All Along The Watchtower: Layers and Time

"There must be some way out of here" said the joker to the thief 
"There's too much confusion", I can't get no relief 
Businessmen, they drink my wine, plowmen dig my earth 
None of them along the line know what any of it is worth. 

"No reason to get excited", the thief he kindly spoke 
"There are many here among us who feel that life is but a joke 
But you and I, we've been through that, and this is not our fate 
So let us not talk falsely now, the hour is getting late". 

All along the watchtower, princes kept the view 
While all the women came and went, barefoot servants, too. 

Outside in the distance a wildcat did growl 
Two riders were approaching, the wind began to howl.