Okay, let's settle this once and for all. When people ask who wrote All Along the Watchtower, there's always this pause. You can almost hear the gears turning. Is it Hendrix? Dylan? Somebody else? I get it – Jimi Hendrix's version is so iconic it practically burns through your speakers. But the real story? That starts with a scrawny guy from Minnesota holed up in a basement.
Truth is, I used to make the same mistake. Back in college, I swore up and down Hendrix wrote it. Got into a legit argument at a record store over that. The owner finally pulled out Dylan's "John Wesley Harding" LP and shut me down hard. Felt like an idiot, but it sparked my obsession with untangling this musical mystery.
Bob Dylan: The Man Behind the Lyrics
So here's the raw deal: Bob Dylan wrote All Along the Watchtower in late 1967. He was recuperating from his infamous motorcycle crash, hiding out in Woodstock with The Band. Picture this: a cramped basement filled with mismatched furniture, coffee cups everywhere, and Dylan scribbling lyrics between takes.
The song landed on his 1968 album "John Wesley Harding" – a stripped-down, acoustic departure from his earlier electric work. Honestly? When it first dropped, nobody lost their minds over it. The album had bigger hits like "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight." But there was something about those apocalyptic lyrics...
I've always found Dylan's original recording oddly haunting. That nasal voice, the barebones arrangement – it feels like campfire storytelling at the end of the world. Doesn't have Hendrix's fire, but it creeps under your skin.
Breaking Down Dylan's Version
- Recording Date: October-November 1967 (exact date unknown, typical Dylan mystery)
- Album Position: Track 2 on "John Wesley Harding"
- Length: Just 2:31 – shortest song on the album
- Musical Vibe: Sparse acoustic guitar, harmonica, minimal percussion
What fascinates me is how Dylan packed so much into under three minutes. You've got biblical references (Isaiah 21:5-9), a joker and thief arguing, and that chilling watchtower imagery. Feels like he bottled lightning in a folk song.
How Jimi Hendrix Stole the Song (And Why Dylan Loved It)
Now here's where things get wild. Six months after Dylan's release, Jimi Hendrix drops his cover. And man, it was like dropping a nuke on the music world. Hendrix heard Dylan's demo and immediately connected – he recorded it within days at London's Olympic Studios.
Funny story: Dylan first heard Hendrix's version in a taxi. The driver had it on the radio. Dylan reportedly said, "Damn, it's his song now." That's how radically it transformed. Hendrix took those cryptic lyrics and set them on fire with wah-wah pedals.
| Artist | Recording Date | Release Date | Album | Key Differences |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bob Dylan | Fall 1967 | Dec 27, 1967 | John Wesley Harding | Acoustic, narrative vocal style, 2:31 duration |
| Jimi Hendrix | Jan 21, 1968 | Sep 21, 1968 | Electric Ladyland | Electric guitars, explosive solo, 4:00 duration |
I've talked to guitar nerds who swear Hendrix's solo rewrote rock history. That chaotic, wailing sound? Pure battlefield noise. Funny thing – Hendrix actually played Dylan's version constantly during the sessions. You can hear fragments of Dylan's phrasing in his vocals.
The Unexpected Ripple Effect
This cover didn't just blow minds – it changed careers. After Hendrix released it:
- Dylan started performing it live Hendrix-style in 1974
- Radio stations flipped: Hendrix's version got 10x more airplay
- Over 100 artists covered it within five years (everyone from U2 to Neil Young)
My hot take: Hendrix did for Dylan what Elvis did for blues – he weaponized it for mainstream audiences. Without Jimi, we might not be debating who wrote All Along the Watchtower today.
Beyond Dylan and Hendrix: The Cover Universe
Let's be real – once Hendrix cracked the code, everyone wanted in. But not all covers are created equal. After wasting hours on questionable YouTube versions, I've ranked the most significant:
| Artist | Year | Why It Matters | Rating (1-5) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dave Mason | 1974 | First post-Hendrix rock cover, hit #67 on Billboard | ★★★☆☆ |
| Neil Young | 1991 | Acoustic reimagining for Dylan tribute album | ★★★★☆ |
| U2 | 1988 | Rattle and Hum version mixed blues and arena rock | ★★★★☆ |
| Bear McCreary | 2008 | Battlestar Galactica soundtrack – sci-fi twist | ★★★☆☆ |
| Michael Hedges | 1990 | Mind-blowing acoustic guitar arrangement | ★★★★★ |
Personal confession: I can't stand the Dave Matthews Band version. Sorry, fans. That 15-minute jam feels like being trapped in a Phish concert without escape routes.
Solving the Enduring Mysteries
Even after confirming who wrote All Along the Watchtower, debates keep raging. Let's tackle the big headaches:
Why did Dylan write such a short song?
Dylan's always been about efficiency. During the "John Wesley Harding" sessions, he was obsessed with stripped-down storytelling. As he told Rolling Stone: "The songs told themselves... they didn't need decoration." Plus, with 12 songs crammed on a 38-minute LP? Brevity was survival.
Is it REALLY about the Bible?
Partly. Isaiah 21 describes watchmen watching for Babylon's fall – eerily similar to Dylan's "princes" observing chaos. But typical Dylan, he mashed it with personal symbolism. That joker/thief dialogue? Pure speculative gold. Music scholars still brawl over interpretations.
How did Hendrix get the song so fast?
Chas Chandler (Hendrix's manager) gave him an advance tape of "John Wesley Harding" weeks before release. Legend says Hendrix played it on loop for 48 hours straight. By the time he hit Olympic Studios, he'd rebuilt it from the ground up.
Why This Question Still Matters
Look, if you're digging into who wrote All Along the Watchtower, you're probably not just fact-checking. You're likely hearing that Hendrix riff in your head right now. And that's the magic – this song became bigger than its creator.
Here's what most articles miss: The confusion itself proves how art evolves. Dylan planted the seed, Hendrix turned it into a redwood, and countless artists kept grafting new branches. That's rare. Most covers fade, but this one inverted the creative hierarchy.
Last thing: If you find Dylan's original too raw, try the 1974 live version from "Before the Flood." Hearing him channel Hendrix's energy while singing his own lyrics? Full-circle chills.
Essential Listening Guide
Cut through the noise with these definitive recordings:
| Version | Where to Find | Key Moment | Fun Fact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dylan (Original) | "John Wesley Harding" (1967) | Final harmonica fade-out | Recorded in 3 takes |
| Hendrix (Studio) | "Electric Ladyland" (1968) | 3:10 guitar solo peak | Mixed in New York while Hendrix was touring |
| Dylan Live '74 | "Before the Flood" (1974) | Opening power chord | First time Dylan performed it Hendrix-style |
| Hendrix Live | "Live at Winterland" (1968) | 7:45 improvisation | Played slower than studio version |
Whatever version hooks you, just remember that question – who wrote All Along the Watchtower – isn't trivia. It's the starting point for understanding how great art gets hijacked, transformed, and ultimately immortalized. Now go blow someone's mind with the real story.