d “Everybody’s“Everybody’s playing in the Heart of Gold Band”Band” D The Annotated An installment in The Annotated Grateful Dead Lyrics By David Dodd Library, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs Page layout by Rahul Sonnad words by Robert Hunter carlet Begonias “Scarlet Begonias” composed and written by Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter. Reproduced by arrangement with Ice Nine Publishing Co., Inc. (ASAP) As I was walkin’ In the thick of the evening Well there ain’t nothin’ wrong ‘round Grosvenor Square when the dealing got rough with the way she moves Not a chill to the winter She was too pat to open and Or scarlet begonias or a but a nip to the air too cool to bluff touch of the blues From the other direction As I picked up my matches and And there’s nothing wrong with she was calling my eye was closing the door the love that’s in her eye It could be an illusion I had one of those flashes: I had to learn the hard way but I might as well try I’d been there before— to let her pass by— Might as well try. been there before. let her pass by g Bridge She had rings on her fingers and The wind in the willows played Tea for Two bells on her shoes, I ain’t often right The sky was yellow and the sun was blue And I knew without askin’ she was but I’ve never been wrong Strangers stopped strangers into the blues It seldom turns out the way just to shake their hand Scarlet begonias it does in the song Everybody’s playing tucked into her curls Once in a while in the Heart of Gold Band I knew right away you get shown the light Heart of Gold Band she was not like other girls— in the strangest of places other girls if you look at it right o Back to lyrics Blair Jackson, in Grateful Dead: the Grosvenor Square Back to lyrics f Music Never Stopped f , says this about the “Grosvenor Square, six acres in extent, carlet Begonias song: “`Scarlet Begonias” remains one of takes its name from Sir Richard who died Hunter and Garcia’s very best songs, with in 1732. It was built between 1720 and debuted on March 23, 1974, at the its intricate percolating rhythm...a bright, 1730, and has retained its popularity as a Cow Palace in Daly City, California. The tuneful melody, and dreamy lyrics: ‘The centre of wealth and fashion ever since that show also included the first “Cassidy,” as wind in the willows played “Tea for Two’ / time.” (Harold P. Clunn. The Face of Lon- well as the sound test for the famous “wall ‘The sky was yellow and the sun was blue,’ the final verse begins, continuing with a don, Spring Books, 1956.) of sound” system. It appeared in the first set, wonderfully worded sentiment that de- between “Black Throated Wind” and “Beat It During WWII, Grosvenor Square was scribes the bond between Deadheads and nicknamed “Eisenhower Platz” due to the On Down the Line.” the band— ‘Strangers stoppin’ strangers/just presence of the American Embassy. Most Two days later, the group began to shake their hand/Everybody’s playing in other buildings on the square during the recording From the Mars Hotel, on which the heart of gold band.’ If there is one war housed U.S. military headquarters. the song appears. (DeadBase) sentiment that is repeated over and over again by both Deadheads and the band, it Robert Hunter recorded the song on is that they feel they are all actually part of Rings on her fingers... Back to lyrics f his Box of Rain album. (1991) the same animal, in the same sense that a This line echoes another nursery Keith and Donna Godchaux covered Grateful Dead show is a giant gestalt in rhyme, “Banbury Cross”: which the band and the audience support the tune on The Ghosts Playing in the “Ride a cock—horse to Banbury Cross, Heart of Gold Band. (1984) each other. Everyone is in the band in that respect.” (p. 155) To see and old lady upon a white horse. This notification of a cover from a reader: Rings on her fingers, and bells on her toes, Date: Fri, 06 Oct 95 15:20:15 -0700 As I was walkin’ Back to lyrics f She shall have music wherever she goes.” From: Maziar Sadri A standard opening line in the British [Source:] The Real Mother Goose, Randy If you really like this song (and I’m sure tradition, used in ballads and nursery McNally, 1916. you do) You should listen to the cover rhymes. Along with the reference to Ain’t always right... Back to lyrics of it from a band called Sublime, they Grosvenor Square, this line sets the song f do (in my opinion)the greatest version squarely in Britain. The folk song “Number Twelve Train” of it. you won’t be dissapointed. It is on contains the line “I may be wrong, but I’ll an album called 40 oz to freedom by One nursery rhyme which the song clearly echoes is “Pippen Hill”: be right some day” sublime. (Source: Folksinger’s Wordbook, p. 81.) http://www.semiweb.com/mazi As I was going up Pippen Hill, Pippen Hill was dirty; There I met a pretty Miss, * Oroboros covers the song in their live love performances. And she dropped me a curtsy.” Garcia sings Source: The Real Mother Goose, Rand * Phish has covered the song live at “the look that’s in her eye.” McNally, 1916. least twice. Wind in the Willows Back to lyrics f the wind in the Back to lyrics f “Blueberry Hill” There are at least two references here. reeds and trees Words and music by 1. “Blueberry Hill”, a song by Al Lewis, by the river bank Al Lewis, Larry Stock Larry Stock, and Vincent Rose, first ap- slowly trans- and Vincent Rose. peared sung by Gene Autry in the 1941 forms into pipe Do you recall a movie, “The Singing Hills.” Glenn Miller music: “Breath- year ago tonight? We made it a hit in the same year. Louis less and trans- stood and watched the Armstrong recorded it in 1949, and Fats fixed the Mole golden sun descending Domino in 1957. The line echoed in Scarlet stopped rowing When love had just Begonias is “The wind in the willow as the liquid run begun, Why did there played/Love’s sweet melody...” of that glad have to be an ending? piping broke on 2. The famous children’s book by Do you recall a year him like a wave, Kenneth Grahame (1859-1932), published ago tonight? caught him up, in 1908, featuring a cast of animal charac- (Refrain) I found and possessed ters. Frances Clarke Sayers, in a 1959 my thrill On Blueberry him utterly. He preface to the book, says “”On the surface, it Hill, On Blueberry Hill saw the tears on is an animal story concerned with the When I found you. his comrade’s small creatures of field and wood and river The moon stood still cheeks, and bank. Aside from their ability to talk, and a On Blueberry Hill, And bowed his head brief interlude of nysticism in which the lingered until My and understood. great god of nature makes his presence dreams came true. The ... And the light known, it is a world of reality like that of wind in the willow grew steadily the fable. ... It is a prose poem spoken in played Love’s sweet stronger, but no birds sang as they were praise of the commonplace; a pastoral set in melody; But all of those vows we made wont to do at the approach of dawn; and an English landscape which sings the grace Were never to be. Tho’ we’re apart You’re but for the heavenly music all was of English life and custom. But it is some- part of me still For you were my thrill On marvellously still. ... In midmost of the thing more. The tragedy inherent in all life Blueberry Hill. stream, embraced in the weir’s [!] shimmer- is here, the threat of evil’ and the great ing armspread, a small island lay anchored, Back to lyrics mysteries are touched upon.” Tea for Two f fringed close with willow and silver birch A song published in 1924, music by The title of the book comes from the and alder.” (pp. 124-125) A yellow sky and Vincent Youmans (b. NYC 1898, d. Colo- beautiful chapter, dead in the book’s center, a blue sun would not be out of place in rado, 1946), words by Irving Caesar (b. NYC entitled “The Piper at the Gates of Dawn” Grahame’s evocative writing. (also the alternate title for Pink Floyd’s first 1895). From the musical comedy No No album), in which Rat and Mole listen as Nanette, which opened in Detroit in April, 1924. This is one of the most familiar and “Tea For Two” Back to lyrics f Sky was yellow... Back to lyrics f catchy melodies in the world, and has Words by Irving Caesar; This comment from a reader: been extensively covered, especially by Music by Vincent Youmans Date: Thu, 20 Jul 95 20:30:46 -2400 jazz performers. I’m discontented with homes that are rented From: Timm Rebitzki Subject: scarlet Alec Wilder, in his American Popular so I have invented my own; begonias Darling this place is a lover’s oasis, Song: the Great Innovators , 1900-1950, Hi Dave, says that “The phenomenal hit of “No, No, where life’s weary chase is unknown.