Uncle John's Band

Grateful Dead

About Uncle John's Band

"Uncle John's Band" is a song by the Grateful Dead that first appeared in their concert setlists in late 1969. The band recorded it for their 1970 album Workingman's Dead. Written by guitarist Jerry Garcia and lyricist Robert Hunter, "Uncle John's Band" presents the Dead in an acoustic and musically concise mode, with close harmony singing. The song is one of the band's best known, and is included on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. In 2001 it was named 321st (of 365) in the Songs of the Century project list.  


Year:
2001
4:45
385 

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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

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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 »

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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 Release
The 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 Ranking
It was one of the band's most successful singles, reaching number 69 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Cultural Significance
The 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 Interpretation
A 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.
Recognitions
Rolling Stone Magazine ranked it number 321 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
Song Cover
It has been covered by several bands and artists, including Jimmy Buffett, who included it in his album “Volcano”.
Album Reception
The 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 Mystery
There has been long-standing debate among fans about the lyrics' true meaning as they can be cryptic and ambiguous at times.
Music Video
A music video for the song was made in 1980, a decade after the song's release.
Song Representation
The Band members have expressed that the song is intended to represent themselves - the Grateful Dead - as a band and a community.
Other Media
The 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 Date
It 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 Performance
The 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.
Composition
The 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 Significance
The song is often interpreted as a reflection of the Grateful Dead's communal ethos and dedication to collective harmony.
Legacy
Rolling Stone magazine, in 2012, ranked "Uncle John's Band" 321st on its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
Covers
Many artists, such as Jimmy Buffett, have covered the song in their performances.
Influences
The song is said to be influenced by the music of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, especially in its use of vocal harmonies.
Music Video
A minimalistic music video was released in 1981, featuring the band singing and playing their instruments in a recording studio.
Utterance Reference
There 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 Film
The song was featured in the soundtrack of the film 'A Home at the End of the World' in 2004.
Indirect Message
It 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.

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    Uncle John's Band

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1970

    Billboard #69


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