The Music

As the Fleet approaches the Ionian nebula, several people, specifically Saul Tigh, Samuel Anders, Tory Foster and Galen Tyrol, begin hearing fragments of strange music that only they can see and hear. The music becomes more distinct and distracting as the nebula gets closer.

Once the Fleet arrives at the Ionian nebula, the Music reaches a piercing shrill. The Colonials affected not only hear the music complete, but begin to add lyrics as well. As the Fleet plunges into darkness, losing electrical power for reasons unknown, the music compels the four to meet in a isolated room.

The four are able to assemble the lyric fragments with the intact music to form a strange song. Because of the mutual experience, the four believe themselves to be [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylons). The source or cause of the music is not known (Crossroads, Part II).

Notes

• The music is, indeed, a version of Bob Dylan's song, "All Along The Watchtower," specially composed by series composer Bear McCreary.
• The song is not intended to indicate that the Colonials have picked up an Earth communication. Series executive producer Ron D. Moore considers the song to be an invention created by a Colonial citizen in a curious parallel to what had or will develop on Earth. The series creators have intentionally avoided citing whether Battlestar Galactica occurs in the real-world Earth's past, present, or future.