Box of Rain

Lyrics: Robert Hunter
Music: Phil Lesh

Look out of any window, any morning, any evening, any day.
Maybe the sun is shining, birds are singing,
No rain is falling from a heavy sky.
What do you want me to do, to do for you to see you through?
For this is all a dream we dreamed one afternoon, long ago.

Walk out of any doorway, feel your way, feel your way like the day before.
Maybe you'll find direction,
Around some corner where it's been waiting to meet you.
What do you want me to do, to watch for you while you are sleeping?
The please don't be surprised when you find me dreaming too.

Look into any eyes you find by you, you can see clear to another day,
Maybe been seen before, through other eyes on other days while going home.
What do you want me to do, to do for you to see you through?
It's all a dream we dreamed one afternoon, long ago.

Walk into splintered sunlight,
Inch your way through dead dreams to another land.
Maybe you're tired and broken,
Your tongue is twisted with words half spoken and thoughts unclear

What do you want me to do, to do for you to see you through?
A box of rain will ease the pain, and love will see you through.

Just a box of rain, wind and water,
Sun and shower, wind and rain,
In and out the window like a moth before a flame.

And it's just a box of rain, I don't know who put it there,
Believe it if you need it, or leave it if you dare.

And it's just a box of rain, or a ribbon for your hair;
Such a long long time to be gone, and a short time to be there.


Attics of My Life

Lyrics: Robert Hunter
Music: Jerry Garcia

In the attics of my life, full of cloudy dreams unreal.
Full of tastes no tongue can know, and lights no eyes can see.
When there was no ear to hear, you sang to me.

I have spent my life seeking all that's still unsung.
Bent my ear to hear the tune, and closed my eyes to see.
When there was no strings to play, you played to me.

In the book of love's own dream, where all the print is blood.
Where all the pages are my days, and all the lights grow old.
When I had no wings to fly, you flew to me, you flew to me.

In the secret space of dreams, where I dreaming lay amazed.
When the secrets all are told, and the petals all unfold.
When there was no dream of mine, you dreamed of me.


Ripple

Lyrics: Robert Hunter
Music: Jerry Garcia

If my words did glow with the gold of sunshine,
and my tunes were played on the harp unstrung,
would you hear my voice come thru the music,
would you hold it near as it were your own?

It's a hand-me-down, the thoughts are broken,
perhaps they're better left unsung.
I don't know, don't really care
let there be songs to fill the air.

Ripple in still water,
when there is no pebble tossed,
nor wind to blow.

Reach out your hand if your cup be empty,
if your cup is full may it be again,
let it be known there is a fountain,
that was not made by the hands of men.

There is a road, no simple highway,
Between the dawn and the dark of night,
and if you go no one may follow,
that path is for your steps alone.

Ripple in still water,
when there is no pebble tossed,
nor wind to blow.

You who choose, to lead must follow,
but if you fall you fall alone,
if you should stand then who's to guide you?
If I knew the way I would take you home.



Touch Of Grey

Lyrics: Robert Hunter
Music: Jerry Garcia

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

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

It's a lesson to me
The Ables and the Bakers and the C's
The A B C's
We all must face
And try to keep a little grace

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

It's a lesson to me
The Deltas and the East and the Freeze
The A B C's
We all think of
And try to keep a little love

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

Notes
(1) the original lyrics were "Say your piece and piss off" but Hunter said that Jerry wanted
him to change "piss off" to "get out" to give it a better chance at airplay (quoted by Bob
Clinton in 'The Deadhead's Taping Companion Vol 2')

Recordings
Studio 1987   In The Dark