Bishop Barron on Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower"

Listen carefully to the lyrics to All Along the Watchtower, and then read the book of the prophet Isaiah and tell me that I'm just projecting my beliefs.

This was a spot-on and brilliant interpretation of Dylan's enigmatic masterpiece. Like many others, I have heard this song thousands of times and always been fascinated by the imagery and symbolism. Another really interesting interpretation of the song, and the entire John Wesley Harding LP, is based on the fact that Dylan recorded it at the height of the flower-power era, in 1967, which he basically sat out by hanging out in upstate NY with his young family and members of the Hawks/Band. I've always thought he was observing and commenting at the civil unrest of the late 60s from a biblical point of view. I think he was also saying to people "Look I know there's a lot of social upheaval going on—Vietnam, the Civil Rights struggle, the Generation Gap, changing morals, etc.—but civilization has been through stuff like this before we'll get through it this time too."

Absolutely incredible take on one of my most favorite songs.

Even as an atheist this is the most accurate and best understanding of the song.

This was a great interpretation of Dylan song and Dylan is one of the greatest singer-songwriters and Poets of all time

I've ALWAYS wondered what this song is about. Great analysis! Goosebumps on the good thief analogy

What a brilliant analysis by Bishop Barron of one of Dylan’s most mystical and beautifully poetic songs. All Along The Watchtower has long spoken to me in a direct, instinctive way, but I now have a deeper intellectual appreciation of it.

I have a Jimmy Hendrix cd in my car and recently have been listening to it quite a bit and then I came across this lesson by Bishop Barron and it gives now more meaning which I like a lot

Excellent!!! I had already made the connection with Isaiah 21 but the one between the watchtower and the Cross is simply billiant! Well done, God bless you!

I'm 65 and Catholic. Growing up I listened to far more Dylan than to priests. Now I can see I wasn't going in opposite directions.

This is a wonderful exegesis of a song that is so compact & yet so full of meaning.

Excellent Fr. Barron, great series keep up the good work !

Thanks for the great insights on how that song is contected to our faith Fr. Barron!

Hey, the good father likes good music! ✌️

Great interpretation Bishop Barron, thanks for talking about one of my favorite artists

Having listened to a few of your Dylan Vlogs i have to say i think i have finally found a reviewer (after 40 years of looking) who actually 'gets' Bob Dylan. As well, you make a lot of sense on many topics besides. Thank You!

Stubbled on this because I was listening to the good Bishop talk on the Trinity. I never was a Dylan fan or Hendrix for that matter. But now having asked Alexa to play the song I have a lot to ponder now I have to get my Bible out. Funny how a teacher can have his lesson flow through time.

God bless you! And welcome home.

Honestly this is a great analysis about this song

I came to the same conclusion in 1971 Bishop. I wasn't able to enunciate as well as you have but the message was the same. Thank you for that.