the lyrics into account, this sounds a lot more like a Hendrix song than a Dylan song. Slightly surreal words suggesting fragments of worlds...and weaving through them you have Jimi's swirling sound rising up like a dust storm. Still amazing. 
 SuperWeh wrote:
The guitar work is absolutely transcendental on this, gets me every time no matter how often I've heard it. Sloppy playing, but the phrasing, timing, urgency and sheer creativity are otherworldly.

 
SuperWeh: 

Sloppy playing it may be to those better informed in the mechanics of the guitar than me....but I'll say this....I'll bet it's one of the very few pieces that brings out the air guitarist in everyone who hears it?  Indeed, it's arguably up there with the likes of Beethoven's 5th and others in that with the opening riff you know instantly what's coming.....and it never, ever, seems to get old does it?

As for transcendental....yah, I'm right there with you on the transcendental aspect.  Yes indeed.  To wax metaphorically this piece is like.....Mt Everest.....everyone can recognize its magnificence from a distance....many aspire to ascend to its heights but few dare it; and fewer are those who dare and actually make it to the summit.  At least...before our modern age made a consumeristic conveyor belt of the process.  Hmmm....and having said that....one could say that statement is a somewhat cynical critique on the quality of everything in our age?  Everything reduced to consumer voyeurism?  Heh!

So it goes....

Highlow
American Net'Zen
One of my few TENS!{#Guitarist} 

Highlow
American Net'Zen
The guitar work is absolutely transcendental on this, gets me every time no matter how often I've heard it. Sloppy playing, but the phrasing, timing, urgency and sheer creativity are otherworldly.
 mitykc wrote:

Dylan preferred this version over his own.

 
Gosh, what a compliment. I agree with Dylan, by the way, and have always loved this version. Powerful.
What's not to like?  Just brill.