This week, Jim has set us the task of featuring a song from a band you wished were still together. You ought not to be at all surprised that my choice was the Grateful Dead. If only….

I’ve featured quite a few Grateful Dead songs over the years that I’ve been contributing to Song Lyric Sunday, so although the choice of band was a no-brainer, song selection required a little more thought. However, the canon is a very large one and eventually I came up with this: another elegaic Jerry ballad, with lyrics by Robert Hunter.

Fare you well, my honey
Fare you well, my only true one
All the birds that were singing
Have flown except you alone

Goin’ to leave this broke-down palace
On my hands and my knees, I will roll, roll, roll
Make myself a bed by the waterside
In my time – in my time – I will roll, roll roll

In a bed, in a bed
By the waterside I will lay my head
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

River gonna take me
Sing me sweet and sleepy
Sing me sweet and sleepy
All the way back home

It’s a far-gone lullaby
Sung many years ago
Mama, mama many worlds I’ve come
Since I first left home

Going home, going home
By the water-side I will rest my bones
Listen to the river sing sweet songs to rock my soul

Going to plant a weeping willow
On the banks green edge it will grow, grow, grow
Sing a lullaby beside the water
Lovers come and go – the river roll, roll, roll

In a bed, in a bed, by the waterside I will lay my head
Fare you well, fare you well, I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs, to rock my soul

Written by Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter

This live version from 1989 also features Clarence Clemons from the E Street Band on saxophone.

Song Lyric Sunday 16 October 2022