Gordon Lightfoot Forums - View Single Post - Finally! The Watchman's Gone!! Read the meaning...

TheWatchman · 08-30-2003, 09:22 AM

Well, I think I have finally cracked the code to the meaning of this song.

I think "The Watchman" is death or the devil. Doesn't really matter because they are one in the same as far as this song is concerned. The singer is speaking some words of wisdom to his brother perhaps.

"If you live to follow the golden sun
You better beware
Knowin' the watchman's always there" and "The watchman's out
Kickin' your dreams about" As many go through life living only for today, whether it be chasing fame or just a carefree lifestyle, you better beware because death or the devil is always out to rob you of your dreams. Instead, live your life knowing that the Watchman is always there and he (it) cannot sneak up on you and take all. How can one accomplish this?

The only way to be free of The Watchman is to either die, or be saved. I use the word "saved" because this song may be about the devil. He speaks of death in the song and finally being free. Only using the words "if you find me feeding daisies". "If" is the key to this not necessarily meaning death as the means to freedom. But at the same time..."If I wait for the right moment
You can bet I'll climb aboard unseen
I've done it before
I know I can do it in my sleep"To me this means that he has found this freedom from The Watchman through salvation.

Beating the devil (and or cheating death) and no longer having The Watchman following close behind trying to steal your dreams and or kill you. Once you are saved, you know that the devil can do nothing to you. Hence, freedom from The Watchman. Finally, the singer has found freedom..."it feels so good knowing the watchman's gone".

Saying that this song is only about freedom through death, does not fit Lightfoot's normal style of writing. Knowing how he goes about writing his music, it really doesn't fit. Not that death isn't the case for this song, but I think it is highly unlikely.

It is more probable that this song is about salvation. He has never said what this song is about. It is written so clever that it's meaning is so well hidden within the lines that it has remained a mystery.

I don't think it's a mystery any longer. At least not to me. Either way, death or the devil, they both fit perfectly.

What do you think?

08-30-2003, 09:22 AM	#2
TheWatchman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Columbia, Maryland Posts: 930	Well, I think I have finally cracked the code to the meaning of this song. I think "The Watchman" is death or the devil. Doesn't really matter because they are one in the same as far as this song is concerned. The singer is speaking some words of wisdom to his brother perhaps. "If you live to follow the golden sun You better beware Knowin' the watchman's always there" and "The watchman's out Kickin' your dreams about" As many go through life living only for today, whether it be chasing fame or just a carefree lifestyle, you better beware because death or the devil is always out to rob you of your dreams. Instead, live your life knowing that the Watchman is always there and he (it) cannot sneak up on you and take all. How can one accomplish this? The only way to be free of The Watchman is to either die, or be saved. I use the word "saved" because this song may be about the devil. He speaks of death in the song and finally being free. Only using the words "if you find me feeding daisies". "If" is the key to this not necessarily meaning death as the means to freedom. But at the same time..."If I wait for the right moment You can bet I'll climb aboard unseen I've done it before I know I can do it in my sleep"To me this means that he has found this freedom from The Watchman through salvation. Beating the devil (and or cheating death) and no longer having The Watchman following close behind trying to steal your dreams and or kill you. Once you are saved, you know that the devil can do nothing to you. Hence, freedom from The Watchman. Finally, the singer has found freedom..."it feels so good knowing the watchman's gone". Saying that this song is only about freedom through death, does not fit Lightfoot's normal style of writing. Knowing how he goes about writing his music, it really doesn't fit. Not that death isn't the case for this song, but I think it is highly unlikely. It is more probable that this song is about salvation. He has never said what this song is about. It is written so clever that it's meaning is so well hidden within the lines that it has remained a mystery. I don't think it's a mystery any longer. At least not to me. Either way, death or the devil, they both fit perfectly. What do you think?