UNCLE JOHN'S BAND
(Jerry Garcia / Robert Hunter)

The Grateful Dead

Also recorded by:

Jimmy Buffett; David Cullen; Indigo Girls; 
Key West; Billy & Terry Smith; Wake the Dead.



Well the first days are the hardest days,
don't you worry anymore,
' Cause when life looks like Easy Street,
there is danger at your door.
Think this through with me,
let me know your MIND,
Whoa-oh, what I want to know,
is are you kind?

It's a buck dancer's choice, my friends,
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?
Whoa-oh, what I want to know,
will you come with me?

Goddamn, I declare,
have you seen the light?
Their walls 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 know.
Like the morning sun you come
and like the wind you go.
Ain't no time to hate,
barely time to wait,
Whoa-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.
Whoa-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.

Whoa-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.