Jimi Hendrix performs “All Along the Watchtower” (1968)
Jimi Hendrix performs the Star-Spangled Banner at Woodstock (August 1969)
Guided Primary Source Discussion Questions
1) Here is a link to the lyrics to “All Along the Watchtower.” What elements of the language and imagery do you think evoke the danger and uncertainty of war? And what elements of Hendrix’s own musical performance do you think help emphasize these themes?
2) People often forget that “The Star-Spangled Banner” is actually a song about war. What are some of the moments in Hendrix’s version of “The Star-Spangled Banner” that seem to sonically evoke this?
3) Many people have described Hendrix’s performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” as a work of protest music, but Hendrix himself often characterized it as a work of patriotism. But it can be both! How do you think patriotism and protest are connected to one another, both in this piece of music and also in general?
Prof. Jack Hamilton on Hendrix during Vietnam
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