Uncle John's Band
Grateful Dead
The easy, fast & fun way to learn how to sing: 30DaySinger.com
Well the first days are the hardest days, don't you worry any more 'Cause when life looks like easy street, there is danger at your door Think this through with me, let me know your mind Wo, oh, what I want to know, is are you kind It's a buck dancer's choice my friend; better take my advice You know all the rules by now and the fire from the ice Will you come with me? won't you come with me Wo, oh, what I want to know, will you come with me Goddamn, well I declare, have you seen the like Their wall are built of cannonballs, their motto is don't tread on me Come hear uncle John's band playing to the tide Come with me, or go alone, he's come to take his children home It's the same story the crow told me; it's the only one he knows Like the morning sun you come and like the wind you go Ain't no time to hate, barely time to wait Wo, oh, what I want to know, where does the time go I live in a silver mine and I call it beggar's tomb I got me a violin and I beg you call the tune Anybody's choice, I can hear your voice Wo, oh, what I want to know, how does the song go Come hear uncle John's band by the riverside Got some things to talk about, here beside the rising tide Come hear uncle John's band playing to the tide Come on along, or go alone, he's come to take his children home Wo, oh, what I want to know, how does the song go
The easy, fast & fun way to learn how to sing: 30DaySinger.com
Written by: Jerome J. Garcia, Robert C. Hunter
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
27 facts about this song
Song Origin"Uncle John's Band" was composed by Jerry Garcia and lyricist Robert Hunter, who collaborated frequently with the Grateful Dead Band. This song is the opening track of their album "Workingman's Dead".
|
Song ReleaseThe track was first released in 1970 and was recognized as an important part of the band's shift from psychedelia to more acoustic music.
|
Billboard RankingIt was one of the band's most successful singles, reaching number 69 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
|
Cultural SignificanceThe song was included in The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll list.
|
Performance Standard"Uncle John's Band" was a concert staple for the Grateful Dead, and the band performed it more than 350 times in concert.
|
Song InterpretationA common interpretation of the song suggests it's a reference to the communal aspects of the '60s counterculture and the ability to maintain peace and cooperation within a group.
|
RecognitionsRolling Stone Magazine ranked it number 321 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
|
Song CoverIt has been covered by several bands and artists, including Jimmy Buffett, who included it in his album “Volcano”.
|
Album ReceptionThe album "Workingman's Dead," in which the song was included, was critically acclaimed and is often considered one of the pinnacle albums in the band's history.
|
Song Influence"Uncle John's Band" had a big influence on the country rock and acoustic rock movements of the 1970s.
|
Lyrics MysteryThere has been long-standing debate among fans about the lyrics' true meaning as they can be cryptic and ambiguous at times.
|
Music VideoA music video for the song was made in 1980, a decade after the song's release.
|
Song RepresentationThe Band members have expressed that the song is intended to represent themselves - the Grateful Dead - as a band and a community.
|
Other MediaThe song has been featured in several films and TV shows, including the series "Freaks and Geeks" and the documentary "Long Strange Trip".
|
Song Basics"Uncle John's Band" is a song by the Grateful Dead, an iconic American rock band known for their improvisational style and blending of different music genres.
|
Release DateIt was released in 1970 as part of the band's "Workingman's Dead" album, which marked a shift in the group's sound from psychedelic rock to more traditional song structures.
|
Chart PerformanceThe song was the band's first to be released as a single, and it reached No. 69 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, marking the group's first chart success.
|
CompositionThe song is written by band members Jerry Garcia (music) and Robert Hunter (lyrics). The song showcases tight harmony singing, a key characteristic of the "Workingman’s Dead" album.
|
First Recording"Uncle John's Band" was first recorded in 1969 at Pacific High Recording Studio in California.
|
Cultural SignificanceThe song is often interpreted as a reflection of the Grateful Dead's communal ethos and dedication to collective harmony.
|
LegacyRolling Stone magazine, in 2012, ranked "Uncle John's Band" 321st on its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
|
CoversMany artists, such as Jimmy Buffett, have covered the song in their performances.
|
InfluencesThe song is said to be influenced by the music of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, especially in its use of vocal harmonies.
|
Music VideoA minimalistic music video was released in 1981, featuring the band singing and playing their instruments in a recording studio.
|
Utterance ReferenceThere is popular speculation among fans that "Uncle John's Band" may refer to John Cohen of the New Lost City Ramblers, an important influence on the early Grateful Dead.
|
Inclusion in FilmThe song was featured in the soundtrack of the film 'A Home at the End of the World' in 2004.
|
Indirect MessageIt is often suggested that the lyrics of "Uncle John's Band" speak to the larger counter-cultural movements of the late 1960s and early 1970s, with references to political activism and anti-conformist sentiments.
|
Citation
Use the citation below to add these lyrics to your bibliography:
Style:MLAChicagoAPA
"Uncle John's Band Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 20 Sep. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/4630882/Grateful+Dead/Uncle+John%27s+Band>.
Discuss the Uncle John's Band Lyrics with the community:
Report Comment
We're doing our best to make sure our content is useful, accurate and safe.
If by any chance you spot an inappropriate comment while navigating through our website please use this form to let us know, and we'll take care of it shortly.
Attachment
You need to be logged in to favorite.
Log In