Good call, friends.
Everyone name their favorite Grateful Dead/JG song…(much like Buster just did).
Or if you have a good JG story from a book or something, feel free to let it out!
Mine’s either “The Wheel” or “Franklin’s Tower”
Wharf rat down
way down
down, down by the docks of the city,
Blind and dirty
asked me for a dime–
dime for a cup of coffee
I got no dime but
I got time to hear his story:
My name is August West
and I love my Pearly Baker best
more than my wine
…more than My wine
more than my maker
though he’s no friend of mine
Everyone said
I’d come to no good
I knew I would
Pearly believed them
Half of my life
I spent doin’ time for
some other fucker’s crime
Other half found me stumbling around
drunk on burgundy wine
But I’ll get back
on my feet someday
The good Lord willing
if He says I may
'cause I know the life I’m
livin’s no good
I’ll get a new start
live the life I should
I’ll get up and fly away
I’ll get up and
fly away…
…fly away
Pearly’s been true
true to me, true to my dying day he said
I said to him:
I’m sure she’s been
I said to him:
I’m sure she’s been true to you
I got up and wandered
Wandered downtown
nowhere to go
just to hang around
I got a girl
named Bonny Lee
I know that girl’s been true to me
I know she’s been
I’m sure she’s been
true to me
“Wharf Rat”
Words by Robert Hunter; Music by Jerry Garcia
http://arts.ucsc.edu/gdead/agdl/
In another times forgotten space
Your eyes looked from your mothers face
Wallflower seed on the sand and stone
May the four winds blow you safely home.
Roll away the dew
Roll away the dew
Roll away the dew
Roll away the dew
Ill tell you where the four winds dwell
In franklins tower there hangs a bell
It can ring, turn night to day
It can ring like fire when you loose your way.
Roll away the dew
Roll away the dew
Roll away the dew
Roll away the dew
God save the child that rings that bell
It may have one good ring, baby, you cant tell
One watch by night, one watch by day
If you get confused listen to the music play.
Some come to laugh their past away
Some come to make it just one more day
Whichever way your pleasure tends
If you plant ice youre gonna harvest the wind.
Roll away the dew
Roll away the dew
Roll away the dew
Roll away the dew
In franklins tower the four winds sleep
Like four lean hounds the lighthouse keep
Wildflower seed on the sand and wind
May the four winds blow you home again.
Roll away the dew
Roll away the dew
Roll away the dew
Youd better roll away the dew - roll away.
May Jerry’s spirit fill us all today and everyday
Fare you well my honey
Fare you well my only true one
All the birds that were singing
Have flown except you alone
Goin to leave this Broke-down Palace
On my hands and my knees I will roll roll roll
Make myself a bed by the waterside
In my time - in my time - I will roll roll roll
In a bed, in a bed
by the waterside I will lay my head
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
to rock my soul
River gonna take me
Sing me sweet and sleepy
Sing me sweet and sleepy
all the way back back home
It’s a far gone lullaby
sung many years ago
Mama, Mama, many worlds I’ve come
since I first left home
Goin home, goin home
by the waterside I will rest my bones
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
to rock my soul
Goin to plant a weeping willow
On the banks green edge it will grow grow grow
Sing a lullaby beside the water
Lovers come and go - the river roll roll roll
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
to rock my soul
In the backwoods of Fennario
The Black and Bloody Mire
The Dire Wolf Collects His Due
While The Boys sing round the Fire
We Miss You Jerry…Hope You Can feel the love today wherever you may be.
nice pick fluff
listening to the closing of the winterland right now. rest easy jerry.
Right outside this lazy summer home
you don’t have time to call your soul a critic, no
Right outside the lazy gate of winter’s summer home
wondering where the nuthatch winters
Wings a mile long just carried the bird away
Wake up to find out
that you are the eyes of the World
but the heart has its beaches
its homeland and thoughts of its own
Wake now, discover that you
are the song that the morning brings
but the heart has its seasons
its evenings and songs of its own
There comes a redeemer
and he slowly too fades away
There follows a wagon behind him
that’s loaded with clay
and the seeds that were silent
all burst into bloom and decay
The night comes so quiet
and it’s close on the heels of the day
Wake up to find out
that you are the eyes of the world
but the heart has its beaches
its homeland and thoughts of its own
Wake now, discover that you
are the song that the morning brings
but the heart has its seasons
its evenings and songs of its own
Sometimes we live no
particular way but our own
Sometimes we visit your country
and live in your home
Sometimes we ride on your horses
Sometimes we walk alone
Sometimes the songs that we hear
are just songs of our own
Wake up to find out
that you are the eyes of the world
but the heart has its beaches
its homeland and thoughts of its own
Wake now, discover that you
are the song that the morning brings
but the heart has its seasons
its evenings and songs of its own
Seven faced marble eyed transitory dream doll,
Six proud walkers on the jingle bell rainbow,
Five men writing with fingers of gold,
Four men tracking down the great white sperm whale,
Three girls waiting in a foreign dominion
Riding in the whalebelly, fade away in moonlight,
Sink beneath the waters to the coral sands below.
All the years combine
they melt into a dream
A broken angel sings
from a guitar
In the end there’s just a song
comes crying like the wind
through all the broken dreams
and vanished years
Stella Blue
When all the cards are down
there's nothing left to see
There's just the pavement left
and broken dreams
In the end there's still that song
comes crying like the wind
down every lonely street
that's ever been
Stella Blue
I've stayed in every blue-light cheap hotel
Can't win for trying
Dust off those rusty strings just
one more time
Gonna make em shine
It all rolls into one
and nothing comes for free
There's nothing you can hold
for very long
And when you hear that song
come crying like the wind
it seems like all this life
was just a dream
Stella Blue
It was exactly at 10 am 11 year’s ago today i got the news. Rest well Papa Bear!
Not necessarily my favorite, but one of them for sure:
In the attics of my life
Full of cloudy dreams unreal
Full of tastes no tongue can know
And lights no eye can see
When there was no ear to hear
You sang to me
I have spent my life
Seeking all that’s still unsung
Bent my ear to hear the tune
And closed my eyes to see
When there were no strings to play
You played to me
In the book of love’s own dreams
Where all the print is blood
Where all the pages are my days
And all my lights grow old
When I had no wings to fly
You flew to me
You flew to me
In the secret space of dreams
Where I dreaming lay amazed
When the secrets all are told
And the petals all unfold
When there was no dream of mine
You dreamed of me
One of my favorite Jerry moments is in the movie Woodstock.
You see the camera panning around and it stops on Jerry.
He’s sitting with a big joint in his hand. He turns around, holds it up to the camera and says “Exhibit A”
;D Classic. ;D
You told me goodbye, how was I to know
you didn’t mean goodbye, you meant please don’t let me go?
I was having a high time, living the good life, well I know
The wheels are muddy, got a ton of hay,
now listen here, Baby, 'cause I mean what I say.
I’m having a hard time, living the good life, well I know.
I was losing time, I had nothing to do,
no one to fight, I came to you.
Wheels broke down, leader won’t draw,
the line is busted, the last one I saw.
Tomorrow come trouble, tomorrow come pain,
now don’t think too hard Baby, 'cause I know what I’m saying.
I could show you a high time, living the good life, don’t be that way.
Nothing’s for certain, it could always go wrong,
We could have us a high time, living the good life, well I know.
I’m sure I told this story elsewhere, so forgive me if you’ve heard it. I was at the very last Dead show in Chicago. The Band was opening and it was about 4:00 or so and very hot and humid. At that point I wanted out of the sun so I moved to the side of the stage and about 20 feet behind it in the front row. Barely anyone else was by me when all of a sudden Jerry came walking by. I was about 5-10 feet away and I yelled “JER!” He looked in my direction with a big smile and waved and quickly went up the stairs to the stage. It was one of the highlights of my life.
“Such a long long time to be gone, and a short time to be there”
Comes a time when the blind-man takes your hand, says “Don’t you see?
Gotta make it somehow on the dreams you still believe.”
Don’t give it up, you got an empty cup only love can fill,
only love can fill.
Been walking all morning went walking all night
I can`t see much difference between the dark and light
And I feel the wind And I taste the rain
Never in my mind to cause so much pain.
Comes a time when the blind-man takes your hand, says “Don’t you see?
Gotta make it somehow on the the dreams you still believe.”
Don’t give it up, you got an empty cup only love can fill,
only love can fill.
From day to day just letting it ride.
You get so far away from how it feels inside.
You can’t let go cause you’re afraid to fall,
But the day may come when you can’t feel at all.
The words come out like an angry stream.
You hear yourself say things you could never mean.
When you cool down you find your mind.
You got a lot of words you’ve got to stand behind.
Comes a time when the blind-man takes your hand, says “Don’t you see?
Gotta make it somehow on the dreams you still believe.”
Don’t give it up, you got an empty cup only love can fill,
only love can fill, only love can fill, only love can fill.
but the special one, no matter how cliche a dead song, is the most obvious. I only saw the Dead twice and they didn’t play it.
But 8 years ago today, I dare anyone to tell me if they were at Virginia Beach that they didn’t shed a tear or tears. I know I did, it was beautiful,
We miss you Captain…
Let my inspiration flow in token rhyme, suggesting rhythm,
That will not forsake you, till my tale is told and done.
While the firelight’s aglow, strange shadows from the flames will grow,
Till things we’ve never seen will seem familiar.
Shadows of a sailor, forming winds both foul and fair all swarm.
Down in Carlisle, he loved a lady many years ago.
Here beside him stands a man, a soldier from the looks of him,
Who came through many fights, but lost at love.
While the story teller speaks, a door within the fire creaks;
Suddenly flies open, and a girl is standing there.
Eyes alight, with glowing hair, all that fancy paints as fair,
She takes her fan and throws it, in the lion’s den.
Which of you to gain me, tell, will risk uncertain pains of hell?
I will not forgive you if you will not take the chance.
The sailor gave at least a try, the soldier being much too wise,
Strategy was his strength, and not disaster.
The sailor, coming out again, the lady fairly leapt at him.
That’s how it stands today. You decide if he was wise.
The story teller makes no choice. Soon you will not hear his voice.
His job is to shed light, and not to master.
Since the end is never told, we pay the teller off in gold,
In hopes he will return, but he cannot be bought or sold.
Terrapin Station
Inspiration, move me brightly. Light the song with sense and color;
Hold away despair, more than this I will not ask.
Faced with mysteries dark and vast, statements just seem vain at last.
Some rise, some fall, some climb, to get to Terrapin.
Counting stars by candlelight, all are dim but one is bright;
The spiral light of Venus, rising first and shining best,
On, from the northwest corner, of a brand new crescent moon,
While crickets and cicadas sing, a rare and different tune,
Terrapin Station.
In the shadow of the moon, Terrapin Station.
And I know we’ll get there soon, Terrapin Station.
I can’t figure out, Terrapin, if it’s the end or beginning, Terrapin,
But the train’s put it’s brakes on, Terrapin,
And the whistle is screaming, TERRAPIN.
Carve your name
Carve your name in ice and wind
Search for where
Search for where the rivers end
Or where the rivers start
Do everything thats in you
That you feel to be your part
But never give your love, my friend,
Unto a foolish heart
Leap from ledges
Leap from ledges high and wild
Learn to speak
Speak with wisdom like a child
Directly from the heart
Crown yourself the king of clowns
Or stand way back apart
But never give your love, my friend,
Unto a foolish heart
Shun a friend
Shun a brother and a friend
Never look
Never look around the bend
Or check a weatherchart
Sign the mona lisa
With a spray can, call it art
But never give your love, my friend,
Unto a foolish heart
A foolish heart will call on you
To toss your dreams away
Then turn around and blame you
For the way you went astray
A foolish heart will cost you sleep
And often make you curse
A selfish heart is trouble
But a foolish heart is worse
Bite the hand
Bite the hand that bakes your bread
Dare to leap
Where the angels fear to tread
Till you are torn apart
Stoke the fires of paradise
With coals from hell to start
But never give your love, my friend
Unto a foolish heart
Unto a foolish heart…
Jerry who?
“All the punks are gonna scream yippie! It’s the thing that only eats hippys!”
-dead milkmen
In the later years I always felt he sang this with the most heartfelt emotion. See ya Papa Bear, fare thee well…
Standing on the moon
I got no cobweb on my shoe
Standing on the moon
I’m feeling so alone and blue
I see the gulf of Mexico
As tiny as a tear
The coast of California
Must be somewhere over here - over here
Standing on the moon
I see the battle rage below
Standing on the moon
I see the soldiers come and go
There’s a metal flag beside me
Someone planted long ago
Old Glory standing stiffly
Crimson, white and indigo - indigo
I see all of Southeast Asia
I can see El Salvador
I hear the cries of children
And the other songs of war
It’s like a mighty melody
That rings down from the sky
Standing here upon the moon
I watch it all roll by - all roll by
Standing on the moon
With nothing else to do
A lovely view of heaven
But I’d rather be with you
Standing on the moon
I see a shadow on the sun
Standing on the moon
The stars go fading one by one
I hear a cry of victory
And another of defeat
A scrap of age old lullaby
Down some forgotten street
Standing on the moon
Where talk is cheap and vision true
Standing on the moon
But I would rather be with you
Somewhere in San Francisco
On a back porch in July
Just looking up to heaven
At this crescent in the sky
Standing on the moon
With nothing left to do
A lovely view of heaven
But I’d rather be with you - be with you
Just ducked out of the office to mail some bundles of music to VA, IL, and NY, and at the light by the end of the complex I was right behind a red Pontiac Vibe hatchback with a very uderstated “The Grateful Dead” sticker in the corner of the glass.
We both turned right and I sped up in the left hand lane to pull along side and wave to the young lady driving the car. She waved back, probably not knowing why, and I sped up so that she might see the stickers on my rear window as I passed. It was nice to see a quick flash of her brights as I continued on my way.
Note to Jerry: She didn’t seem old enough to have experienced any Dead shows first hand. Maybe she did as a baby, can’t really be sure. Just worthwile to let you know that the music lives on.
my personal fav.
Went to see the captain
strangest I could find
Layed my proposition down
Layed it on the line;
I won’t slave for beggar’s pay
likewise gold and jewels
but I would slave to learn the way
to sink your ship of fools
Ship of fools
on a cruel sea
Ship of fools
sail away from me
It was later than I thought
when I first believed you
now I cannot share your laughter
Ship of Fools
Saw your first ship sink and drown
from rocking of the boat
and all that could not sink or swim
was just left there to float
I won’t leave you drifting down
but woah it makes me wild
with thirty years upon my head
to have you call me child
Ship of fools
on a cruel sea
Ship of fools
sail away from me
It was later than I thought
when I first believed you
now I cannot share your laughter
Ship of Fools
The bottles stand as empty
as they were filled before
Time there was and plenty
but from that cup no more
Though I could not caution all I yet may warn a few:
Don’t lend your hand to raise no flag
atop no ship of fools
Ship of fools
on a cruel sea
Ship of fools
sail away from me
It was later than I thought
when I first believed you
now I cannot share your laughter
Ship of Fools
No I cannot share your laughter
Ship of Fools
run for the roses Jerry, you should be there by now.
Last year on this weekend I was in New York for The Gathering of the Vibes. The entire weekend was a celebration of Jerry Garcia passing exactly ten years ago. I was getting chills all weekend. And during that weekend I absolutely fell in love with a Grateful Dead song I had heard and recognized, but never really listened to, probably because it is only played in the last couple years… and I tend to stay away from that.
Anyways, Bob Weir with Ratdog, Dark Star Orchestra, The Juggling Suns, and Keller Williams all put their own little twist on this song. Now this song will forever be linked with the memory of Jerry Garcia in my mind.
Way down upon Sycamore Slough
a white man sings the blues
selling roses of paper mach
Let my inspiration flow in token rhyme, suggesting rhythm,
That will not forsake me, till my tale is told and done.
While the firelight’s aglow, strange shadows from the flames will grow,
Till things we’ve never seen will seem familiar.
Shadows of a sailor, forming winds both foul and fair all swarm.
Down in Carlisle, he loved a lady many years ago.
Here beside him stands a man, a soldier from the looks of him,
Who came through many fights, but lost at love.
While the story teller speaks, a door within the fire creaks;
Suddenly flies open, and a girl is standing there.
Eyes alight, with glowing hair, all that fancy paints as fair,
She takes her fan and throws it, in the lion’s den.
Which of you to gain me, tell, will risk uncertain pains of hell?
I will not forgive you if you will not take the chance.
The sailor gave at least a try, the soldier being much too wise,
Strategy was his strength, and not disaster.
The sailor, coming out again, the lady fairly leapt at him.
That’s how it stands today. You decide if he was wise.
The story teller makes no choice. Soon you will not hear his voice.
His job is to shed light, and not to master.
Since the end is never told, we pay the teller off in gold,
In hopes he will return, but he cannot be bought or sold.
Inspiration, move me brightly. Light the song with sense and color;
Hold away despair, more than this I will not ask.
Faced with mysteries dark and vast, statements just seem vain at last.
Some rise, some fall, some climb, to get to Terrapin.
Counting stars by candlelight, all are dim but one is bright;
The spiral light of Venus, rising first and shining best,
Oh, from the northwest corner, of a brand new crescent moon,
crickets and cicadas sing, a rare and different tune,
Terrapin Station.
In the shadow of the moon, Terrapin Station.
And I know we’ll be there soon,
(Terrapin) I can’t figure out,
(Terrapin) if it’s the end or beginning
(Terrapin) But the train’s put it’s brakes on
(Terrapin) And the whistle is screaming,
RIP Jerry. Truely the greatest.