Story Behind the Song
When Jerry Garcia died, I lived a short bicycle ride from the polo grounds in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, where the impromptu memorial "party" happened. This is the song I wrote that day. Too bad it took his dying for me to "get" it.
Lyrics
I went down to the park today.
I was just planning to catch some rays.
Maybe take a few pictures,
and head on back home.
I heard there were 20,000 people there
with tie-died shirts, and dreadlocked hair,
all came to same goodbye
to a man they'd known.
His death didn't mean that much to me.
I never dug the music, personally.
I was bummed, but mostly curious
what the fuss was about
So I laid my bike down in the grass.
I crossed my legs and parked my ass,
and began to look around,
and check things out
Well there were kids and dogs and horses, too.
People dancing and singing "Jerry we love you."
And there was magic, and laughter, and music
in the smoke-filled air.
And everywhere I'd look I'd see
a friendly face smiling back at me.
And I couldn't believe my joy
in just being there
A little girl of five walked up to me,
and offered me somthing of hers to eat,
and said...
"It's sad that Jerry died, huh?"
And I said "yeah"
And as the tears flowed from my eyes,
I began to slowly realize
what all those crazy people
had been speaking of
He was a kind an gentle man, they said.
Founded a band called the grateful Dead.
On a street named haight.
In the name of Love.
CHORUS
Jerry, we're gonna miss your smiling face.
But you spirit lives on, and that's our saving grace.
I may regret some things I've said.
But I'm not grateful that you're dead.
Little Christina gave me a big ol' hug
And I cried like a baby as I gently dug
my fingers into her hair.
And I kissed her face.
I got up and I said farewell,
and on the way home I stopped for a spell,
to leave a note at the shrine
at the ice cream place.
Jerry, it said, I never saw you alive,
but wherever you're going, when you arive,
if you could take a request
from your most recent fan..."
Send down your love to those who need it most.
We could all use some help from your friendly ghost...
And what a long, strange trip it's been.
CHORUS
Jerry, we're gonna miss your smiling face.
But you music lives on, and that's our saving grace.
I may forget some things I've said.
And I'm sure grateful you're not dead.
|
Mike Franke
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