Jokerman has long been among my very favorite Dylan songs, along with Blind Willie McTell from the same period. Your searching thoughts have helped me better understand why Jokerman means so much to me. Dylan had recently emerged from a scorching Christian experience and was sifting through the ashes of an encroaching disillusionment with dogmatic church teachings, as it seems to me, an impasse of sorts which I find eminently relatable. (Every Grain of Sand is yet another example) Even as Jokerman has helped me grapple with my Amish heritage, considering your thoughts has helped me place the lyrics within some kind of cohesive perspective. I knew I didn't quite fit in, that I had serious issues with prohibitive, soul-crushing restrictions, but dreaded leaving the comfort of friends, family, and ingrained principles that I'd been taught since childhood. For the longest time I seemed to be standing on the water, casting my bread, while the eyes of the idol with the iron head were glowing. Distant ships were sailing into the mist, I seemed born with a snake in both of my fists, while a hurricane was blowing. Freedom seemed just around the corner for me, but with truth so far off, what good would it do? So swiftly the sun was setting in the sky, would I rise up to say goodbye to no one?..[shunned] Was foolishness rushing in where angels fear to tread?__My future seemed so full of dread. Shedding off all those layers of skin, I struggled to stay one step ahead of the persecutor within. Having dealt with manipulators of crowds and dream twisters, I continue to relate with every word of the Jokerman's searing lyrics, a song which, to my mind, harkens back to It's Alright Ma, and Gates of Eden. I've read and re-read Ode to a Nightingale and Nightingales, thanks for sharing, both poems will forever mean a lot to me; I'm reminded that leaving the Amish was only the beginning of a new journey, not to be confused with some unattainable utopia. God bless 🙏 P.S. I realize that I've wrenched the lyrics of Jokerman out of context to one degree or another but that's the beauty of poetry, I suppose ; words on a page can mean something wildly different than was originally intended, depending upon our individual life experiences.
@CalicoSilver Thank you! I appreciate that you indulge my soul-searching introspection, maybe a bit much sometimes. 😉 I'm so thankful that I've discovered your videos. We seem to understand Dylan in similar ways and I love the sense of humor you bring to the table, very important if we hope to understand his sweeping body of work.
Jokerman is full of fascinating and mysterious lyrics, that is for sure. It's one of Dylan's deepest songs. I think he may have been reacting to what he'd seen going on in the Christian churches he was around from '79 into the early 80's. I never had the slightest notion why the "nightingale" made its appearance in the chorus, but your insight into that seems to make pretty good sense to me. I'm not sure whether Bob works out his poetic symbols with conscious, deliberate calculation...or whether they just flow automatically out of his subconscious, which is what I used to assume. Maybe it's a combination of the two. Anyway, what does result is full of meaning. That's why people who have tried to parody his more complex lyrical periods never get it, because they are working from a meaningless premise at the start, so whatever they come up with doesn't have anything actually to say (which, ironically, is what they are often accusing Dylan of...when doing the parody). You can't make a good tasting and nutritious meal out of sand.
Yes I certainly think that Jokerman was in part written based on his experience in the perhaps overly controlling evangelical movement he found himself in, but I think it also is metaphorically about any kind of manipulator-leader who exploits the desires and hopes of people for his own gain. The entire album is called Infidels and is about, I think, the relative ease with which any institution can be abused by manipulative people (either intentionally so or unintentionally so), and the broken faith that can result therefrom. But who knows with Dylan, right? This song could be actually be very simple, or it could be very profound.... Either way, it is a most provocative and fascinating song for many of us to think about, for sure. Those who would merely parody his lyrics, or parody those who think highly of them....well, I don't concern myself too much with those people. ;-)
This was fascinating to watch, Jeff. I loved your explanation/analysis of the poems and the human psychology of forever searching for the next thing. People always focus on tomorrow but never today. Cherish life while you have it.
I had to look up what type of bird a nightingale is because I am that ignorant. And I found out that it's 'a small European thrush with drab brownish plumage, noted for the rich melodious song of the male, heard especially at night in breeding season.' - so Dylan sings Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh... Jokerman. That's a whole line of ohs without real words, very uncharacteristic of Dylan. Maybe, the Jokerman is looking to mate at night and it's made overly complex by Dylan's poetic references. The song has that Caribbean rhythm - almost reggae but not. The verses are so harsh with the smooth slick production. I don't really know anything. I like the song. See you next video Jeff!
I loved hearing those poems - I hadn't heard of the Bridges one before. Who knows how imagery works in people's minds? - why did those poets use the nightingale to symbolise what they did? Are they referring back to ancient Greek myths? I've mentioned before that Bob has a thing about nightingales - if you could refer to three references being a thing - the nightingale's code in a non-canonical version of Visions of Johanna, and the black nightingale in Changing of the Guards. Those might have referred more simply to singers, I don't know, or the nightingale might have a private symbolism for Bob. That's all by the by, though - Headlight Lens Headlamp Shell Cover Replacement Car Headlight Lens Shell For Toyota Yaris we do know that Bob draws from deep and varied wells, and I really enjoyed the poetry whether it was his inspriation or not!
Hey Jeff, fantastic observation. I've always seen the jokerman as (for lack of a better word) a charismatic antichrist. I think of politicians and preachers (I just once want to bit*ch slap the smile off off of Joel Osteen's face). I hit a point about a year ago and said to my wife that life is a gift from God. I responded, "well, it's a gift that I never asked for and sometimes just want to return it." Lol, that was when she insisted that I talk to a therapist and try Paxil. I think there are a lot of people that would desperately love to dance to the Nightengales. I'd love to be part of a group that gave my happiness because I followed them. But, I just can't do it. My thought has mostly been "good walls make good neighbors." Anyway, Ode to a Grecian Urn has always held a unique wisdom for me. Sorry for the rambling.
The nightingale in the Ode by Keats symbolizes his Muse. ------- I have been reading the lyrics of Jokerman again and the analysis I come up with is that the Jokerman of the title is God himself . But, a Silent God, a God who does not Care at all one way or the other I think Dylan,after his evangelical (Three whole albums,good grief)and ultimately silly period was disillusioned and felt betrayed. Two emotions that hit deep t in the human psyche. (refer to Blood on the Tracks as a reponse to his divorce from Sarah now here is man who is hurt deeply) So now,after this period Dylan saw God as a Jokerman (please note that in the written text Jokerman in always written with a Capital J ,and not only at the beginning of a sentence How do I come to this conclusion? Beginning with the very last line out rise up e of the Lyric : But what do you care (that this is the LAST line of the lyric is in itself illuminating) Other examples: You rise up and say goodbye to no one Both of their futures so full of dread ,you do not show one shedding off one more layer of skin It does not bother Him Iron head , showing no emotions at all ,no feelings There are more phrases but these will suffice Well that is my take on the lyrics Till next time
I think that one can make a case for the Jokerman being either God, Jesus, a false Christ, a false prophet, a manipulative leader/abuser, a follower of such a leader, etc., etc.. The song clearly uses Jesus metaphors throughout, but it is not clear exactly to whom they refer. Sorta like the Bible itself in many ways. On the one hand I enjoy the challenge of interpreting this kind of thing, but on the other hand, especially as I get older, I find myself appreciating simple-yet-equally-profound lyrics to a greater extent. Sometimes less is more; sometimes less is best.
