Understanding All Along The Watchtower

[@12tone]

Some additional thoughts/corrections: 1) When I talk about Hendrix entering for the first solo, I'm referring to him playing the electric guitar. He actually also played bass on this song, so he was present in the intro too, but that wasn't really relevant to the point I was making. 2) I should note that, in Dylan's harmonica solo, he does include some D#s as well, but they're not really emphasized. They're mostly bends up from C# for ornamentation, which is different from how Hendrix uses the 2nd degree in his solo. 3) In case you're wondering, I think the most likely explanation for the Gb in that one fill is that it's an accidental pull-off. Hendrix tunes his guitar down a half-step on most songs, so the fourth string would've been an open Gb. when he let go of the Bb he was fretting, he probably plucked the string a bit, letting a Gb ring out for a moment. It doesn't sound bad or anything, but given that he doesn't seem to play a tritone in any of the other licks, and it's in such a rhythmically unusual spot, my guess is he wasn't trying to play one here either, it just sort of happened and he left it in. 4) In the slide solo, I said the notes he starts on are all pretty simple, which isn't quite true: The very first thing he plays is an A major chord, which isn't in the key. Given the extremely long slide down, though, I kinda lose track of that. It _feels_ to me like a Bb chord going to Ab, he's just starting a little bit underneath, so the effect is of a diatonic chord even though as far as I can tell he doesn't actually quite play one. That's my take, anyway.

[@rupen42]

On point 3, do you mean the 3rd string? We usually count guitar strings from the highest to the lowest. Thanks for all the videos!

[@Alfalfa_Male]

One more little thing, there were plenty of wah pedals and fuzz boxes back then, but no delay pedals yet. He probably used tape delay machines of some kind, no sure at all which. All I know is that the bucket brigade chip was developed in 1969 the first bucket brigade based footswitchable effects, like analog delays and choruses didn't hit the shelves until the mid 70's. I suck at parties.

[@Labyrinth1010]

Didn’t know he played bass on this one! Always loved the bass runs under the last guitar solo. So tasty.

[@martincox9691]

Point Three-similar thing happens in the “Hey Joe” solo, when he plays an open D string when he almost certainly meant to hit the 12th fret D. Still sounded great, so he and the engineer (Chas Chandler, IIRC?) left it in the mix instead of trying to re-record an already epic solo.

[@BenPrevo]

Jimi's bass and the use of non roots etc was overlooked IHMO -- peace

[@aleji0]

As a guitarist for most of my years on this planet, I would just like to give mad respect for 12tone calling it a "wah pedal" and not a "wah-wah pedal". It's the little things, folks.

[@Theactivepsychos]

Proof that George Harrison was more powerful than the entire music industry?

[@brianmiller1077]

IMHO Wah wah is is superior description because it's an onomatopoeia. "What does that do?" "It makes it go Wah Wah"

[@adamlaxmusic]

@@brianmiller1077 it’s a wah pedal. You don’t get your hairs cut. You got a hair cut.

[@Merugaf]

@@adamlaxmusic brb getting my nail done.

[@adamlaxmusic]

@@Merugaf touché sir

[@clovergannon]

I have always firmly believed that Hendrix is a far better singer than anyone tends to give him credit for. His guitar playing was just too good at hogging the spotlight that his singing, and songwriting for that matter, were just overshadowed all the time.

[@dwc1964]

Interestingly, it worked the opposite way for Prince

[@andrewrobie620]

@@dwc1964 Prince had some fantastic guitar parts, but they were more subtle. Jimi's guitar playing was like a freaking hurricane.

[@gangstalker5461]

So true. His singing on little wing is beautiful but i always find myself only listening to the guitar

[@Merugaf]

He had a certain wildness and floaty-ness while reamining fairly raw. Great voice

[@tovarisch2788]

Very much agree. A fine, soulful, expressive singer. Sounds like no one else.

[@zizoumonk10]

“I just thought it sounded cool.” - Jimi Hendrix

[@jessejameskaine]

🤣😁

[@tribudeuno]

"He played it exactly like I would have played it if I were Jimi Hendrix"... Bob Dylan

[@jasoncdebussy]

@Hot Wings All the time!

[@mentalswill]

Jimi's sound pictures to match Dylan's word pictures, and yeah, it sounds pretty cool.

[@macinfloydvolk]

Exactly! Jimi didn’t give a shit about all this analytical shit

[@bytesandbikes]

I can't help but imagine that Jimi would love the depth of this analysis

[@noahv8671]

Honestly, I doubt he would be that into it. Maybe he would listen and entertain the ideas, but I doubt he'd be like "yeah man that's what I was going for". I imagine he'd think of music as a more intangible thing rather than symbolic.

[@peterhardyburrell]

And Bob would hate it

[@endthisnonsense7202]

I'm pretty sure he'd rsepond "Oh, just shut up, pick up your instrument and start jamming"

[@SkywalkerSamadhi]

@John Verne DaVinci did the same exact thing with the Mona Lisa. I don't think he ever thought it was good enough.

[@jokermaan1]

I doubt it myself. Hendrix wasn't a theoretical musician, but an instinctive raw talent. He probably wouldn't even understand it fully as he didn't read music!

[@dlein93]

For the record, Eddie Kramer, Jimi's engineer and studio copilot, said that it was actually Jimi playing the 12 string part. Apparently Dave Mason couldn't play the part to Jimi's satisfaction so Jimi just did it himself, but still gave Mason credit b/c they were friends.

[@Utuber-hk9xj]

There is 'Parallasis in analasis', this video reminds me of people explaining what makes comedy funny... But somehow compelling and informative!!

[@dansalmon8261]

There’s also a story about Dave Mason doing 26 takes until he was satisfied that he got it right so there’s that and his version is pretty good on its own.

[@mrgordons]

No he didn't. Dave Mason played the 12-string. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hGfQYWRvpcaqo9U

[@BSmith-cu2gj]

Kramer did not say that...it was Mason on the 12 string... check it for yourself.

[@if6was929]

@@dansalmon8261 I read that it wasn't about Mason's satisfaction, it was about Jimi's and he was a bit miffed at Dave for not getting it right.

[@TomMilleyMusic]

I agree that Hendrix, despite what many might say, was a great singer. He was very expressive and had great rhythm and had a unique sound that you don't mistake for anyone else. Great singing isn't just having good pitch, there's so much more to it, and pitch can be somewhat secondary

[@stickpictures]

Finally: best JH quote ever "I don't play guitar, I play amplifier"

[@marclaflamme2514]

Absolutely correct!

[@CraigKeidel]

I like that quote. I like it a lot. Thanks!

[@paintnamer6403]

One of the great things about a tube amp.

[@DaUsualSuspact]

Jimi Hendrix's 'All Along The Watchtower.' Or as I'd like to call: *WHERE THE F---- IS THE DOWNBEAT?!!*

[@Bastikovski99]

Well, wasn't he playing a right handed guitar upside down?

[@darrengordon-hill]

FFS!!!

[@typicalfurry2747]

Like with Pyramid song by Radiohead. WHAT THE HELL IS IT

[@walenta1907]

Right? I was so confused when 12tone said "three [attacks] before the barline and three after." Like, what? It's not two before and four after?

[@woofspider330]

I always thought the song started on the "and" of 1, and the downbeat is the vibraslap. So a silent 1 AND TWO AND THREE AND FOUR. slap AND TWO AND THREE AND FOUR You know what,@@Bastikovski99 might be on to something, I think it sounds like that to me because the strumming sounds like Jimi is up stroking the first note.

[@persecutor96]

Limp Bizkit’s “Behind Blue Eyes.” Nearly choked on my pizza.

[@matthewgasparin7000]

Yeah, how is that a good cover?

[@persecutor96]

@@matthewgasparin7000 99.999% sure it was a joke.

[@badgasaurus4211]

It’s just the who version with worse vocals

[@jacksonbarker7594]

@@badgasaurus4211 and cuts out the best part

[@JPPWB]

Honestly I think it's far better than the original. And I do love me some Who.

[@MarbhDamhsa]

Hendrix: I made this Dylan: You made this

[@GirishManjunathMusic]

Dylan may have _written_ All Along the Watchtower, but Hendrix made it, yea.

[@lukeabrahamsen-collins808]

More like Dylan: I made you this

[@tuckercarlsonsmicropenis1283]

@@GirishManjunathMusic Hendrix’s cover version is an excellent tune, but the original is better, as is true in nearly every case of ‘Original vs Cover’, including, but not limited to: My Back Pages Mr. Tambourine Man If Not For You And so on and so on and so on... and I’m not only talking about Dylan’s songs...

[@GirishManjunathMusic]

@@tuckercarlsonsmicropenis1283 maybe it's just because I heard the Hendrix version first, but I really didn't like the Dylan original as much.

[@deyzunasbunker]

@@tuckercarlsonsmicropenis1283 Cant beat a harmonica.

[@markbittinger4066]

Dylan, on the song being in reverse chronological order: "I haven't fulfilled the balladeer's job. A balladeer can sit down and sing three songs for an hour and a half; it can all unfold to you. All Along The Watchtower lacks this traditional sense of time; it opens up in a slightly different way, in a stranger way, for we have the cycle of events working in a rather reverse order.” The story is told backwards.

[@ericahess7508]

So I wanna start by saying that I'm not arguing with this. I just wanna give my interpretation on the order of the lyrics. I was always under the impression that the song started in the middle of the story, worked it way to the end, then looped back to the beginning. Having it be like a kind of "chronological maze" of sorts. Which IMO only adds to the sense of feeling lost or trapped. Like you have to suss out the proper order to the story before you can leave it, and with everything else going on (especially in the Hendrix version) that can be difficult. Just my thoughts.

[@garyt3hsna1l82]

Facinating ideas all around, so the two riders that approached before the final solo -which also represented the castle siege - may have been the joker and thief after the siege of the castle in the previous verse, with the line "but you and I we've been through that, and this is not our fate" alluding to the loop they're all stuck while everyone else has given up either to despair or hedonism in the tower. there are larger criticisms of capitalism at play with the implication the joker and thief stand apart from the system while businessmen and ploughmen are greedy liars, i think this provides some insight about how hendrix viewed his role as a rock and roll performer. a clown or jester, and many other bands have borrowed the metaphor "rock and roll clown" or the "joker of love", and even more have used the outlaw image dylan and hendrix created an important part of the foundational archetypes of rock in this song.

[@dooleyfussle8634]

Yes, in the original Rolling Stone review, Jon Landau (I think) identified this as an ingenious trick, starting in the middle and looping around and around in a mobius strip. The chord structure reinforces this looping quality. Also, I think Hendrix added the "kinda" in "there must be some kinda way outa here". My memory is that it's not in the original Dylan version.

[@getbentaudio585]

There was no delay pedals in 1968, I believe he was a using tape delay. electric lady was definitely a laboratory of sound.

[@Telorchid]

Yep, came here to note that. Could have been an Echoplex, but whatever it was was a standalone unit, likely about the size of a small amp head. No delay pedals until the 70s.

[@ksteiger]

@@Telorchid and Electric Lady did not exist until 1970.

[@Telorchid]

@@ksteiger i think you meant to tag Get Bent Audio. I didn’t mention the studio.

[@davidjameschamberlain]

I've heard it was an Echoplex

[@getbentaudio585]

@@ksteiger you right

[@darleschickens7106]

Always loved Hendrix and Dylan, but if you'd asked me 10 years ago, I'd have easily said Hendrix's version of this song is my favourite. Over the years I've shifted over more to Bob Dylan's original.. there's something more dreamy about his version, more loopy and surreal.

[@littlelamb2112]

Agreed. Dylan’s (to me) has more tension, and perfectly matches the lyrics. Hendrix’s is clearly more profound musically, but I don’t find that it always matches the tone of the song.

[@oskarileikos]

Exactly!! That's what I've been saying since discovering the original version. Dylan's All Along The Watchtower has that mystique to it that Hendrix's doesn't.

[@darleschickens7106]

And I think another KZbinr also pointed out that Dylan's closing lines, half a verse, join perfectly with the opening lines of the song, also half a verse, forming an endless loop. The lines are obviously still in the Hendrix version, but Dylan's emphasises it.

[@dooleyfussle8634]

Yeah, it's my favourite too. It's the harmonica for me.

[@pattiaufzack]

@@littlelamb2112 Yes I come to Hendrix's version when I want to listen some wild music that makes me dance. I will go to Dylan's version when I want to hear the story

[@tmage23]

Jimi almost completely rewrote any song he covered to make it his own. His "Hey Joe" sounds almost nothing like the several versions that came before it. Killing Floor might as well have been a different song compared to Howlin' Wolf's version. The only "straight" covers I've heard him do were short notice live covers of "Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" (which had debuted the Friday before, giving Hendrix little time to work out an arrangement) and "Sunshine of Your Love" which he performed the night that Cream announced their breakup

[@xvoodoo9999]

His Like A Rolling Stone is a pretty straight cover too, but he still manages to make it very much his own version.

[@dx.feelgood5825]

His covers if everything he seems to kinda make it his own and I adore it

[@ciaranw520]

@@xvoodoo9999 So is Come On Let The Good Times Roll, by Earl King. Very true to the origanal

[@HorrorOfDrugula]

Jimi’s version of Johnny B. Goode (from Hendrix In The West) is pretty straightforward too!

[@eduardogmartins]

I love the drawing of the crossroads when "blues" is mentioned ;)

[@rosky6377]

Shoutout to all, who know the reference :)

[@Histgyph]

Wasn’t it about the guy who went to the crossroads and sold his sole to satan?

[@less_than_zero05]

@@Histgyph yes it is. It's about Robert Johnson and his song "Cross Road Blues"

[@ManekiNico]

Yes! Other highlights: "mystery" = Scooby-Doo, and "something completely different" = foot from Monty Python's Flying Circus opening credits

[@unwritten_zephyr]

I’m glad you talked about the drums in this track, such an under appreciated aspect of the song. So much energy in those snare hits!

[@elpolitemexa2272]

"i think that sounds boring" *draws the halo logo* WHAT DOES THAT MEAN AAAAAA

[@aratedproduction]

so glad someone else saw the same thing lmaooo

[@lyanporto]

sick shade imo

[@darrengordon-hill]

WTF is with the drawing?? It's distracting for us non Hyrogllegic speakers

[@Epsilvonic]

i swear if he’s calling the halo soundtracks boring imma have an aneurysm

[@RobertStoll]

I like both versions. Seems like two different perspectives on the same scenario. Maybe Dylan's is a older look from a man who's been there and has more or less grown used to the watchtower, where Hendrix's character actively seeks to fight what the Watchtower is doing.

[@SlinkShady]

Thank you for this video. I have been a Hendrix fan for nearly 40 years since a friend of mine played a Hendrix tape (The Jimi Hendrx Concerts) in his car when we were smoking a joint. I fell in love with his music instantly. He inspired me to start playing the guitar and filled my life with the immense joy of discovering how to play it and filling my life with colour, context and escapism. It always fills me with joy when serious music people talk about his music and how inventive and imaginative his music was. Such a tragic and sad loss that he died at the tender age of 27. One can only wonder at where his music might be now if he had suvived into old age. The story of life is quicker than the wink of an eye. The story of love is hello and goodbye. RIP Jimi. Your music will live forever.

[@FauZhee]

how old were you when you first discovered his songs?

[@SlinkShady]

@@FauZhee about 17

[@SporeMystify]

I'm so glad this exists. I have been watching a lot of 12 tome lately, and BSG, which resulted in a fever dream of me trying to analyze all along the watchtower 12 tone style, but with absolutely none of the musical skills required to do so. It was a frustrating night, and this resolved that.

[@Labyrinth1010]

Probably my favorite Hendrix song (think we can all agree he made it his own). A true masterpiece. What a shame his genius was with us so briefly.

[@gemof_gems]

No, He didn't Dylan got Nobel prize for it . Jimi didn't get anything .

[@Labyrinth1010]

@@gemof_gems I have no idea what you’re trying to say or how it negates my comment.

[@rebekahcrossman4690]

I’m 62yrs and just fell hard in love with Hendricks - soulful genius! 👏🏻love how your doodles kept the story of the composition alive and held my attention to the very end. Thanks

[@craberlocker]

Beautifully done and spot on. Remember hearing it for the first time and being absolutely blown away. There were critics at the time who said it was a weak rendition but to this day I find it one of the best covers ever, along with Joe Cockers version of With A Little Help From My Friends.

[@kumoyuki]

yup. and re: Joe Cocker's thingy: I generally hate over-souled versions of songs, but *damn* he made it work. His version of "with a little help..." is definitive

[@tesmith47]

Yep, bjo cocker having a soul fit is historic and I am a Black guy not much into white rock!!!!

[@ianmorris3084]

Totally agree, love Cocker's version. I think it's Jimmy Page on the studio version of Cocker's. Also love the Beatles version too.

[@svenknutsen8937]

1:35 The correct lyrics are: "All along the watchtower, *princes kept the view* "

[@scottmatznick3140]

Yep yep

[@recklessroges]

I agree with you,, except: "Excuse me while I kiss [ insert interpretation here ]"

[@jimfritz9503]

@@recklessroges THE SKY . The others are just humorous .

[@sledge2742]

Yeah, especially cos it says straight after 'while all the women came in'

[@thomasrobinson182]

As a foodie, I always thought it was 'stew'. BTW, Jimi reportedly replaced Mason's track with his own version.

[@kodyschmidt3306]

I see what you did there with the Battlestar paper. Well done, sir.

[@fredkrissman6527]

At age 14, in '69, I saw the Hendrix Experience at the helLA Forum... It completely changed my life. Thanx much for explicating why Jimi was a transformative artist!

[@martifingers]

This is surely a exemplary instance of how musical analysis should be - detailed, revelatory and above all putting the soul of the song and performance centre stage.

[@mccanlessdesign]

So good; so clear. I've avoided a smart phone for decades now; waiting for one that would play and give presence to the first notes of Hendrix's "Watchtower" as my ring tone.

[@mherlihy0816]

I think both versions are valid, I love the harmonica part in Dylan's version because it gives the song a wistful and mournful experience

[@Philistine47]

_"It's hard to imagine anyone else doing it differently."_ I wonder if that's why Bear McCreary went back to the Dylan version when he was asked to create a cover of this song for Battlestar Galactica.

[@joshmastiff1128]

Again...you don't have to like only the Hendrix version! He didn't mean that at all

[@Philistine47]

@@joshmastiff1128 I didn't think he did. I'm very confused - did you mean that to be a reply to some other comment?

[@dwc1964]

I came down to the comments to find out if anyone else thought of Bear McCreary's version. I wonder if we'll get a breakdown of that sometime.

[@frizzlefriar4417]

Personally, I'm a fan of the Michael Hedges version. It combines the simplicity of the Dylan version with the aggression of Hendrix. Honestly, I haven't heard many versions that I don't like. It's just a good song.

[@stevemiller7433]

I have been listening to this song over and over and over in my car... disc on repeat for an hour. for days. The part that always shakes me is when Hendrix sings "Business man, drink my wine.." then the CHUCKA CHUCKA CHUCK.. "Ploughman dig my earth" Those chords as played rattle me. The bass is so lively, melodic in this piece that I was wondering why no one is talking about the bass player... well, I guess Jimi was the Bass player and that solves that mystery.

[@margoscargo]

That is Jimi's acoustic doing the Chucka part. It is not Dave Mason's 12 string nor the bass. Find the isolated acoustic part on KZbin and you'll hear it loud and clear.

[@paulklee]

I’m a 70-year-old jazz rock drummer that’s been listening to this thing most of my life and I’ve loved it from the beginning to now …..and I’ve been waiting to hear someone discuss a lot of these nuances for a long, long time. Great job, buddy.

[@YogGroove]

I have heard the Hendrix version so many times that I currently prefer listening to the Dylan version.

[@kennethtaylor964]

Thanks for bringing back the magical moments of my youth!! Hendrix was a explosion of creativity. Dylan was the poet. Watchtower was an anthem that linked so many of our experiences and longings!!

[@MrBanzoid]

Thanks for your great analysis of this song. I've just jumped on to Spotify to listen to both versions. Thanks to you I see a deeper meaning in the words. I agree that JH's voice was underrated, generally being eclipsed by his guitar playing.

[@sam_uelson]

Eddie Kramer said in an interview once that alot of jimis wah use on the records wasn't actually jimi, rather it was eddie adding it from the desk during the mixing process.

[@contestvoter]

Dylan in an interview said Hendrix took the song, made it his own, and he knew it would never be the same - no regrets. Awesome

[@gingerbella4344]

Decades on, the Hendrix version still creates that thump in the base of the spine. Fantastic analysis here - thank you 👏🏻

[@memoryfoam2285]

As much as I love hendrix's, I gotta shout out Bear McCreary's version for the battlestar galactica season 3 finale, absolutely incredible.

[@Kaladelia]

Bear did such a great job at shifting and adapting Hendrix's version to the future/past

[@leopolddienstknecht7931]

I was searching for a comment like this. The piano version is also beautiful imo

[@MistressofHeaven]

That version was the first I’d ever heard this incredible song. It definitely deserves an honorable mention

[@ryanthibbs1317]

My whole life is music and you consistently make me love it more, you ridiculous magnificent bastard.

[@TLKjoe]

My favorite song of all time. I purposely avoid listening to it because I never want to wear it out. I want each time I hear it to be special.

[@adame.2995]

I like how you think...keep it special, yeah! (Takes a little effort, some calculation -- worth the payout.)

[@Julesplaysbass]

I’d love to hear more on your interpretation of the importance of the bass part; I always felt like the fills and bass tone added a lot to both the build up and sense of movement that the chords alone weren’t necessarily providing.

[@Cionaoith]

10:14 is likely too accurate. Hendrix wasn't just thinking about notes, he was thinking about an elephant astronaut. Which he could clearly see, floating around in front of the stage.

[@nazarenkodenys]

Lol

[@Saint_nobody]

YOU SEEN IT TOO! 😳

[@RobinofSactown]

Years back I discovered a Robert Burns poem from around the 1790's that I believe is a mysterious, probably subconscious inspiration for Dylan's lyric...there are a few close references word-wise: the Tower itself, and howling winds, stars and animals, distant echoing... also, Burns was both a businessman (he collected taxes and sold poems and songs)and a plowmen (he once wrote an ode to a mouse killed by his Plow) he drank a lot, as Scots did in those days, and died young......The thief may be Dylan, as he borrowed the atmosphere of this perfectly, and the joker Hendrix, who dressed so colorfully and played the muse to so many. But in Burn's poem, which he called A Vision, a ghost arises from the garden, "attired as Minstrels wont to be" with Liberty written on his hat, and plays a "harp" loud enough to wake the dead, (Dylan plays the "harp" too of course) and then tells of a happy childhood and a sad ending..."a tale of woe, as ever met a Briton's ear!"in my mind it's a vision of Jimi , and the atmosphere of Dylan's poem perhaps enabled him to craft the wondrously haunted musical feeling. So I imagine Burns, Dylan, and Jimi all saw this same vision, perhaps in dreams...(perhaps the 2 riders in Dylan's song are Burns and Hendrix?)... and each drew their own lyrical and sonic picture of it as though the 200 years between didn't stop a meeting of great minds. Here is "A Vision" by Burns...what do you think? As I stood by yon roofless tower, Where the wa'-flower scents the dewy air, Where the howlet mourns in her ivy bower, and tells the midnight moon her care; The winds were laid, the air was still, The stars they shot along the sky: The fox was howling on the hill, And the distant-echoing glens reply; The stream adown its hazelly path, Was rushing by the ruin'd wa's, Hasting to join the sweeping Nith, Whose distant roaring swells and fa's; The cauld blue north was streaming forth, Her lights, w' hissing eerie din, Athort the lift they start and shift, Like fortune's favors, tint as win. By heedless chance I turn'd mine eyes, And by the moon-beam, shook, to see, A stern and stalwart ghaist arise, Attir'd as minstrels wont to be. Had I a statue been o' stone, His daring look had daunted me; And on his bonnet grav'd was plain, The sacred posy--Liberty! And frae his harp sic strains did flow, Might roused the slumb'ring dead to hear; But oh, it was a tale of woe, As ever met a Briton's ear! He sang wi' joy his former day, He weeping wail'd his latter times; But what he said it was nae play, I winna ventur't in my rhymes. It would be great if someone could ask Bob if this poem was known to him or provided inspiration for his song. If not, it's an even greater wonder that these parallels exist.

[@earthjustice01]

I think you're on to something Robin! There is definitely too much similarity between the poem and the song to be a coincidence. Also, Dylan and Hendrix capture some of the feeling of wildness that Burns conveys. Even the cadence is similar, eg. "Businessmen they drink my wine, ploughman dig my earth....." and: " By heedless chance I turn'd mine eyes, and by the moon-beam, shook, to see..."

[@TsunamiBeefPies]

Thank you. I agree with you almost entirely here, and I can tell by the passion with which you deliver this one that you feel pretty strongly about it. I was 15 years old when this came out, and it made a big impression on me. I actually heard Dylan's version AFTER Hendrix', and when I heard it, I marveled at what Jimi had created from the (I thought) rather weak framework he'd been handed by Bob. I always thought of the centerpiece solo as being in sections, but I like your idea of the chapters a lot. I hadn't really thought that much about that Gb, but your explanation makes perfect sense. I think that tritone, accidental or not, helps add to the off-balance feel that he works on, so I always thought it was kind of cool. I wish I could afford to do the Patreon thing, because I'd like to suggest that you take a look at the lick he plays near the end of Voodoo Child (Slight Return). You know the one. Just that lick. I think it's maybe the most sublime moment of Jimi's entire career.

[@masterchaoss]

Man I love both versions of this song it's impossible for me to choose.

[@Lurker-dk8jk]

GREAT ANALYSIS! Always amazed when watching your videos about how much I'm missing when I hear something I like. Please keep doing what you're doing.

[@PaulTheSkeptic]

Wait a minute now. Of course it's true that Hendrix took this song and made it his own but he had a great admiration for Dylan and his music. It wasn't a statement of mocking braggadocio as much as it was respect and appreciation.

[@leeroth4645]

i don't think that's what they were saying - i read their words as more implying that hendrix made it clear to dylan and everyone else that his version is distinct and not trying to be dylan's. kind of a "this is mine now - im making a different song" kinda thing

[@musamusashi]

Nobody implied any mokery: Dylan was Jimi's favorite songwriter and he had the deepest love and respect for him.

[@bak1358]

As someone who overthinks literally everything in my life, my hats off to you bro. You take it to a whole new level. And I really appreciate that👍

[@dhio9615]

I also feel like this song demonstrate the chemistry between Hendrix and Mitch. Easily my favourite musical duo ever. This duo is not always talked about because of the other titanic duos from that era like Gilmour and Wright or McCartney and Lennon

[@Ndlanding]

Fascinated! First time here, so I'd never before seen your drawings and explanations/interpretations. I think your breakdown is pretty much spot-on, and certainly helps people see what's happening in music.

[@oskarileikos]

Bob Dylan does not play Hendrix's version live. That's a quite common misunderstanding. Yes, the original is acoustic (with bass and drums) and Dylan plays it live with electric guitars and full band, but the rhythm is quite clearly from his original version, not from Hendrix's version. Dylan's live versions are basically his studio version but with full band and guitar solos.

[@musamusashi]

He often gets very close to Hendrix's interpretation, especially on 1973's Before the Flood live album with The Band.

[@oskarileikos]

@@musamusashi I disagree. How exactly is the Before The Flood version close to Hendrix's? The things that are similar about the two: 1. Guitar solos in both of them 2. Loud, electric bands in both of them And different? 1. Bob's version is much faster 2. Flood version is in Am, Jimi's version is in C#m 3. The singing melodies are different 4. There's a synth solo in the Flood version (a minor point but still). Given that Dylan played most of his originally acoustic songs with a loud band in live concerts (so Watchtower isn't special in that regard), I'd say that his version is fundamentally different from Hendrix's.

[@sslaytor]

I would agree that Dylan's live versions are much more obviously taken as electric rock versions of his original arrangement. Hendrix's take is a whole new arrangement with the innovations you show greatly illustrate! Dylan has several times the Hendrix did the best version of the song.

[@SoWhat.BigDeal.]

I read years ago, Dylan liked Jimi's version more and when he Dylan plays it live he hears Jimi's version in his head. I'll try to find it somewhere but regardless, definitely true.

[@mkvalor]

In the accompanying booklet to Dylan's album Biograph, he wrote: "I liked Jimi Hendrix’s record of this and ever since he died I’ve been doing it that way. Funny though, his way of doing it and my way of doing it weren’t that dismissive… Strange how when I sing it, I always feel it’s a tribute to him in some kind of way."

[@francomartini4328]

The first album I ever purchased was the soundtrack to the movie Easy Rider. It was 1970, I was 13 and that album featured Jimi doing If 6 was 9. A few months later Voodoo Chile (Slight Return) was released as a single here in the UK and it was all over the radio. Being someone who has never done things by halves I didn't buy the single, I bought Electric Ladyland in its original gatefold cover with Jimi sitting on the floor surrounded by naked ladies. (I'm still 13 at this point.) That's when I discovered All Along the Watchtower. 52 years on it's still one of my favourite songs of all time.

[@Ghonosyphlaids]

I like when an artist is so struck by another arrangement that they adopt bits of it into their performances. Iirc, the Rolling Stones didn't really have a good way to make Satisfaction work live until they heard Otis Redding's cover.

[@SkywalkerSamadhi]

Man, these videos blow my mind everytime. Idk how many times I've had to back up a few seconds, because I realized I wasn't really listening to what you were saying.. because I'm just lost wondering how you do these videos. Like, do you write a script first and then decide what little pictures you want to draw to flesh out the concepts? And then you've gotta go back and isolate the parts of the tracks you want to talk about. It would take months I would think. But it's so unique and interesting.. I watch them even when you're talking about songs I don't like. Magnificent work, man. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@AlecJulien]

Surprised you didn't make more of the interesting rhythm of the intro. Guitar players have been misunderstanding it for decades. Still, awesome analysis. Love your work.

[@ghosttownreview1531]

Good point! Could do an episode on common rhythmical misunderstandings like this one. Funny to me how people don't hear those first 3 notes as "pickup" notes before 1. It's just like Beethoven's 5th - the first three notes are pickups. Same with Stairway to Heaven in the middle power chord break section. It stays in 4/4 time but I've see analysis that tries to break this up into all sorts of little bits just to make the accents always land on a 1. Not a huge Beethoven fan, but he was also a master at hiding the 1 by accenting different beats.

[@velvetsteele]

I love all of the videos on this channel that I have seen. But this one, this one I love the most. By far. Make it a whole series: Dylan and those who covered him (but spend a little more time on BD - very underrated and undercovered here on YT in theory channels). Great job!

[@HeBreaksLate]

I think Alien Ant Farm's cover of Michael Jackson's Smooth Criminal has to be in the conversation of best covers of all time.

[@roberts1523]

It is a really good cover, but most non-metal heads have never heard of it. I prefer it, but even I didn’t know about it until last year. It is the sole reason alien ant farm was a almost headliner band at some concerts (not sure what that is called), it’s just hard to compete with Micheal Jackson.

[@nathanlowenstein7464]

is this a joke? pls tell me it os

[@everlastingsaturnalia]

I loved this analysis. I originally had hoped though, that it had included more analysis of the note choices and harmony in the solos. I've been breaking that solo down by ear lately and the note choices in the solos hover around 4ths, 6ths, and 9ths over the respective chords a lot, which gives it a really distinctly dreamy and somber sound. It's really beautiful when you start to realize how much depth the harmonic choices in this song have, and it helps explain why it sounds so emotionally gripping

[@xvoodoo9999]

I’m pretty sure the lyric is “princes kept their view”, not “princess kept her view”.

[@ja1152]

The lyric is "princes kept the view" according to Dylan's official site

[@joshuakaufman6787]

It’s Princes for Dylan, Princess for Hendrix.

[@hobbified]

Hendrix never really learned the words to this song before playing it. Case in point: "none of them along the line know what any of it is worth" in the Dylan version mutates to "none will level on the line, nobody offered his word" in Hendrix.

[@jcripp7974]

You would be correct

[@edsnotgod]

Well excuse us while we kiss this guy

[@ygrbooks]

A brilliant analysis of my favorite song ever. I do not claim to understand all of of your explanations, but Hendrix's version of Dylan's song has always fascinated me - more so than anything else I have ever listened to. And yes, I am over 60 years old and worked in the music industry for a long time. Here are four other songs that have - amongst many others - particularly haunted me. Maybe you can tell me why? 1. Love - "Andmoreagain" 2. The Kinks - "Waterloo Sunset" 3. The Sorrows - "Take A Heart" ( the Italian version "Mi si spezza il cuore" is my absolute favorite) 4. Spirit "Nature's Way" (the single version with the "waterfall" guitar solo). Ach, there is so much more ... thank god ...

[@larrykhulmann6262]

At 1:23 you mention there's no harmonic travel yet on the hendrix version he goes to the F minor chord where Dylan never hits that chord. That's my favorite chord in that song

[@TheMaghorn]

When I first listened to All Along the Watchtower I was just drifting around songs from the era at random and added both versions to a playlist without realizing they were the same song. It took me an embarrassing amount of time to catch it because they just sound so different.

[@luxinveritate3365]

What about the Doors rendition of Breichts' and Weils Moon of Alabama?

[@matthewbailey4768]

the thing i like best about the hendrix cover is that like dylan is obviously the joker and he sings the song like he feels it. so that makes hendrix the thief since he took dylan's song. but hendrix obviously also feels it. and the lyrics in the begging and the middle of the song are just about how the business men like the money from the songs, the plowmen like the songs for the music and how it makes them feel but neither really get it and only the joker and the thief really understand each other. it's kinda like him covering it was perfect and added more meaning to the song.

[@johnsingleton6422]

Do you think the acoustic guitar at the beginning followed by the electric guitar is a reference to the controversy at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965? Going from acoustic to electric was a very divisive move for Dylan and this version highlights that change and amplifies it.

[@nerfer1091]

I doubt that's intentional, but thats a really cool way to read into it

[@curtisthomas2670]

Very interesting point

[@WizardOfDocs]

I've never sat down and really listened to this song before, but it's got all the nervous energy of a year and a half in lockdown. I think Hendrix would be a little frustrated that his song was still so brutally relatable, but I hope he'd be happy that people still care about his work.

[@robertglenn9324]

I've always believed Hendrix covered Watch Tower because in part, he felt it expressed his anger with manager, Michael Jeffrey, who had been literally robbing Jimi blind. You can hear and feel the anger in his remolding of Dylan's version.

[@peteranthonyofthefamilybir18]

WOW THAT was a VERY CLEVER BREAKDOWN EXPLANATION, 'walk' of ART

[@DennisSheaPRM]

I used to think of this as something like Mingus doing I left my Heart in San Francisco. Hendrix took this song over and made it his. That's because he was good at covers. He was just better at understanding how music moves It was like instinctive with him,

[@247Lang]

Never heard someone analyse a song like this. Wow!!!

[@indubiousComrade]

"Loser" by Grateful Dead is also an example of a guitar solo that starts high and goes low.

[@DocBolus]

Superb, thanks so much for this amazing commentary.

[@CaseyDresser510]

Did we just completely overlook the fact that Hendrix played one of the greatest bass-lines ever on this track?

[@CaseyDresser510]

@Henry-Bart I thought Noel had stomped out so he grabbed Noel’s bass. Maybe he did play it on acoustic guitar. Either way, the bass line he plays is amazing

[@russellholmes3187]

That seemed like a labour of love. Thank you.

[@joeljezequel]

Nice Prisonner reference!

[@persephone1062]

Much respect to you for this amazing lesson! I'm not a musician and I haven't studied music theory or composition. I just know what I like and what speaks to my soul. But I was able to follow your analysis w/o any difficulty, and it has given me an even greater appreciation for this beautiful masterpiece. So thank you, thank you, Thank You!!!

[@AnarchyIsLove]

Hendrix took the blues back from the spirit of Elvis

[@ianchmp]

I always thought music theory was dry academic navel-gazing until I stumbled onto videos like these on KZbin. Props for bringing this craft to life in a meaningful way.

[@WuweiTranslations]

Hey, I'm not exactly a Hendrix fan (although I do like his stuff) nor into musical theory too much (playing guitar myself) - but your real time illustrations are outstanding and fun! :D

[@smkh2890]

Great analysis, 12Tone! Helps to explain why I love Hendrix. RIP too soon.

[@drewlovs]

My dad was a vet, and I grew up on military bases with kids of other vets… meaning most of my early friends were from poor white and black families. This song always felt like what our fathers were silently feeling… from both perspectives. Both are talking about the same thing from much the same point of view, but Dylan’s was sad, morbid frustration, and Hendrix had the anger and rage because the life experiences before being sent off to war were so different. In the end, they all ended up in the same place, just more broken promises and hopelessness.

[@shadowcat0201]

This simplifies the genius of Hendrix's innovative guitar playing. Jimi could really take a piece and ascend it to another planet.

[@cazgerald9471]

A few covers you didn't give props to who owned it at least as much as Jimi Joe Cocker "With a LIttle Help from My Friends" Ike & Tina Turner "Proud Mary" Manfred Mann's Earth Band "Blinded by the Light" The entire Led Zeppelin catalog - just kidding - sort of

[@dx.feelgood5825]

Dazed and Confused definitely. Had no idea it was a cover. Twist and Shout- the Beatles The man who sold the world- nirvana (pretty good cover imo) Knockin on Heaven's Door- Guns n Roses

[@forrcaho]

Elton John did an excellent cover of "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds"

[@cazgerald9471]

@@forrcaho I agree, but structurally it's fairly similar to the original. I was trying to give examples that are uniquely different from the originals, as in Jimi's version "All Along the Watchtower". Van Halen did a fantastic cover of "You Really Got Me", but it's structurally similar to the original with Van Halen embellishments. A cover of that song which is completely unique is the version by Oingo Boingo - not saying it's better, but they definitely did it their way.

[@jonmorr777]

Souixie and the banshees- Dear Prudence is better than original I think ?

[@kingofallmediums2123]

Inside Looking Out - Grand Funk

[@markbrown7103]

I really like the way you explained that that is really cool yeah I know they’re two different guitar players Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix but Jimmy was out of the ordinary I was always one step ahead of everybody else at that time I’ve been playing guitar now for almost 47 years and I’ll tell you what he they say he was a nice guy that he got along with all of his promoters at all of his producers it’s a shame he died so young that just goes to show you what drugs do for you I’m sorry he’s gone wished he was still around I guess he would really make a great music now thanks for the video have a great day 🎸🎸👍🏼

[@Pluveus]

I've always identified with the Dylan version myself, because it's the little bit of doomerism I allow myself to embrace. The Dylan and Hendrix versions always struck me as resigned and rebellious respectively.

[@stevemorse108]

This song is sheer genius. I have been playing it for 40 years in various bands. I am not THE Steve Morse by the way. Good point about trying to find a way out feeling trap. Nice analysis about the fills… what a pleasure to revel in analyzing great music when waking up. Thanks for taking the time to get into this song in such depth. The g and a minor sound essential to me and I think were done on purpose. For me the main thrust of the lyrics is anti materialism and cynicism about the degeneration of traditional values and the purity of a bygone era. Well done to get in a reference to nietschés brillant quote about the abyss staring back into you.

[@flochartingham2333]

There's the first time you hear a song, then all the times after that. You kinda know you aren't going anywhere anyway.

[@shredvansshredquarters]

Dude as a massive fan of this song and solo, music, guitar, and good ole James Marshall Hendee, I must say you delivered to us an epic analysis to the likes of being possibly your best work! I am a massive fanboy of Tosin Abasi and where he has pushed the instrument of guitar, seemingly picking up where Jimi left off, IMO. I would advise any guitar/music snob who thinks they are above Jimi and perhaps classify him/ his work as something they have surpassed because they can play G.O.A.T. perfectly, to watch this. It highlights why Jimi was an incredible composer, performer and innovator of the instrument. Thank you 12tone. Im currently switching over to Nebula to listen to your podcast with polyphonic. Great Stuff as always my dude! P.S. this in no way is a dis to Polyphia, their fans, or anyone at all. Just an off example to reference to "that guy" we all know who may think there is nothing to be learned from Hendrix in 2021

[@kyyla771]

Behind Blue Eyes by Limp Bizkit? Really? Like... really?

[@YogGroove]

I was hoping that was a dry humor joke.

[@mikewalsh7318]

I didn't know that was a thing.

[@michaeltaylor6118]

Thank you, 12 Tone! I have never been so entertained while learning music theory!

[@GtrZenRobertKuhlmann]

Hendrix's is brilliant, but Dylan's is just flat out scary.

[@CraigKeidel]

Like any good folk musician; rooted in the true horror of the domain of power over a person's individuality

[@zeltzamer4010]

The acoustic/harmonica and Dylan’s deadpan singing style fit the lyrics better.

[@tbh9247]

This video still amazes me. GREAT job.

[@MrAndersonmm]

Do people think Behind Blue Eyes is a good cover? I've literally never heard anyone say that before. Shrug.

[@Taschenschieber]

I... think that is supposed to be a joke?

[@dx.feelgood5825]

It's a joke lol

[@MrAndersonmm]

@@dx.feelgood5825 LOL okay, good deal. Went right the fuck over my head.

[@WaterShowsProd]

I didn't even know about it before and was wondering why it was on the list. If it was a joke, that's OK then. I was wondering why he wouldn't have listed Joe Cocker's "With A Little Help From My Friends".

[@tnekkc]

When I saw Hendrix do this song in Seattle, it was a hit on the radio.

[@leftaroundabout]

What? Why would anybody put Limp Bizkit's version of Behind Blue Eyes in a list of greatest cover songs?

[@tmage23]

I assume (hope) that was a joke

[@leftaroundabout]

@@tmage23 It really wasn't joking. No offence meant. The Limp Bizkit version is _a perfectly decent interpretation_ - but it's in no way comparable with Hendrix' Watchtower, or Sinead O'Connor's Nothing Compares 2 U, or Joe Cocker's With A Little Help From My Friends. All of those cover versions made something completely different of the original, adding new dimensions that you'd never have dreamt of from the original alone. By contrast, Limp Bizkit mostly took an already incredibly good song, took away some of the complexity without changing or adding much, and re-recorded it with a modern sound. (Nothing wrong with _taking away complexity,_ though I personally miss the melodic counter-lines and explosion of anger in the middle part of the Who original, which IMO is the inevitable culmination of the story.)

[@tmage23]

@@leftaroundabout Limp Bizkit's version is all tension. There's no release. They completely omit the second part of the song which is where the energy comes from. It is a flat, flaccid cover with none of the aggression of the original - which is a really odd choice since Limp Bizkit is generally known for aggressive music.

[@oravlaful]

@@leftaroundabout corey usually jokes without much of a sarcastic entonation in their voice so it might be a joke. i dont know though, i've never heard this song

[@persecutor96]

Employing the rule of three, it was likely a joke.

[@PendelSteven]

1:05 If you're not aware, for many if not most Jimi Hendrix tunes his guitar was tuned in D# - or some sticklers call it Eb, sigh. That is simply why the chords are a fret lower. Or a half note, if you must.

[@Roxanneredpanda]

Can we just agree Jimi was the best at all things musical

[@bla_blub]

13:09 "Here he cranks up his delay pedal..." Well, as you've explained before, it was the time of compact effect pedals like wah and all sorts of drives, also the UniVibe. But I'm pretty sure, that compact delay pedals weren't a thing back then. The BBD chip was invented afterwards (I think) and found in compact pedals not earlier than the mid seventies. We're probably talking about a tape machine. And yes, you mentioned that accidental pull-off and the Eb tuning in your pinned comment. That was my first thought, when you talked about that note in the video.