Lyrical Review of Bob Dylan’s “Jokerman”

[@torowudang]

One of the big problems is that most people waited too late in their lives to seek God, many times not only did they wait too late but they do it because they have an emergency situation, whether due to health, accidents, deaths of family members. . When one waits too late to seek God it is very difficult to achieve true communion with the spirit of God because reaching that state takes a long time and the world only offers constant distractions. Those who wait too late are the easiest to fall into disappointment, frustration and confusion and are the ones who abandon the path. There is always the opportunity to find God at any time, once we have that genuine and sincere experience it is time to leave the things of the world from one day to the next, we cannot serve two Gods at the same time, friendship with the world is enmity with God

[@CalicoSilver]

After a lifetime of fervently “seeking God”, a short while ago I finally just decided to let God find me if he is interested. Meanwhile I will continue to treat others with respect and love, not trying to take advantage of others for my own benefit, daily remind God that “here I am, if you’re interested in me”, and let the chips fall as they may. What I will not continue to do, however, is to carry the constant burden of seemingly unanswered pleadings towards what might as well be empty space; I leave it in God’s hands.

[@toddbritton8455]

I discovered this song about two months ago. First time I heard it I knew exactly who he was talkin' about. And if you've walked with Him, you would know too.

[@georgemathie8123]

Infidels is definitely in my top ten favorite Bob Dylan albums and I like the sly sarcastic humor in some of his lyrics on the album on tracks such as neighborhood bully and union sundown for jokerman it's the iconic video from early 1984 that captured my imagination is it about religious hypocrisy, corruption of the soul or maybe the devil himself I think it's all of these themes and a touch of Bob Dylan's ambiguous lyrical word play all in all 40 years later and it still packs a whallop

[@CalicoSilver]

I agree 100%, George.

[@georgemathie8123]

@@CalicoSilver right as a Dylan fan or not you can't help be amused by his smart Aleck commentary and subtle humor

[@knockedoutloaded279]

I see Bob in nov 2024..hope he sings this..

[@dixiefallas7799]

Yes I’m seeing him November 8th Nottingham. Infidels is a great album. Licence to kill is also great along with every song he’s ever written. Have a great time,I know I will 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧

[@TomCwimpRock]

Excellent Jeff! I love “Jokerman”, but if I were to attempt to analyze the lyrics, I would come off sounding like Homer Simpson or something, lol… None of us, of course, could know exactly what Dylan is saying, but you have made a convincing case for your interpretation. You should have taught literature or religious studies Jeff..

[@CalicoSilver]

Thanks, Thomas. You're right - none of us know what Dylan was saying....which is something I've been giving a lot of thought to recently and will make a video about soon. As for teaching.....I wouldn't last one semester teaching in today's colleges or universities or even grade schools, Thomas. I taught college chemistry for 20 years but was basically "let go" in 2019 despite stellar reviews by students and colleagues alike.......it is an interesting and eye-opening (but probably not surprising) story and I should make a video about it.....but suffice it to say that people like me were no longer welcome as teachers. EVERY teacher that I worked with when I started at my last teaching position (which lasted for 13 years) was also "let go" within a period of 2-3 years...... Anyway, during that time there were several opportunities for current teachers to propose semester courses on literature based on our passion and expertise on the topics.....my proposals never made it through the process because I was proposing the teaching of "dead white male" writers like Wordsworth and Mallarme, et al., whereas modern writers focused on race or gender theory were always selected. I don't think I have the words to adequately describe my disdain for the "education" establishment in this country today, and I want nothing to do with it.

[@TomCwimpRock]

@@CalicoSilver I’m very sorry to hear that Jeff, but I’m not altogether surprised, unfortunately..If it’s any solace at all, there are a lot of us VC Dylan geeks that very much appreciate your Biblical and literary knowledge and insights…👍

[@jamesgriffithsmusic]

Wonderful video Jeff, really enjoyed it. I love the song already and part of me didn't want to know what it was all about, but I will now definitely be listening with new ears!

[@CalicoSilver]

Thanks, James. But of course I am probably way off as usual in interpreting Dylan's songs. They're like puzzles. Not sure why I enjoy trying to piece them together, but..... Glad you enjoyed it. Maybe in a few years I'll have a different interpretation of it! Haha.

[@judyrussoniello1497]

Truth will make you free ❤❤❤

[@AutisticusMaximus-hx7pp]

thank you. and for the nightingale one too. i have been wondering for years about this song. you rationalised my thoughts succinctly

[@CalicoSilver]

Thanks for your kind comment.

[@chrisrees7054]

Brilliant insight!

[@CalicoSilver]

Thank you!

[@stevewilliams5711]

I have loved Dylan for decades, but this song has always puzzled me. I'd been moving toward the understanding that you seem to have reached, and I think your analysis is spot-on; it really opened the song up to me. Yes, I agree that the song is taking on all the false prophets who often cleverly disguise themselves as bearers of light. Excellent video. Thank you.

[@chrisrees7054]

It's definitely not a silly pop song

[@danwood4631]

Terrific presentation.

[@CalicoSilver]

Thanks Dan. As always, only Dylan himself knows what he really meant with the song, but it is fun and interesting to think about it.

[@noahsmith1726]

If asked my favorite Dylan song I'd probably have to say Jokerman. The types of lyrics he wrote during the Shot of Love and Infidels period are terrific, some great explorations of other more mysterious sides of faith, lots of interpreting possible. Jokerman also reminds me of some songs on Tempest which can only be good.

[@CalicoSilver]

Definitely spot-on! Great comment. Thanks.

[@mickey8355]

Your review on Dylan`s "Jokerman" enticed me to revisit the movie "Oh God", starring George Burns and John Denver. How greedy, dishonest people use religion to take money out of your pocket and fill their pockets. That`s just one of many things you hit upon in this well made video. If I were teaching a religion class, I would start by having my students listen to Jokerman first, and this video after hearing all their personal slant on the song.

[@mickey8355]

Best video ever!

[@CalicoSilver]

Thanks Ralph!

[@sterlingceballo4794]

Just found ya this morning after the Angelina review... Great work 💯....

[@CalicoSilver]

Thanks!

[@johnheaton5667]

superb commentary mate....well done!

[@MrNormaltoo]

interesting analysis . your bible proved quite handy and spoke no lies. .. Infidels pretty well describes the bunch of us and where we're headed. not much could be more relevant to us all and to see dylan well versed (as we knew he was) and delivering his messages makes us happy. Sometimes we don't know where it all comes from but man, it does have the same sort of ring as the other guy and the other guy and the next guy too.

[@CalicoSilver]

Indeed, indeed. Well written. Thanks.

[@knockedoutloaded279]

Cool..

[@chrisrees7054]

Bob is 83 years old. Sounds like my dad. Same voice.

[@CalicoSilver]

I’m 19 years younger than Dylan but I could never do at my age what he can do at his age. Amazing.

[@jennifs6868]

‘The law of the jungle and the sea’ refer to natural law, and admiralty law respectively.

[@shmuelben2412]

Great review, thanks And still after this long review there is no clear answer. Dylan often criticizes the religious leaders who take advantage of innocent people and steal their money

[@CalicoSilver]

Indeed. 👍

[@georgecoventry8441]

Very good interpretation. I think Bob was experiencing some considerable disillusionment with some of the religious leaders and groups he'd been around in the years prior to doing that album. Wolves dressed in sheep's clothing. Jokermen. Anyone can wonder, why doesn't God step in and do something about it? Well......we have free will, don't we? And so, people go on choosing for themselves, because that is the nature of free will. It's a very tricky business.

[@CalicoSilver]

I think you are right, George. My thoughts on this song change often but most of the time I think it is about those wolves in sheep's clothing with whom Dylan was perhaps disillusioned with at the time.....and not only in religious entities but in other institutions as well. Another commenter, Alexander, suggested that Dylan might even have been disillusioned in his own self so that the Jokerman might even have been referring to himself as well. Very interesting to consider this stuff.....not sure it is worthwhile, but interesting....haha! Thanks for your comments.

[@georgecoventry8441]

@@CalicoSilver - That is another possibility. It wouldn't be the first time he took note of his own failings in a song, would it? I had to do a lot of thinking about Jokerman, because it raises so many questions. I can't know for sure what Bob intended, but I really love this song, and consider it one of his best.

[@DylanMyth5728]

The reason is given in Jesus parable "Tares Amongst the Wheat".

[@gibby6904]

Love Jokerman.....

[@CalicoSilver]

Great! I hope my blathering about the song doesn't take away any of your love for it! Hahaha! It is a masterpiece of a song, for sure. ;-)

[@gibby6904]

@@CalicoSilver no....I love your reviews as well!

[@millznthrillz9882]

Great video! You should do some videos regarding The Doors, if you have an interest in them.

[@CalicoSilver]

Not sure I have much to offer or say about The Doors, even though I love all of their albums. Something to think about. Thanks.

[@JerryThibeaut]

Bravo !

[@CalicoSilver]

Thanks!

[@johncennamo9084]

to paraphrase the artist formerly known as Zimmerman: "I think I'm writing these songs about somebody else, but it always turns out I'm writing about myself."

[@johncennamo9084]

Geman to English translation: Zimmermann = carpenter

[@CalicoSilver]

I think it is almost impossible for great writers to not put any of their own selves in what they write.

[@maggiebryan2355]

❤❤❤

[@sterlingceballo4794]

False crapola😂.... Right on point

[@pauldhaasbroek]

Interesting analysis of a very cryptic apocalyptic song. I heard Bob introduce a Heartbreaker backed concert saying his hero was Jesus. I agree he is disillusioned with Christianity by the time of Infidels.... so I was surprised to hear him say that. I am also leaning toward Jokerman being Jesus since then. I think Jesus was a rebel... joking with His time's establishment.

[@CalicoSilver]

Thanks for your comment.

[@electricfence61]

I have no idea what this song is about, but l do love it ...and l very much enjoyed your commentary on it. Thank you Jeff.

[@CalicoSilver]

But, Mick.....I just told you what the song is about! Hahaha!! But seriously, thanks, my friend. Jeff

[@danwood4631]

Shadow Kingdom review coming?

[@CalicoSilver]

I haven’t obtained a copy of it yet but I know it is great because I remember loving it (not the falsely promoted “intimate live performance event” but the actual pre-recorded performances).

[@RickM01]

Aside from metaphors, what in in reality causes human evil? Why is there a need for being 'saved' communally? Communal confession and recognition we need each other is important in faith. We get too far away from ourselves if we think we can be saved individually (me talking). Why is there a Military Industrial Complex and a Prison Industrial Complex run by corporations? Why has our country been purchased and sold long ago, with leaders and ideals giving us a false sense of freedom with the safety of materialism? Is there a reference to Reagan in Jokerman? Tensions in the world? Jokerman is such a complex song and addresses so many things from the sacred to secular. There's the Holy Christ - friend to the martyr...and the anti-Christ - manipulator...dream twister. The 'You' statements, who? Old and New Testament characters and references to mythology and literature. I am not well versed or well read in a lot of this so I depend on researchers to present ideas to get me thinking. And I catch pieces in what you are saying (you being a researcher). This song gets so bleak. The way the song sounds is like Dylan may be bewildered with himself for trusting someone or something he shouldn't have trusted (maybe?). I can't analyze too much because even the beginning phrase of casting bread could be taken as a denial of sitting with Christ, being frivolous with faith or sustenance. Or it could be the traditional take on Ecclesiastes to do good works without expecting anything in return. Either way, it was an awesome song to analyze and I appreciate your own expression of your faith. Thanks Jeff!!!!

[@CalicoSilver]

Fantastic comment, Rick!! Marvelous insight and deep questions. Indeed our “government” was bought and sold long long ago. “Corrupt” doesn’t even scratch the surface. But not only government but all institutions that we once had faith in….all have rotted from within. Truth has no place, nor is even considered or valued. Everything Dylan has been writing about for 60 years has been spot-on. No wonder he’s so interested in using Biblical references and themes….they resonate so well with the commentary and questions he asks in his lyrics. Great comment!! Thanks for sharing it. Jeff

[@DylanMyth5728]

The evil ones drive us to God.

[@johncennamo9084]

that's the album Bob Dylan wanted Frank Zappa to produce, I think... Gotta wonder if that might have helped or made it even worse

[@CalicoSilver]

Good question!

[@johncennamo9084]

Jokerman dance to the nightingale's tune. Birds fly high by the light o'the moon... so very obviously Jesus. I mean, c'mon. "You were born with snakes in both hands." ? who else could it be?

[@CalicoSilver]

Indeed. Maybe. ;-)

[@martinlarsson5254]

3:40 into the video now and you've just said that you will try not to do a long video. 😅 But I will continue... ... I love text analysis. 😊

[@CalicoSilver]

I love making short videos but it is impossible when discussing a Dylan song. 😉

[@grahamhobbs3501]

Goes without saying that I've always loved the song - any Bob fan would - but it's always been slippery grey to me - elusive - I know the Bible well enough to get the imagery but not the meaning - it's too coherent not to have a deliberate meaning but too poetic to pin that down. Typical Bob. Your thoughts, as always are interesting and well worth throwing into the mix. It's quite interesting to think of the outtakes like Blind Willie McTell and Foot of Pride in terms of where his head was at the time, too.

[@CalicoSilver]

"Too coherent not to have a deliberate meaning but too poetic to pin that down" is a perfect description of what I also think about many of Dylan's lyrics, Graham. I enjoy trying to interpret his lyrics, just as I've always enjoyed trying to interpret poetry, the bible, surreal art films, etc......but to be honest, as I get older I am starting to wonder why I bother with "too coherent not to have a deliberate meaning but too poetic to pin that down" any more, haha! Sometimes I'll consider a simple (and instantly understandable) but profound lyric in another artist's song and think, "is this any less powerful than 12 verses of abstract poetry?" Yes I do struggle with this sometimes..... Your second comment about how helpful it is to consider the other songs Dylan wrote at the same time is excellent also. Thanks for the great comment, Graham. Jeff

[@alexandervaneijken7741]

Dear Jeff, If I may be so bold as to make a few remarks about this lyric and you interpretation First of all: my sincere compliments for daring to give your opinions. ,,It is a shadowy world ,skies are slippery gray,, These lyrics are also slippery indeed and as of yet,rather beyondme. Now the song (so not the lyrics) has a very catchy,sing along quality. Perhaps that is the reason I did not delve very deep in the text(some songs of Dylan force you more that others to listen really carefully. But because of you now I give it a serious try in the next time. Here are some difficulties I have with your view. Take for instance the refrain and more particularly the symbolism of the Nightingale We associate the Nightingale with creativity, the muse, nature's purity, and, in spirituality virtue and goodness So. Dancing to the tune of the Nightingale means(in my opinion) Manage you life to noble standards. Dylan has referred to himself as Song and Dance Man and also as Joker(man) Therefore we might assume the Jokerman in the title might be Dylan himself were it not that some of the lines further on makes this notion hard to swallow. Personally I find the notion of God as the Ultimate Jokerman very plausible I find the notion of JesusChrist,or his phony counterpart as Jokerman also very difficult to deal with. So:who is the Jokerman?? To find a plausible answer to that is to find a plausible interpreation for this lyric) Batrayal hits us all very hard emotionally and makes us sometimes turn 180 degrees in our point of view. Perhaps Dylan came to realise that Christianity was not the Redeemer he theershought it was and was promised him and felt betrayed. Pure speculation of course. Well I WILL delve deeper into this lyric though as I said before;it may be too slippery for me Cheers!

[@CalicoSilver]

GREAT comment, Alexander! I remember thinking once that the Jokerman was indeed Dylan....and perhaps it is.....perhaps Dylan was using the Jesus analogy to describe his disillusionment in not only others' "false" teachings or whatever, but also disillusionment in his own self and his own work. I certainly don't understand what this lyric is about, other than whatever ideas it prompts in me at the time. My interpretation changes all the time. As I mentioned in my response to Graham's comment here, sometimes I wonder if all this analysis is worthwhile.......

[@alexandervaneijken7741]

@@CalicoSilver I saw a few (only a few but there are lots of them) comments on this song,on the internet I will spare you all the nonsense I came across (most of it,in my view) but there is one saying of Dylan that I want to draw your attention to namely: ,,That is a song that got away from me,, In this particular example I find,for once,that that rings true I do think he overreached (and should have taken , dare I say this, far more time for its composition) There is a certain contract between the artist and the audience ,a sort of give and take or am I too banal Complexity in poetry,I am all for it,but it HAS to remain intelligible for the seriously interested. It is very,very easy for someone ,You can do it,I can do itto write a few nonsensical phrases, throw in a few biblical references for good measure and based on your reputation as a wordsmith, keep people guessing ad infinitum. Better say nothing then Graham coined a fine phrase indeed in his Too coherent ........ though often I do get the meaning Cheers Jeff

[@CalicoSilver]

@@alexandervaneijken7741 I have been thinking these very same thoughts for some time now, Alexander, and am planning on making a video about it soon. Thanks. Jeff

[@DylanMyth5728]

Check out Jesus's teaching /parable "Tares Amongst the Wheat".

[@raindeerprojekt4119]

Maybe change the Thumb Nail.... I get it, But I feel baited

[@CalicoSilver]

The title of the video is not baited in the least. But whenever I use album art etc. people complain that they clicked the video hoping to hear the song, so I can’t win.

[@peterkline7137]

Dinosaurs roamed this earth for 200 million years without a bible. There are 1 million insects (that don't read the bible) for every human on the planet. Bob Dylan simply wrote a great song with brilliant imagery based on human mythology.

[@ethanschneider2711]

I've always thought it was about the anti christ who takes Jesus and his works and does not give them their due credit and is an idol for people to praise nd to distract the people from the true God.

[@CalicoSilver]

Yep I also think that’s the gist of it, Ethan. Deception and manipulation while using powerful and accepted religious beliefs to do so. In other words, what Jesus so often and strongly warned against. And I also think the song can apply to similar deception and manipulation within other widely held institutions as well. Great and profound lyric.

[@DylanMyth5728]

The Popes of Rome call themselves God. The Jesuit sect calles themselves The Society of Jesus