Joker & The Thief by Wolfmother

Album: Wolfmother (2005)

Charted: 64

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Songfacts®:

This song was inspired by the characters of the joker and the thief from the Bob Dylan song, "All Along the Watchtower." In this new interpretation, the thief is a girl - a "thief in the night."
In an interview with ultimate-guitar.com, Wolfmother frontman Andrew Stockdale said: "I've totally ripped it off from Dylan. I was in a shop one morning walking into where we jam. I saw this AC/DC 'Thunderstruck' and I was like, 'I want to write a stadium rock song.' I went into the studio and said, 'Doo-duh-lee, doo-duh-lee. What's the best thing to do after that? Just do something cleaner - Doo, doo, doo.' Because, you know, you've got to have a big intro and then you have to have a balls-to-the-wall riff to knock it on the head in the next stage." >>>
Suggestion credit:
Bert - Pueblo, NM, for above 2
This is the most popular track on the first Wolfmother album, and the band's highest-charting single in their native Australia, where it made #8. In his Songfacts interview, Andrew Stockdale explained that he brought 15 songs to the studio for the band to work on for the album, and it was after working on these 15 that he came up with this song. "At the tail end of all this energy and creative flow, I just quickly grab some ideas," he said. "'Joker & the Thief' was at the end of all that writing."
This song was used in the blackjack scene in the 2009 comedy The Hangover, starring Zach Galifianakis and Bradley Cooper. >>>
Suggestion credit:
Charlie - Las Vegas, NV

Comments: 14

Chris from VirginiaLeah from Edmonton. Can we talk?
Jason from WorldCould it be the Joker and Catwoman?
Mlissa from Mt.vernon, AlI feel as i this song comes from Batman
The joker and his woman the thief
Ray from Brisbane, AustraliaDoes anyone else not think this song is like a summary of the old Final Fantasy VI game? :-D
Leah from Edmonton, AbI know what the song, "The Joker and the Thief" is about. The girl/woman referred to in the Wolfmother song as "her" has a name. She is real and alive and a girl. She grew up in a small subdivision called Clover lawn which is referred to in the song as "fields of clover". She used to pick clovers there, she has a mother, father and brother there whom she loves very much. The joker is a spirit or demon or character under control of the Devil. The "thief" is a name that stands in as a designation or mask for the Devil. Jesus is not the "thief," and the text from The Bible states that 'he comes like a thief.' Her story is a lot more interesting than the crude version I am going to give you in this blog but one day I will tell this story in greater detail, God willing.
The girl enrolled at university in 2004 where she studied fine arts for four years. In that time she made many mistakes and prayed to God that she could be redeemed. While in school she painted glass buildings to complete her major in art and design. In her fourth year she met a boy who is not mentioned in the Wolfmother song but who helped to set her free. She loves the boy very much, she forgave everyone who ever hurt her and set things right that were wronged.
In her fourth year of university she was awarded a commission to paint a mural which currently hangs in a medical research centre on campus. The girl asked God to help her paint the mural in a vain effort to save the world. Her eyes were opened and she was able to discern the evil in herself and her life. The truth set her free and the truth is named Jesus Christ. The difference between Lucifer and Jesus can be twisted to become very subtle, but I will make it clear that Lucifer is called" The Light Bringer" and that Jesus is The Truth and The Light. While she was painting the painting which is now titled "the Light we deserve," she was confronted with "The Dark Knight" film and a glimpse of what is called the dark night of the soul; spirits or evil things of whatever sort came and spoke horrible lies to her. She chose not to believe the lies that the spirits spoke. She confronted the things that had spoken these lies to her and asked for their names. She was almost killed as a result because she could not defend herself alone. She was saved by Jesus Christ and by the boy through Jesus Christ.
The truth is enough and the truth's name is Jesus Christ. The girl and the boy discerned that we do not deserve the salvation we receive when Jesus died for our sins but I believe that I am the light that the boy deserves and he is the light that I deserve. This is a true story and the Wolfmother song is a perversion of this story. I do not believe that Wolfmother knows this story but rather they received inspiration and power which influenced them to write the song that portrays "the joker" and "the thief" as heroes just as Jimi Hendrix and Bob Dylan did before them. When they are asking, "what would happen if they take her away?" they are describing the failed attempt to kill the girl. Furthermore, the movie, "The Dark Knight" is full of terrible lies which glorify villainy and heroics; such as the lie that Commissioner Gordon speaks at the very end of the film: "because sometimes the truth isn't good enough... ...sometimes, people deserve more."
The truth is good enough, he saved me.
A.j. from Chicago, IlThe song's also in Shrek the Third and Shoot 'Em Up.
Justin from Georgetown, Insad to know they are only going to be known by their song woman.. from guitar hero 2 what a shame their whole cd is so good
Cameron from Irvine, CaThey totally ripped the opening from The Nice song, The Cry Of Eugene!
Cameron from Irvine, CaThis song is all about the damn Joker! What about the Thief!
Jimi from Marshamellow, Vabestestestestest song eva
A.j. from Chicago, IlThis song was used to promote Jackass Number Two and can be heard during the film, but it's strangely absent from the official soundtrack.
Sean from Buffalo, NyThis song rocks but what is the meaning behind it?
David from Amsterdam, Netherlandsabsolutely LOve this song!!!! it's is awesome
John from Hendersonville, NcWonderful song, amazing band.

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