‘Watchtower’ by Charlie Freeman is a vibrant and emotive folk-rock track.

‘Watchtower’ is a lively song from ‘Truth’, the debut album of singer-songwriter Charlie Freeman. It is one of the songs being re-released in the lead up to his 2025 album ‘Gift in The Shadows’.

The Artist

Freeman is a London based musician and actor. Although he loved music from an early age, he didn’t pick up the guitar till he was 19, at which point he taught himself the chords, and took off from there. He has two full length albums, with a third on the way.

A folk-rock song with pop influences, ‘Watchtower’ starts with a steady beat, along with guitar. Barely a few seconds in, a delightful, bright harmonica tune joins, dances briefly, and tapers off just as Freeman begins to sing. His singing is emotive and soothing, and the vocals are layered gorgeously at certain points. This creates a haunting effect that lingers. There’s an openness in Freeman’s voice, making it feel like he’s sharing something deeply personal with the listener.

Song Lyrics

Lyrically, ‘Watchtower’ is a quest for direction, for light, for clarity. At the same time, it is a plea for companionship, and warmth. He sings with vulnerability, and his loneliness is palpable.

Shine a light for me

Brighten up my darkest hours

My watchtower

Shine a light for me

Hold me in my lonesome hours

In my watchtower

The combination of his voice and the poetry of the lyrics are greatly enhanced by the instrumental atmosphere of the song.

The Atmosphere

Skillful layering of drums, bass guitar, and acoustic guitar lifts the track, while the smooth, folksy vocals keep it grounded. The instrumentation and production in ‘Watchtower’ are full of small, delightful details – whether it’s the harmonica at the beginning, or the crisp picked guitar right before the 3-minute mark. The acoustic guitar picking playing out along with just the beat is the exact pause that the listener needs to drink in the ambience of the song. Every time you listen, you discover something — whether it’s a subtle change in the percussion or a new vocal harmony that emerges — all while held steadfast by the beat and Freeman’s voice.