August 1, 1942 – August 9, 1995
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
Happy 69th, Jerry.
Garcia
Aug. 9
There were days
and there were days
and there were days I know
when all we ever wanted
was to learn and love and grow
Once we grew into our shoes
we told them where to go
walked halfway around the world
on promise of the glow
stood upon a mountain top
walked barefoot in the snow
gave the best we had to give
how much we’ll never know we’ll never know
-“Days Between” (Hunter/Garcia)
Jerry’s Other Bands
Jerry was the kind of player that had to play. He couldn’t be off for very long before he had to get out and start making music with someone, even if The Grateful Dead wasn’t touring or working in the studio. This led to a long stream of side-bands, most featuring bass player John Kahn but, otherwise changing in lineup (and name) from the early 70s up until he passed.
There was his brief stint with jazz organist, Howard Wales (which produced the heavy and far-out Hooterall? album.) This was followed by collaborations with Merle Saunders, Nicky Hopkins, Martin Fierro and more. And lets not forget Old & In The Way– one of the top, all-time, selling bluegrass albums- which featured Vassar Clements, David Grisman, Peter Rowan, and John Kahn (of course.) What an amazing record that was. Continue reading
Bird Song
If anyone actually regularly read this blog they’d know that updated nine days in a row is actually a rare display of commitment. Last year’s Jerry Week didn’t make all 9 days mostly because I’m what’s commonly known as a slacker. Oh well.
That having been said, for today’s post, I thought I’d share some vague and unorganized thoughts about The Grateful Dead. I’m going to pu ton a tune and write on it for a few… And to stifle the collective yawns from my readership, I’m going to stream that music here from the get-go so you can listen while you read.
The above show (1982-08-06) is one that I got on tape more than 15 years ago. The “Bird Song” is a long standing favorite. (Go ahead, skip right to it.) The recording may not be the crispest ever but the playing is on point. Brent’s keys rig out and his voice warmly complements Jerry’s plaintive vocals. This song, written in memory of Janis Joplin can be heartbreaking. It is shot through with longing and the benefit of hindsight before offering the advice to clutch tightly those special few for whom time is likely short. Slipping pas the verses, Jerry begins to stretch and explore the theme. This is Grateful Dead music at its most perfect. Loose, slippery, on the cusp of flying out into oblivion but still hanging two wheels on the tracks as it rounds each twist and turn.
When asked, in the latter half of his career, why the Grateful Dead seldom played “Dark Star”, Jerry replied that there is a little bit of “Dark Star in almost everything they play. This is keenly apparently on any decent version of this song. I recall seeing “Bird Song” at a show at Hampton Coliseum. It utterly swept me up and carried me away. I can still find myself back on that floor, dancing about; egoless. And I remember stirring out of my trance as Jerry brought the lyrics back around for a reprise and repeated the line, “snow and rain,” like a mantra. It held no great meaning for me then but it still carved an impression into my consciousness. I’ve since ran with a few interpretations of the full line,
“Tell me all that you know, I’ll show you snow and rain.”
Share with me that which you’ve learned in this life and I’ll offer what I know of the elements, snow and rain, cold and sorrow, death and grieving and comfort. I love hearing “Bird Song” with Brent. His high harmonies on the refrain give me chills…
“Don’t cry now
Don’t you cry
Don’t you cry any more
Sleep in the stars
Don’t you cry
Dry your eyes on the wind.”
Until tomorrow…