Please don't dominate the rap, Jack
if you got nothing new to say
If you please, don't back up the track
This train's got to run today
Spent a little time on the mountain
Spent a little time on the hill
Heard some say: Better run away
Others say: You better stand still
Now I don't know but I been told
it's hard to run with the weight of gold
Other hand I heard it said
it's just as hard with the weight of lead
Who can deny? Who can deny?
it's not just a change in style
One step done and another begun
and I wonder how many miles?
Spent a little time on the mountain
Spent a little time on the hill
Things went down we don't understand
but I think in time we will
Now I don't know but I been told
in the heat of the sun a man died cold
Do we keep on coming or stand and wait
With the sun so dark ad the hour so late? |
You can't overlook the lack, Jack
of any other highway to ride
It's got no signs or dividing lines
and very few rules to guide
Spent a little time on the mountain
Spent a little time on the hill
I saw things getting out of hand
I guess they always will
I don't know, but I been told
if the horse don't pull you got to carry the load
I don't know whose back's that strong
Maybe find out before too long
One way or another
One way or another
One way or another
this darkness got to give
One way or another
One way or another
One way or another
this darkness got to give
"Written as a reply to an indictment of the Altamont
affair by pioneer rock critic Ralph J. Gleason." - Robert Hunter
|
I been ballin' a shiny black steel jackhammer
Been chippin' up rocks for the great highway
Live five years if I take my time
Ballin' that jack and a drinkin' my wine
I been chippin' them rocks from dawn till doom
While my rider hide my bottle in the other room
Doctor say I better stop ballin' that jack
If I live five years gonna bust my back, yes I will
Easy wind cross the bayou today
There's a whole lotta women, mama,
Out in red on the streets today
And the river keep a talkin'
But you never hear a word it say |
Gotta find a woman be good to me
Won't hide my liquor, try to serve me tea
'Cause I'm a stone jack baller and my heart is true
And I'll give everything that I got to you, yes I will
Easy wind cross the bayou today
There's a whole lotta women, mama,
Out in red on the streets today
And the river keep a talkin'
But you never hear a word it say
|
Look out of any window
any morning, any evening, any day
Maybe the sun is shining
birds are winging or
rain is falling from a heavy sky--
What do you want me to do,
to do for you to see you through?
For this is all a dream we dreamed
one afternoon long ago
Walk out of any doorway
feel your way, feel your way
like the day before
Maybe you'll find direction
around some corner
where it's been waiting to meet you--
What do you want me to do,
to watch for you while you're sleeping?
Well, please don't be surprised
when you find me dreamin' too
Look into any eyes
you find by you, you can see
clear to another day
I know it's been seen before
through other eyes on other days
while goin' home--
What do you want me to do,
to do for you to see you through?
It's all a dream we dreamed
one afternoon long ago |
Walk into splintered sunlight
Inch your way through dead dreams
to another land
Maybe you're tired and broken
Your tongue is twisted
with words half spoken
and thoughts unclear
What do you want me to do,
to do for you to see you through?
A box of rain will ease the pain
and love will see you through
Just a box of rain
wind and water
believe it if you need it
if you don't just pass it on
Sun and shower, wind and rain
in and out the window
like a moth before the flame
It's just a box of rain
I don't know who put it there
Believe it if you need it
or leave it if you dare
But it's just a box of rain
or a ribbon for your hair
Such a long, long time to be gone
and a short time to be there
"Phil Lesh wanted a song to sing to his dying father
and had composed a piece complete with every vocal nuance but the words.
If ever a lyric 'wrote itself' this did -- as fast as the pen would pull."
-- Robert Hunter
|
