Ok so we have heard two versions of watchtower in the show now.
The version at the end of season 3 and last night’s ep.
Which version do you prefer and why? Very easy. 
I prefered the piano… It has a dark feel to it…It’s hard for me to put in words.
Maybe someone can help me here…
I’m going to go ahead and cheat and add another subject to this thread.
What does Watchtower mean to you?
I’m listening to the CD (previous) version as we speak (sic). It gets me every time: I don’t like the beginning, but by the time the song is over, it’s got me in an iron grip. Helluva piece of work.
Mr. McCreary, if you’re out there lurking, and the fees aren’t too high, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE include the piano version on the season 4 CD. And make it a double CD.
Anyhoo, to answer your question, I vote piano, but that in no way reflects poorly on the previous version.
Hmm, interesting question Cody.
I really liked the first one (Season 3 finale) the best.
This latest version was eerie and unsettling, but I did like it.
Thank you that’s what I was thinking of! It was errie…
Cool topic.
I like both, but I’d have to stick with Crossroads… cause it’s rocknrollbabyyeah.
I was searching around for info on AATW last night, exploring the meaning and history of the song – discovered a lot of cool stuff I didn’t know. One of those things is that Dylan liked Hendrix’s cover better than his own original folk version, and has played it closer to Jimi ever since in concert.
I like the version of Watchtower used in the cut of the episode better than the one on the CD. And I really liked last night’s - though it wasn’t really Watchtower itself, it was the FF theme 
There’s a lot of layers that go with this choice of song. For instance, when you begin the song, you feel as though you are in the middle of something and when the song ends you know there is more to the story. This ties into the cycle repeating itself that we get from this version of Galactica.
The thing about Watchtower is that it’s steeped in Christian scripture. The actual story in the Watchtower has been discussed on theological forums more lately due to the BSG tie in. The joker and the thief are the two criminals on either side of Jesus on the cross. If you google “Father Barron” or just go to YouTube and look him up, you can find his podcast on Watchtower.
I really like the piano version, and I really like the Crossroads Pt II version, but put them together… holy canoli.
PS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouz2TUBojd8
Double PS: http://www.bearmccreary.com/blog/?p=1598
I’ve been one of those commentors bothering him to do a two CD release. Begging, really, but his explanations of how/why/what he did it all are really quite fantastic.
The best critique I’ve seen so far is:
http://www.reasontorock.com/tracks/watchtower.html
I’m sure if I search back through the threads, I’ll find this subject has been done ad nauseam, but since I’m relatively new: It’s true Dylan references the book of Isiah, but the Joker and Thief are ancient archetypes, older than most organized religion. From what I’ve read, Dylan’s always been kinda vague on the meanings of his songs, so the interpretations are necessarily fuzzy too, I’m sure… but one could be that they represent qualities needed for social change: amoung them truth (no one tells the truth like the court jester), and sacrifice (like Prometheus with the theft of fire)… You might also say they represent Death, the pale riders… which makes sense in the context of the show, since BSG deals with death vs. immortality. It was a great song to have chosen.
I agree with the OP, there’s something appropriately and deliciously dark about the piano version. The one in Crossroads is amazing, one of my favorite songs on the soundtrack, but you first hear it and it’s static and twang and weirdness, only slowly building up to the amazingness that is the FF theme.
In this last episode, though, the song starts off as a hesitant, simple piano melody, full of cathartic emotion from Kara’s dealing with her past…and then, wham, you’re suddenly caught on this amazing ride to the FF theme and going “Oh my god!” Even if you were expecting it (which I at least was), it still hits you hard. The whole episode was building up to it, but you didn’t really know how until it actually happened, unlike in Crossroads where you know something off about that song.
I loved the piano one more in part because I love and play piano but mostly because I can still see tigh face when she starts to play the song and it was worth a million bucks (semi-pun)
I agree, but I don’t know why. The piano had a great sound too it.
Tigh’s face kicked so much a$$-- one of my favorite parts of the episode.
Hogan does more acting with his one frakin’ eye that some actors with their entire body. I love this frakin’ guy.
maybe it was the national anthem of Erf! :eek:
[FONT=“Fixedsys”]I loved the piano it was kind creep but cool at the same time . but the rock verson because gave me hope that at the time that they were going to get to earth.
Nathan Le Breton and Daniel Roberts Performing an Acoustic cover of Jimi Hendrix’s Version of All Along The Watchtower.
VIETNAM Tribute - Jimi Hendrix - All Along The Watchtower
//youtu.be/8LzjYSXcLoQ&feature
I just love the way the piano one coalesces. It’s just incredible. So that one.
As cool as I thought the piano version was… I still got to go with Jimmy’s version!
I like the version in Crossroads Part 2 the best. I even like it better than the Hendrix version.