Random Lyric Thread

[nattyMatty]

Barbed Wire Whipping Party

Lyrics: Robert Hunter/Grateful Dead

Music: [almost none]

This bit of madness was recorded during the sessions for Aomoxoa, using tape loops, feedback and all sorts of wierdness. The lyrics (such as they are) are spoken or chanted - I've only transcribed fragments, which are often repeated incessantly and on top of each other

Oh yeah

Stay in the general area (area, area, area)

Stay in the general area [etc]

What's the name of this stuff?

Meat, meat, gimme my meat

Meat, meat, gimme my meat

Meat, meat, gimme my meat

[etc]

Hello, talk

Talk, talk, talk

Stay in the general area

[Robert Hunter]

The barbed wire whipping party in the razor blade forest

Sweet live meat, my fangs could unravel you

Back, hand, whip, lash, [eskers], sange froid, leather picnic

Duty, cold blood, barbed wire, naked on the table, laughing

Feet stained wine and eyes smoking

No is permitted

There's more freedom than you could choke down in ten thousand years

The other day I went to Mars and talked to God

And he told me to tell you to hang tight and don't worry

The solution to everything is death

Recordings

The version recorded for Aoxomoxoa has not been released, and does not seem likely to be. Eric Levy asked David Gans, Blair Jackson, and Steve Silberman about this in an interview for Relix Magazine about the "So Many Roads" box set:

Levy: David, when I asked you about the contents a few months ago, "Barbed Wire Whipping Party" was going to be included at the time.

Jackson: Vetoed very close to the last moment by Robert Hunter.

Levy: Really! Is he on it?

Gans: Oh yeah, he's on it. He and David Nelson were major stars in "The Barbed Wire Whipping Party." Nelson was all in favor of it, but Hunter exercised his veto power exactly once, and we were not going to argue with him about it.

And a recent (June 2001) exchange on the Grateful Dead Hour mailing list:

I think someone asked this already, but is there any chance "Barbed Wire Whipping Party" could be a bonus track on the Aoxomoxoa remix that will be coming out?

Gans: No. David Lemieux told me he asked about it and was told NO in no uncertain terms.

Robert Hunter himself commented on this during a concert on 11 June 2003:

"The barbed wire whipping party in the razor blade forest."

That was my addition to Aomoxoa but when I listened to it (I suppose you all have heard tapes of it by now) I decided it was blasphemy and I wasn't sure I wanted to live with it for the rest of my life, so I decided it shouldn't go on. That was when they realised I was a chicken and a coward and I couldn't be in the band. "Here, Hunter, take a pencil, you asshole. You realise how good that is?" Hey man, I could have been the next Kurt Cobain.

"The other day I went to Mars and talked to God. And he told me to tell you to hang tight and not worry. The solution to everying is death."

I mean, would you want that on your conscience for the flower-power generation, man? No, no. I mean, it's true in its own way, but ... well the part about going to Mars is true, the rest of it's not.

Futher Information

For an online discussion of the lyrics to this song see the deadsongs.vue conference on The Well.

For more information on recordings see Matt Schofield's Grateful Dead Family Discography

http://www3.clearlight.com/~acsa/intro.htm

[nattyMatty]

Theres a small piece of pie.. hehe... rotton apple pie in my opinion.

[captainsunshine]

Home is where I want to be

Pick me up and turn me round

I feel numb - burn with a weak heart

(So I) guess I must be having fun

The less we say about it the better

Make it up as we go along

Feet on the ground

Head in the sky

It's ok I know nothing's wrong . . nothing

Hi yo I got plenty of time

Hi yo you got light in your eyes

And you're standing here beside me

I love the passing of time

Never for money

Always for love

Cover up + say goodnight . . . say goodnight

Home - is where I want to be

But I guess I'm already there

I come home - -she lifted up her wings

Guess that this must be the place

I can't tell one from another

Did I find you, or you find me?

There was a time Before we were born

If someone asks, this where I'll be . . . where I'll be

Hi yo We drift in and out

Hi yo sing into my mouth

Out of all tose kinds of people

You got a face with a view

I'm just an animal looking for a home

Share the same space for a minute or two

And you love me till my heart stops

Love me till I'm dead

Eyes that light up, eyes look through you

Cover up the blank spots

Hit me on the head Ah ooh

[Baj]

you make it like 'this must be the place'

'HOME'

anywhere I am with you Cap'mmmmmm

[captainsunshine]

You know I posted that for you!

[Dr_Evil_Mouse]

Everybody knows that the dice are loaded

Everybody rolls with their fingers crossed

Everybody knows that the war is over

Everybody knows the good guys lost

Everybody knows the fight was fixed

The poor stay poor, the rich get rich

Thats how it goes

Everybody knows

Everybody knows that the boat is leaking

Everybody knows that the captain lied

Everybody got this broken feeling

Like their father or their dog just died

Everybody talking to their pockets

Everybody wants a box of chocolates

And a long stem rose

Everybody knows

Everybody knows that you love me baby

Everybody knows that you really do

Everybody knows that you've been faithful

Give or take a night or two

Everybody knows you've been discreet

But there were so many people you just had to meet

Without your clothes

And everybody knows

Everybody knows, everybody knows

Thats how it goes

Everybody knows

Everybody knows, everybody knows

Thats how it goes

Everybody knows

And everybody knows that it's now or never

Everybody knows that its me or you

And everybody knows that you live forever

When you've done a line or two

Everybody knows the deal is rotten

Old Black Joe's still pickin' cotton

For your ribbons and bows

And everybody knows

And everybody knows that the plague is coming

Everybody knows that it's moving fast

Everybody knows that the naked man and woman

Are just a shining artifact of the past

Everybody knows the scene is dead

But there's gonna be a meter on your bed

That will disclose

What everybody knows

And everybody knows that you're in trouble

Everybody knows what you've been through

From the bloody cross on top of calvary

To the beach of Malibu

Everybody knows it's coming apart

Take one last look at this sacred heart

Before it blows

And everybody knows

Everybody knows, everybody knows

Thats how it goes

Everybody knows

Oh everybody knows, everybody knows

Thats how it goes

Everybody knows

[captainsunshine]

F-in trees with the pumpkin pie!

I just found me a bottle of blues

Some strange comfort for a soul to soothe

Ain't it hard

Ain't it hard,

To want somebody who doesn't want you

And I've been waiting for a year, a day

Some strange weather must be blowing' my way

Cause I got no mind to go or to stay,

Or be left behind

Holding' hands with an impotent dream

In a brothel of fake energy

Put a nickel in the graveyard machine

I get higher and lower

I get higher and lower

Like a tired soldier

With nothing' to shoot

And nowhere to lose

This bottle of blues

Egos drone

And pose alone

Like black balloons

All banged and blown

On a backwoods river

The infidels shiver

In the stench of belief

I tell my momma I'm a hundred years late

I'm over the rails

And out of the race

And the crippled psalms

Of an age that won't thaw

Are ringing in my ears

Holding' hands with an impotent dream

In a brothel of fake energy

Put a nickel in the graveyard machine

I get higher and lower

I get higher and lower

Like a tired soldier

With nothing' to shoot

And nowhere dreams it's a..

Bottle of blues

I just found me a bottle of blues

Some strange comfort for a soul to soothe

Ain't it hard, ain't it hard,

To want somebody who doesn't want you

Holding' hands with an impotent dream

In a brothel of fake energy

Put a nickel in the graveyard machine

I get higher and lower

I get higher and lower

Like a tired soldier

With nothing' to shoot

And nowhere dreams it's a..

Bottle of blues

Bottle of blues

[nattyMatty]

I love that nieve Melody!... I was actually laying in bed the other day thinking about that tune and was going to post the lyrics for it heheh Groovie dude. I was actually down in Norfolk in march for a Rat Dog show and Bobbino I like to call him Busted out with "Take me to the river" Blew my mind.

[d_rawk]

i buttered your bread

i sniffed your wine

and when i was tired

i was tired of lying

i'm falling i'm falling i'm falling i fall

like i fell for you

whose name is a crucifier?

whose heart needs a bigger sweater?

who throws pages into the fire?

oh if that's you, why would i know this?

i'm not your fleece

i'm not your fire

and i'm not your crayon

and i'm not your kind

whose name is a crucifier?

whose heart needs a bigger sweater?

who throws pages into the fire?

well if that's you, i wouldn't know

[YearsAlongTheSea]

"Give me your fucking money...."

-The Disco Biscuits

so poetic....

[d_rawk]

Lyrics for a lazy Sunday ...

Your gentleman caller

well, he's been calling another

he loves his forbidden fruit.

And it dribbles down his chin

he cries, "Baby, I've been drinking

with some friends! Now how

'bout a little kiss..."

Bad boy!

Rub his nose in it!

What a mess

and he's playing dumb

"doo do do doo do doo ..."

I'm not looking for a lover,

all those lovers are liars

I'd never lie to you

You say you want to get even?

Yeah, you want to get

your bad man good?

Well, are you in the mood?

You bad girl!

Does it feel good being bad?

And getting worse?

"Doo do do doo do doo ..."

But in the morning

on the sober dawn of Sunday

you're not sure what you have done

who told you love was fleeting?

sometimes men can be so misleading

to take what they need from you

whatever you need to make you feel

like you've been the one behind the wheel

the sunrise is just over that hill

the worst is over

the worst is over

the worst is over

Whatever I said to make you think

that love's the religion of the weak

this morning we love like weaklings

the worst is over.

(ok, not sure it works without the music ...)

[NewRider]

Our love is dead but without limit,

like the surface of the moon

or the land between here and the mountains.

Well, it is not these hiding places

that have kept us innocent

but the way you taught me to just let it all go by.

And so we've learned to be as faithless,

stand behind bulletproof glass,

exchanging our affections through a drawer.

And it was always horribly convenient

and happening too fast.

You should count your change before you're even out the door.

Yes, you should but please...

Return, return to the person that you were.

And I will do the same

cause it is too hard to belong to someone who is gone.

My compass spins. The wilderness remains.

Once too often, I have retreated

into the depths of my despair.

I built a barricade to block you on the road.

But standing there with all of my possessions,

piled higher than a house,

I felt closer to you than you ever would have known.

So let these tiny acts of charity

become common ground of which to build

a monument to commemorate our time.

And though, you say, you've found another

who will surely speed you on your way,

don't let the forest grow over that path you came there by.

But you will, so...

So hurry up and run to the one that you love.

And blind him with your kindness.

And he'll make war, old war, on who you were before.

And he'll claim all that has spoiled in your heart.

Well, now, I tell myself I've mended

under these patches of blue sky.

There are still a few holes that let in a little rain.

And so it is crying on my shingles.

My floorboards moan under my feet.

The refrigerator is whining, so I've got reason to complain.

But I am not gonna bless you with such compliments,

some degrading psalm of praise,

like the kind that converted you to me so long ago.

Because the truth is that gossip's

as good as gospel in this town.

You can save face but you won't ever save your soul.

And that's a fact.

So hurry up and run to the one that you love.

And tie him up in you likeness,

And he'll become, become the prisoner I was.

And know all that has spoiled in your heart.

And know all that has spoiled in your heart.

So hurry up and run to the one that you love.

And blind him with your kindness.

And he'll make war, old war, on who you were before.

And he'll claim all that has spoiled in your heart.

Yeah, he'll claim all that has spoiled in your heart.

(So hurry up and run to the one that you love.

And blind him with your kindness.

And he'll make war, old war, on who you were before.

And he'll claim all that has spoiled in your heart.

Yeah, he'll claim all that has spoiled...)

[d_rawk]

Yours was much more romantic. Kudos! There were no dribbling chin moments, and that's something.

Long! But nice.

[NewRider]

one of the best alt country tunes ever written! total brilliance.

[nellie]

Strange and beautiful

are the stars tonight

that dance around your head

in your eyes I see that perfect world

I hope that doesn't sound too weird

And I want all the world to know

that your love's all I need

all that I need

and if we're lost

then we are lost together

yea if we're lost

then we are lost together

I stand before this faceless crowd

and I wonder why I bother

so much controlled by so few

stumbling from one disaster to another

I've heard it all so many times before

it's all a dream to me now

a dream to me now

And if we're lost

then we are lost together

yea if we're lost

then we are lost together

In this silence of this whispered night

I listen only to your breath

and that second of a shooting star

somehow it all makes sense

And I want all the world to know

that your love's all I need

all that I need

and if we're lost

then we are lost together

yea if we're lost

then we are lost together

[captainsunshine]

Why do they call her Wren?

She changed her name to fit the way that she was feeling then

Then Wren, she spilled some wine,

Forgot the names they used to call her in those other times

Truly, underneath the stars there are a million ways to be the way you are . .

All of them dying

Underneath the rays there’ll be a million ways to live the days ahead . .

Why are we crying?

If I knock . . what will I say?

I know you’ve been in your home & I’ve been far away

When I knock . . who will I be?

I know you’re a different you & I’ve forgotten me

Truly, underneath the stars there are a million ways to be the way you are . .

All of them dying

Underneath their rays there’ll be a million ways to live the days ahead . .

Why are we crying?

Why not change our names?

Some things we won’t recognize . .

Some will remain the same

some people roll a stone . .

Find out they were never really even in their home

Underneath the stars there are a million ways to be the way you are . .

All of them dying

Underneath the rays there’ll be a million ways to live the days ahead . .

Why are we crying?

There were words . . on my skin . .

You touched them & they woke again . .

Now they’re on the wind . .

[Baj]

Beautiful just like you...

thanks for introducing me to RRE

[captainsunshine]

In still water we found our own graves

Fell in the flames

Walked our own pace

Your loving’s been a blessing to me

And the blessings returned

And all that you see

Hell riders out on the hill

Their shadows upon us

And they follow us still

Don’t let them into your heart

We’ll go about our days and keep living

Love…

This loving is free

I’m dreaming with me

We’ll make it our heart

Love…

Its river runs slow

But it’ll go where we go

And follow it on

We’ll follow it on

Dim preachers

preaching their wars rattling soil

I can’t even hear anymore

To believe what they say, is believing

Love…

This loving is free

Come make it with me

We’ll make it our home

Love…

Its river runs slow

It’ll go where we go

And follow it on

I don’t even care anymore

If I sleep in a bed or

I sleep on the floor

I’ll roll over and I know where you are

I believe in our love and

I trust in your heart

Love…

This loving is free

Come make it with me

We’ll call it our home

Love…

Its river runs slow

It’ll go where we go

And follow it on

Love…

This loving is free

Come dream it with me

We’ll make it our own

Love…

Its river runs slow

Lets go where we go

We’ll call it our home

Love…

This loving is free

Come make it with me

We’ll call it our home

We’ll call it our home…

[captainsunshine]

Wait, wait for the moment to come

Stand up, stand up and take my hand

Believe, believe in mystery

Love love love love is simple as 1-2-3

I'm a know-it-all, I'm smartest man around

That's right, you learn real fast through the smartest girl in town

Here come a riddle, here come a clue

If you were really smart, you'd know what to do

When...

Jump back, sit back, get back, relax

It's ok

I've called in sick I won't go to

Work today

I'd rather be with the

One I love

I neglect my duties, I be in trouble but

I've been to college, I've been to school

I've met the people that you read about in books

Here come a riddle, here come a clue

If you were really smart you'd know what to do when I say

Jet pilot gone out of control, ship captain on the ground

Stock broker make a bad investment when love has come to town

Where, where is my common sense?

How...did I get in a jam like this?

Believe, I believe in mystery

Love, love love love is simple as 1-2-3

Here come a riddle, here come a clue

If you were really smart, you'd know what to do when I say

Why am I going out of my head, whenever you're around?

The answer is obvious, love has come to town

[captainsunshine]

Tonight's the night we're gonna make it happen

Tonight we'll put all other things aside

Get in this time and show me some affection

We're goin' for those pleasures in the night

I want to love you, feel you, wrap myself around you

I want to squeeze you, please you, I just can't get enough

And if you move real slow I let it go

I'm so excited and I just can't hide it

I'm about to lose control and I think I like it

I'm so excited and I just can't hide it

And I know I know I know I know I know I want you

We shouldn't even think about tomorrow

Sweet memories will last for long long time

We'll have a good time, Baby, don't do worry

And if we're still playin' around boy that's just fine

Let's get excited, we just can't hide it

I'm about to lose control and I think I like it

I'm so excited and I just can't hide it

I know I know I know I know I know I want you, I want you

I want to love you, feel you, wrap myself around you

I want to squeeze you, please you, I just can't get enough

And if you move real slow I let it go

I'm so excited, I just can't hide it

I'm about to lose control and I think I like it

I'm so excited and I just can't hide it

I know I know I know I know I know I want you

[Esau.]

Stone walls and steel bars, a love on my mind

I'm a three time loser, I'm long gone this time.

Jealousy has took my young life,

All for the love of another man's wife.

I've had it coming, I've known all the time,

No more stone walls and steel bars and you on my mind.

Gray-haired warden, deep Frisco Bay,

Guards all around me leading my way.

I've had it coming, I'm at the end of the line,

No more stone walls and steel bars and you on my mind.

Stone walls and steel bars, a love on my mind,

I'm a three time loser, I'm long gone this time.

--------

-Stone Walls & Steel Bars

Ray Marcum/Ray Pennington Arr. Stanley Brothers

[bradm]

Ten years passed

And I ended up with

A house full of cats

Most of them went missing

From that window you never fixed

And that door you never latched

Aloha,

Brad

[NewRider]

Pickin' up the pieces of my sweet shattered dream

I wonder how the old folks are tonight

Her name was Ann and I'll be damned if I recall her face

She left me not knowin' what to do

Carefree highway, let me slip away on you

Carefree highway, you seen better days

The mornin' after blues from my head down to my shoes

Carefree highway, let me slip away

Slip away on you

Turnin' back the pages to the times I love best

I wonder if she'll ever do the same

Now the thing that I call livin' is just bein' satisfied

With knowin' I got no one left to blame

Carefree highway, got ta see you my old flame

Carefree highway, you seen better days

The mornin' after blues from my head down to my shoes

Carefree highway, let me slip away

Slip away on you

Searchin' through the fragments of my dream-shattered sleep

I wonder if the years have closed her mind

I guess it must be wanderlust or tryin' to get free

From the good old faithful feelin' we once knew

Carefree highway, let me slip away on you

Carefree highway, you seen better days

The mornin' after blues from my head down to my shoes

Carefree highway, let me slip away

Slip away on you

Let me slip away on you

Carefree highway, got ta see you my old flame

Carefree highway, you seen better days

The mornin' after blues from my head down to my shoes

Carefree highway, let me slip away

Slip away on you

[nellie]

I am a blue blood I will admit that.

I dance in blue shoes and wear a blue hat.

Live in a blue house, on a blue street,

in a blue town by a blue creek.

I write my blue songs with my blue pen.

I sing the blue notes to my blue friends.

Now I don't know that much about you,

but I like you because you’re true blue.

I had a blue dream about a blue star.

In it I drove there in my blue car.

And when I got there, I met a blue dog

with a blue tongue, we had some real fun.

We bounced a blue ball. It broke a blue glass.

We banged on blue drums and called it bluegrass.

Guess the thing I'm trying to tell you,

is that it’s best kid if you're true blue.

Once I had gangrene, I got it real bad.

And so the Doc came with his black bag.

I said "You know doc, I don't feel swell.

If you had a blue bag I think I'd feel well."

So he came right back with a blue sack.

He said, "Will this do?" I said, "Why not? Yeah."

That’s how I am here today to tell you,

that it’s best man to be true blue.

Out on the blue sea I sailed a blue ship.

I had a first mate, always had blue lips.

His name was Bluebeard.

He had a weird twitch.

We flew a blue flag on a big stick.

And we ate bluegill and we ate blue chips.

Oh, I felt real blue eating that blue fish.

Because there ain't much that I won't do,

unless it keeps me from being true blue.

Once in a blue moon there’s a blue sky.

I wear my blue jeans and fly my blue kite.

Hangs like a bluebird until the wind dies

and then the tears pour out of my blue eyes.

If it’s your birthday, we'll bake a blue cake

and then we'll eat it off these blue plates.

‘cause kid I don't know much about you,

but I like you because you're true blue.

Yeah, I don't know much about you,

but I like you ‘cause you're true blue.

[nellie]

I can't forget the day, baby you walked away,

I can't forget the day, mama you walked away,

Can't forget the day that you walked away,

When you come back next time, here to stay,

That’s the reason I’m telling you mama you’re losin’ out.

Well it was early one morning you come draggin’ home,

Well it was early one morning you come draggin’ home,

It was early morning, dragging home say forgive me daddy for I gone wrong,

That’s the reason I’m telling you mama you’re losin’ out.

Well you left that time and you ain’t gonna leave no more,

Yeah, you left that time and you ain’t gonna leave no more,

Well you left that time, ain’t gonna leave no more,

I’m putting a lock on my back door,

And that’s the reason I’m telling you mama you’re losin’ out.

Well I followed my baby to her barren place,

Yeah I followed my baby to her barren place,

Well I followed my baby to her barren place,

Can’t get another writer to take your place,

That’s the reason I’m telling you mama you’re losin’ out.

You oughta heard me crying, baby you’re all I crave,

You oughta heard me crying, mama you’re all I crave,

You oughta heard me crying you’re all I crave,

While I wrote your will upon your grave,

And that’s the reason I’m telling you mama your losin’ out.

And that’s the reason I’m telling you mama your losin’ out.

And that’s the reason I’m telling you mama your losin’ out