Tuesday, December 10, 2013

"We will survive"

One thing about the Grateful Dead--they did not do a lot of things that were even likely to wind up as "hit" songs; in fact, as far as I know, they had only one top 10 hit, and it's this one.

It must be getting early
Clocks are running late
Paint by numbers morning sky
Looks so phony

Dawn is breaking everywhere
Light a candle, curse the glare
Draw the curtains, I don't care
'Cause it's alright
I will get by
I will get by
I will get by
I will survive

 Yep, "Touch of Grey," from the album In the Dark.  I don't know that it's a great song, but it sounds so good, and like a few of my other favorite songs, the music is very upbeat, almost cheery, while the lyrics are not.

I see you got your list out
Say your piece and get out
Yes I got the gist of it
But it's alright

Sorry that you feel that way
The only thing there is to say
Every silver lining's got a
Touch of grey

Part of it sounds like someone getting older, looking at the world and wondering what has gone wrong, where his hopes and dreams anve gone to:

I know the rent is in arrears
The dog has not been fed in years
It's even worse than it appears
But it's alright

Cows are giving kerosene
The kid can't read at seventeen
The words he knows are all obscene
But it's alright
I will get by
I will get by
I will get by
I will survive

But old or not, disappointed or not, we will get by, we will survive..

The shoe is on the hand it fits
There's really nothing much to it
Whistle through your teeth and split
'Cause it's alright

Oh well a touch of grey
Kind of suits you anyway
That was all I had to say
And it's alright
I will get by
I will get by
I will get by
I will survive
We will get by
We will get by
We will get by
We will survive

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