2308 – Bob Dylan – Jokerman (1983)

 

 

Escrita por Bob Dylan, foi gravada em 14 de abril de 1983 no Power Station Studio, em New York City, e lançada em 27 de outubro de 1983, no disco Infidels, o vigésimo segundo de Bob. Saiu também em compacto, com uma versão ao vivo de Isis como Lado B, em 1 de junho de 1984. Foi produzida por Mark Knopfler e Bob Dylan. É a canção que abre o disco. É a canção que abre o disco. Tem um imaginário Bíblico e também é vista como uma metáfora política. Bob disse que a compôs num barco no Caribe, inspirado nos espíritos antigos chamados Jumbis. Além de Bob, Mark Knopfler e Mick Taylor tocam guitarra. Alan Clark toca teclado. Robbie Shakespeare toca baixo e Sly Dunbar toca bateria. Sammy Figueroa toca percussão. Wyclef Jean disse que era a mais incrível peça de literatura que ele já havia lido. Foi regravada por Caetano Veloso, entre outros artistas.

 

A letra:

 

Standing on the water casting your bread
While the eyes of the idol with the iron head are glowing
Distant ships sailing into the mist
You were born with a snake in both of your fists
While a hurricane was blowing
Freedom just around the corner for you
But with truth so far off, what good will it do?

Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune
Bird fly high by the light of the moon
Oh, oh, oh, Jokerman

So swiftly the sun sets in the sky
You rise up and say goodbye to no one
Fools rush in where angels fear to tread
Both of their futures, so full of dread, you don't show one
Shedding off one more layer of skin
Keeping one step ahead of the persecutor within

Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune
Bird fly high by the light of the moon
Oh, oh, oh, Jokerman

You're a man of the mountains, you can walk on the clouds
Manipulator of crowds, you're a dream twister
You're going to Sodom and Gomorrah
But what do you care? Ain't nobody there would want to marry your sister
Friend to the martyr, a friend to the woman of shame
You look into the fiery furnace, see the rich man without any name

Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune
Bird fly high by the light of the moon
Oh, oh, oh, Jokerman

Well, the Book of Leviticus and Deuteronomy
The law of the jungle and the sea are your only teachers
In the smoke of the twilight on a milk-white steed
Michelangelo indeed could've carved out your features
Resting in the fields, far from the turbulent space
Half asleep near the stars with a small dog licking your face

Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune
Bird fly high by the light of the moon
Oh, oh, oh, Jokerman

Well, the rifleman's stalking the sick and the lame
Preacher man seeks the same, who'll get there first is uncertain
Nightsticks and water cannons, tear gas, padlocks
Molotov's cocktails and rocks behind every curtain
False-hearted judges dying in the webs that they spin
Only a matter of time 'til night comes steppin' in

Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune
Bird fly high by the light of the moon
Oh, oh, oh, Jokerman

It's a shadowy world, skies are slippery gray
A woman just gave birth to a prince today and dressed him in scarlet
He'll put the priest in his pocket, put the blade to the heat
Take the motherless children off the street
And place them at the feet of a harlot
Oh, Jokerman, you know what he wants
Oh, Jokerman, you don't show any response

Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune
Bird fly high by the light of the moon
Oh, oh, oh, Jokerman

 

A versão de Bob Dylan:

 

 

A versão do Play for Change:

 

 

A versão de Caetano Veloso: