Black-Throated Wind

Grateful Dead

About Black-Throated Wind

"Black-Throated Wind" is the second song from Grateful Dead member Bob Weir's solo debut, Ace. The song was written by Weir and lyricist John Perry Barlow about the experiences Barlow had on a road trip from New York City to San Francisco in 1971. Barlow has said that the experience was "right out of Easy Rider", in that he was accosted by locals in the American South for having long hair. The song was performed by the Grateful Dead frequently in 1972, as heard on the live Europe '72 Volume 2, Steppin' Out with the Grateful Dead: England '72, Dick's Picks Volume 24, and Dick's Picks Volume 30. It also appears twice on Winterland 1973: The Complete Recordings. In addition, as part of the band's set at Winterland in October 1974, it appears on the Grateful Dead's fifth live album, Steal Your Face, released in 1976. The song was dropped from the setlist after 1974, and then was played occasionally after 1990. Featured on 30 Trips Around the Sun September 10, 1991 live from Madison Square Garden. 


Year:
1976
6:07
145 
#3

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Bringing me down
I'm running aground
Blind in the light of the interstate cars
Passing me by
The buses and semis
Plunging like stones from a slingshot on Mars

But I'm here by the road
Bound to the load
That I picked up in ten thousand cafes and bars
Alone with the rush of the drivers who won't pick me up
The highway, the moon, the clouds, and the stars

The black-throated wind keeps on pouring in
With its words of a life where nothing is new
Ah, Mother American Night, I'm lost from the light
Oh, I'm drowning in you

I left St. Louis, the City of Blues
In the midst of a storm I'd rather forget
I tried to pretend it came to an end
'Cause you weren't the woman I thought I once met

But I can't deny that times have gone by
When I never had doubts or thoughts of regret
And I was a man when all this began
Who wouldn't think twice about being there yet

The black-throated wind keeps on pouring in
And it speaks of a life that passes like dew
It's forced me to see that you've done better by me
Better by me than I've done by you

What's to be found, racing around
You carry your pain wherever you go
Full of the blues and trying to lose
You ain't gonna learn what you don't want to know

So I give you my eyes, and all of their lies
Please help them to learn as well as to see
Capture a glance and make it a dance
Of looking at you looking at me

The black-throated wind keeps on pouring in
With its words of a lie that could almost be true
Ah, Mother American Night, here comes the light
I'm turning around, that's what I'm gonna do

Goin' back home that's what I'm gonna do
Turnin' around
That's what I'm gonna do

'Cause you've done better by me
Than I've done by you

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Grateful Dead

The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in Palo Alto, California. The band was known for its unique and eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, country, improvisational jazz, psychedelia, and space rock, and for live performances of long musical improvisation. "Their music," writes Lenny Kaye, "touches on ground that most other groups don't even know exists." These various influences were distilled into a diverse and psychedelic whole that made the Grateful Dead "the pioneering Godfathers of the jam band world." They were ranked 57th in the issue The Greatest Artists of all Time by Rolling Stone magazine. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994 and their Barton Hall Concert at Cor… more »

10 fans

Written by: JOHN BARLOW, ROBERT HALL WEIR

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Song Origin
"Black-Throated Wind" is a guitar-based rock song by the American psychedelic rock band, Grateful Dead. It originates from their sixth studio album "Wake of the Flood" which was released in 1973.
Songwriters
The lyrics of the song were penned by the band's lyricist Robert Hunter, while the music was developed by Bob Weir, one of the founding members of the Grateful Dead.
Concept & Inspiration
The song's lyrics tell a story about a lonely and disillusioned man feeling like a black-throated wind, which is a metaphor for harsh, uncontrollable forces in life. Robert Hunter reportedly wrote the song on a highway in Arizona, inspired by the windy weather.
Live Performances
"Black-Throated Wind" was frequently performed at Grateful Dead concerts during the early 1970s and then disappeared from their live playlist for nearly twenty years. It was reintroduced in their concert setlists in 1990.
Album Performance
Despite not being released as a single, "Black-Throated Wind" stands as one of the memorable tracks from "Wake of the Flood" which reached number 18 on the Billboard 200 chart.
Fan Reception
The song is popular among the Grateful Dead's fan base and is renowned for its lyrical depth and emotional resonance, often being covered by other artists due to its strong powerful story.
Bob Weir's Perspective
Bob Weir regarded "Black-Throated Wind" as one of his personal favorites from the Grateful Dead's repertoire, and stated that the song's narrative-style lyrics accurately encapsulate the transient, nomadic nature of the band's touring experiences.
Song Registrations
It wasn't until 2002 that "Black-Throated Wind" was officially registered with the U.S Copyright Office, nearly three decades after it was first written and performed.
Song Cover
John Mayer, a member of "Dead & Company" (a band consisting of former Grateful Dead members and other artists), has covered "Black-Throated Wind" during their performances, helping to introduce the song to a new generation of listeners.
Ironic Elements
Despite the somewhat somber lyrics and mood of "Black-Throated Wind," it is often performed with a lively and energetic tempo, serving as a quintessential example of the Grateful Dead's ability to meld lyrics and music in ironical and compelling ways.

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