Jerry, my friend,
you’ve done it again,
even in your silence
the familiar pressure
comes to bear, demanding
I pull words from the air
with only this morning
and part of the afternoon
to compose an ode worthy
of one so particular
about every turn of phrase,
demanding it hit home
in a thousand ways
before making it his own,
and this I can’t do alone.
Now that the singer is gone,
where shall I go for the song?
Without your melody and taste
to lend an attitude of grace
a lyric is an orphan thing,
a hive with neither honey’s taste
nor power to truly sting.
What choice have I but to dare and
call your muse who thought to rest
out of the thin blue air
that out of the field of shared time,
a line or two might chance to shine —
As ever when we called,
in hope if not in words,
the muse descends.
How should she desert us now?
Scars of battle on her brow,
bedraggled feathers on her wings,
and yet she sings, she sings!
May she bear thee to thy rest,
the ancient bower of flowers
beyond the solitude of days,
the tyranny of hours–
the wreath of shining laurel lie
upon your shaggy head
bestowing power to play the lyre
to legions of the dead
If some part of that music
is heard in deepest dream,
or on some breeze of Summer
a snatch of golden theme,
we’ll know you live inside us
with love that never parts
our good old Jack O’Diamonds
become the King of Hearts.
I feel your silent laughter
at sentiments so bold
that dare to step across the line
to tell what must be told,
so I’ll just say I love you,
which I never said before
and let it go at that old friend
the rest you may ignore.
“After Midnight”
from GarciaLive Vol. 7:
November 8, 1976
Sophie’s Palo Alto
Featuring the lovely Donna Jean!
This release is due out next month, and more information can be found at www.jerrygarcia.com
From Jerry’s website
Volume Seven showcases the Jerry Garcia Band’s November 8th, 1976 performance at Sophie’s in Palo Alto, California. Recorded by Betty Cantor-Jackson, the original master reels were only recently re-discovered, along with a few other reels dubbed the “Houseboat Tapes”, and have been remastered for this release. It was the year of this recording that Donna Jean and Keith Godchaux first joined up with the Jerry Garcia Band. Their addition, along with Ron Tutt on drums and bassist John Kahn, helped form what would be one of the most durable lineups of the Garcia Band. In fact, earlier that year Garcia commented “I haven’t been as happy with any little performing group since Old And In The Way in terms of feeling ‘this is really harmonious, this is what I want to hear.’”
That harmonious vibe is especially present as well. Throughout the course of the evening, the band deftly melds gospel, rock, soul, and reggae to form their quintessential mid-70’s sound. As one astute critic pointed out, “More than any other Garcia band this one allows him room to run through all his guitar styles, often within a single song.” From the opening notes of “The Way You Do The Things You Do”, the band lock into a relaxed, but confident groove with Kahn & Tutt’s deep pocket providing the foundation for Jerry & Keith’s melodic exploration rounded out by Donna Jean’s soulful harmonies. The Hunter/Garcia penned “Mission in the Rain” and Dylan’s “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” are particularly poignant and soulful while songs like “Midnight Moonlight”, “Tore Up Over You” and “Ride Mighty High” provide the sparks bringing balance to the evening. A 22+ minute “Don’t Let Go” stands out not only for its length, but for its exercise in dynamics which further showcases Garcia’s comfort not only with the band, but the freedom found in playing smaller rooms tailor-made for they type of music he was looking to create.
#JYCD61
Tracklist:
Disc 1:
1.) The Way You Do The Things You Do
2.) Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door
3.) After Midnight
4.) Who Was John?
5.) Mission in the Rain
6.) Stir It Up
Disc 2:
1.) Midnight Moonlight
2.) Tore Up Over You
3.) Friend of the Devil
4.) Don’t Let Go
5.) Strange Man
6.) Stop That Train
7.) Ride Mighty High
But like his friend Jerry Garcia.
there is no one that can ever replace Clarence Clemons.
He is very loved, and missed.
Clarence was one of a kind,
and if you ever felt his music… kid, you better get the picture…
The wail of that sax grabs your soul..
like it must have for Bruce,
when that change was made uptown
and the big man joined the band.
It’s no wonder Jerry and Clarence liked to jam. What a treat for those lucky old suns that got to see it!
Here is a play list of Clarence Clemons sitting in with the Grateful Dead and the Jerry Garcia Band.
It begins with a Morning Dew from Shoreline Amphitheatre, Summer Solstice, 6.21.1989.
Then on to Clarence sitting in on some Jerry Garcia Band classic covers of Van Morrison’s “And It Stoned Me”, Bob Dylan’s “Tangled Up In Blue”, and Bruce Cockburn’s “Waiting For A Miracle”.
There is a standout version of “Fire on the Mountain” with the Grateful Dead from 1989’s AIDS Benefit in Oakland, that is really where his association with Jerry and the boys got its start. After a few more tracks, the list includes 4 COMPLETE Jerry Garcia Band shows with Clarence playing through most of them, as well as 2 full Grateful Dead shows , including the complete set from the Aids Benefit on 5.27.89
This is not all, and as more Clarence and Jerry videos surface, they will be added.
For more on the collaborations of these two beloved and missed musical greats.
Deadhead author extraordinaire Blair Jackson (Golden Road Blog on Dead.net) wrote a great piece about Clarence, The Big Man’s Jerry Days, shortly after his passing.
here’s the good part… the music…. Jerry and Clarence…
Please visit http://www.helphomesafe.org/ Clarence Clemons gave a lot of himself to help children of Homesafe.
HomeSafe provides comprehensive programs preventing new cases of violence, protecting victims of child abuse and domestic violence, and preparing children and families for safer, more productive lives.
Please give them a little donation, in memory of Clarence, and keep the love real. .
Clarence in his own words…
Photo is from the official Clarence Clemons Facebook:
